After planning the wedding of your dreams, marrying the love of your life, and enjoying a romantic honeymoon, it’s time to settle into your new life as a married couple. Unlike the happily ever after depiction of marriage in fairytales, television, and movies, adjusting to life as newlyweds doesn’t come easily. No matter how long you’ve been together as a couple, merging two lives into one has a unique set of challenges you may not have been aware of. 

Everything from making your house a home and managing finances to developing familial relationships with in-laws and ironing out goals is a process that can take time to get used to. Getting through your first year of marriage is sure to cause an undue amount of stress. You can overcome these challenges much more manageable by learning from the lessons and advice of relationship experts and seasoned couples. 

Keep Stress to a Minimum

You’d be surprised to learn that many couples end up divorcing in their first year due to the unforeseen stress. If you want your marriage to last a lifetime, it becomes essential for you to know how to cope. Whether you’re arguing over the finances or the lack of quality time and intimacy, keeping your cool is vital to overcoming these challenges. 

Besides coming up with an amicable solution to your problems, newlyweds are encouraged to find ways to keep stress under control. Healthy lifestyle habits like taking supplements with adaptogens, meditating, exercising, eating a well-balanced diet, and getting between 7 to 9 hours of sleep naturally reduce stress levels. Other solutions include learning better communication skills, talking to a therapist, or taking your mind off problems temporarily and doing something fun together. 

Make Your Marriage Your Own

All too often, newlyweds get wrapped up in trying to model their marriage after others. While there’s nothing wrong with taking advice or wanting some of the same things to manifest in your union, it is essential to remember that each marriage is different. Trying to be exactly like your parents, friends, or other married couples you admire may not be ideal for you and your spouse.

For example, in times past, husbands were often responsible for making all the financial decisions as most men worked, and women took care of the family. In modern times, however, more women bring home the bacon and prefer to have a hand in their finances. Therefore, before taking examples or advice from others, talk to your spouse to determine what works best.

Learn The Art of Compromise

Allowing one person to get their way all the time will eventually lead to bitterness and resentment. Essentially, the only way for your marriage to survive is to learn how to work together as a team. This, of course, means learning how to give and take. Though it may be uncomfortable at first, there will be times when you have to compromise for the greater good. 

As you set goals, make plans, or resolve conflicts, knowing how to compromise can make a huge difference. This starts by being open and honest about your needs, listening to your partner, weighing your options, and making the most effective decision. 

Remember Why You Got Married

One of the best ways to survive your first year of marriage and beyond is to remember why you got married in the first place. Life, responsibilities, routines, and other outside sources, can cloud your judgment and drive a wedge between you and your spouse. When you find that you’re arguing more than usual, stressed out, or distancing yourself from one another, reflecting on the right things gives you the motivation to press on. Whether you write and review a list of good qualities about your partner, look at pictures from your wedding day, take a romantic trip together, or recreate your first date night, it’s beneficial to your marriage’s survival. 

Marriage goes beyond the wedding, reception, and honeymoon. A successful union requires consistent work and dedication from both parties. Though making this adjustment can take time, keeping stress to a minimum, creating a marriage that works for you, compromising, and remembering why you got married can make the journey smoother.