Marriage is a lifelong promise with no guarantees. So when married couples get through the honeymoon phase and are still going strong, any words of advice should be shared and greatly appreciated.
And the key to a happy marriage? Surprisingly it’s not down to the bedroom behaviour.
In a study of 2,000 men and women who have been married for 10 years or more, the most common advice they would give to newlyweds is to have open, honest conversations with one another.
Surprisingly, sex ranked in 18th place as one of the most important components for a successful marriage, with 1% believing it’s a real contributing factor in enjoying a happy union.
Amongst the top pieces of advice were to “keep going”, “compromise” and to “be patient”. There was also some more concerning words of advice in the form of number 13 – “don’t get married”.
Speaking to the Mail Online, Sarah Thompson of Slater&Golden legal firm who commissioned the study said:
“What’s clear from my work as a family lawyer is that marriage can be hard work. Sadly, despite the best intentions in the world, not every marriage will last forever.”
So what are the key things to keep in mind for wedded bliss?
The top 20 tips are:
1. Talk
2. Compromise
3. Keep going
4. Work at it
5. Don’t give up on the marriage too easily
6. Don’t go to bed on an argument
7. Be patient
8. Listen
9. Be honest
10. Have respect
11. Be tolerant
12. Have realistic expectations
13. Don’t get married
14. Do things together
15. Communicate
16. Be tolerant
17. Be faithful
18. Have a good sex life
19. Be friends
20. Give each other space
Survey via Mail Online
