Introduction
The foundation of the marriage is a happy husband and wife. But in the hustle and bustle of modern life, with both partners working, kids needing attention, a house to maintain, and chores (not to mention social commitments) calling for your time, it can be all too easy to overlook the other person or take their needs for granted. Of course, cuddling and romance are key, but one of the best things you can do for your marriage is to prioritize each other. This article will look at practical, creative ways of doing just that with communication, shared experiences, acts of service, and quality time together.
Statistics on Marital Satisfaction and Divorce Rates
Before delving into specific strategies, let’s look at some statistics that illustrate why prioritizing your spouse is so crucial:
- 46% of US adults say being a good spouse or partner is “one of the most important things” or “very important” to their happiness. However, only 33% say their marriage is “very happy. [Pew Research Center]
- The divorce rate in the US has increased from around 10% in 1960 to over 40% currently. Over half of all marriages today will likely end in divorce. [American Psychological Association]
- 73% of divorced individuals cite lack of commitment as a key factor in the marriage failing. This includes not making enough time for the relationship and spouse. [Divorce Magazine]
- Couples highly satisfied with their marriage are more likely to spend quality time together, engage in meaningful conversations daily, and participate in social/recreational activities at least weekly. [National Marriage Project]
These statistics demonstrate that being present, engaged, and committed to one’s spouse through quality interactions is strongly linked to higher marital satisfaction and stability over time. Making each other a priority daily can help ensure a happy husband and wife.
The Importance of Daily Communication
Regular, meaningful communication is one of the easiest yet most impactful ways to prioritize your spouse. In too many marriages, these couples have stopped really sharing what’s going on in each other’s lives or only discuss mundane details about schedules, to-do lists, and kids. While logistics have to be covered, spouses also need emotional intimacy.
Some communication best practices include:
- Share a 15-30 minute “State of the Union” conversation each evening where you ask each other open-ended questions about your respective days, thoughts, and feelings without phones or TV.
- Periodically check in during the day if apart for work by phone/text, hello, and share a positive experience that happened during the day; short touches keep close.
- Discussing the good and bad experiences in-depth so you feel heard and understood and your partner really gets you.
- Asking follow up questions to truly understand your spouse’s point of view rather than just reacting from your perspective.
- Carving time out each week for a “date night conversation” time to really connect on a deeper level beyond day-to-day stuff.
On the daily level of communication, even brief updates, presence, and teamwork add a certain depth to intimacy between spouses. Such a small yet significant thing indicates prioritizing each other.
Sharing Experiences Together
Experience sharing has a role beyond verbal communication that binds the couple emotionally and physically. Regular engagement in activities can help get couples out of routine, create positive shared memories, and get them bonded together:
- Schedule a weekly date night that you can do together and have fun of your choice, such as trying a new restaurant, going to an event, taking a walk together, or cooking at home without the kids making it all chaos.
- Spend quality weekend time on each other’s interests. But if you are enthusiastic about something and the other does not care as much, do it together. Try new ideas together.
- Make time for weekend gateways for the two of you without the kids and no responsibilities for reconnection intimately away from home stresses.
- Exercise together by walking, jogging, taking a fitness class, or working at home. Physical activity as a couple releases “bonding chemicals.”
- Cook, bake, and do other house projects together as a team instead of looking at chores as individual things.
- There should be periodic seminars/retreats on marriage or relationship involvement on learning and growing as a team.
Sharing experiences regularly, whether everyday activities or special dates and trips, is key to keeping romance and passion alive long-term in a marriage by prioritizing quality time spent together.
Acts of Service for Your Spouse’s Well-Being
While quality communication and shared experiences are crucial, another important way to prioritize your spouse is through acts of service that help lighten their load and demonstrate you care about their well-being and happiness. This could include:
- Schedule weekly date nights you can have fun doing together. That could be trying out a new restaurant, going for an event, taking a walk together, or cooking at home without the kids making it all a big chaos.
- Spend quality weekend time in each other’s interests. But if you are extremely enthusiastic about something, yet the other does not care as much, do it together. Try new ideas together.
- Make periodic weekend getaways that are just for the two of you and the kids, and there is no responsibility to reconnect intimately away from home stress.
- Do exercises together, be walking, jogging, fitness classes, or some form of work at home? Physical activity by a couple excretes “bonding chemicals.”
- Cook, bake, or do other house projects as a team and not view chores as individual.
- Attend marriage or relationship seminars/retreats to learn and grow as a team occasionally.
Small acts of service communicate you are attuned to your partner’s needs, value their well-being, and want to support them and make their life easier through teamwork and sacrifice of your own time.
Quality Time Together Daily
While special dates and experiences are essential to bonding, another key is prioritizing short but meaningful periods of quality time with your spouse each day, such as:
- Sitting down together for 10-15 minutes, without our phones, to connect.
- Walking around the block together for 10 minutes after work while catching up on our days.
- Snuggling up on the couch for an episode of your favorite show during the evenings.
- Cooking dinner side by side while listening to music and chatting.
- Winding down together, going to bed at about the same time, reading, or having a quiet conversation.
- A quick make-out session or back rub squeezed in. Physical intimacy breeds emotional closeness.
Carving out even small windows of focused one-on-one interaction daily signals that your spouse is a high priority. It promotes intimacy, teamwork, and feeling cared for and supported as life partners.
The Benefits of Prioritizing Your Spouse
When couples make each other a clear priority through quality communication, shared experiences, acts of service, and daily quality time together, research shows they reap significant benefits, including:
- Higher marital satisfaction and less arguing over time because emotional and logistic needs are better met.
- Greater passion, intimacy, and commitment in the relationship through bonding experiences and non-sexual physical affection.
- Stress reduction and better mental well-being since spousal support reduces daily pressure.
- A higher life satisfaction all along because it provides a better footing with a sense of companionship.
- There is a greater chance of conflicts being resolved constructively as these skills of empathy and compromise are developed.
- Set an example of healthy relationship dynamics for children by showing care, teamwork, and balance.
Conclusion
Prioritizing one’s spouse requires daily effort but pays huge lifelong dividends in ensuring a stable, fulfilling marriage where both feel valued as true life partners. With commitment and creativity, any couple can find ways to prioritize each other that forge an unbreakable bond of a happy husband and wife.