Tips For a Healthy Marriage

Living in a healthy marriage can be a great boost to your actual physical and mental health as the trust, honesty, and respect in it will help...

Marriage
March 21, 2025

Living in a healthy marriage can be a great boost to your actual physical and mental health as the trust, honesty, and respect in it will help lessen stress, improve health, and boost mood; thus, there's a need for you to know certain tips for a healthy marriage. One such tip is to communicate well by creating time to listen to them without distractions, asking them questions to clarify what they have shared, and sharing your observations about what they have said, including your feelings.

Similarly, ensure that you are trustworthy in your marriage; hence, whenever you have a deal, promise, or plan where you are expected to perform an obligation, try to complete your part so your partner may always see you as a dependable partner. Moreover, create a personal life for yourself in your marriage so you may maintain individuality, draw positive feelings from your friends and interests, and prevent your partner from having sole responsibility for your happiness.

Consider these evergreen tips for a healthy marriage:

Communicate Well

Among the tips for a healthy marriage, communication ranks high because it involves the bedrock of any interaction between people, communication; thus, it's essential that you prioritize communication in your marriage to achieve a higher level of interaction with your partner. A fantastic step in communicating well is to show genuine interest in listening to your partner, so whenever they have something to say, be sure to put aside any distractions and focus on creating quality time to listen to them wholeheartedly.

When talking to them, ensure they have your full attention as you focus all your body parts on the conversation; you should maintain eye contact, touch them from time to time as the emotions demand, use head tilts or nods, and change your facial expression as the occasion demands. Also, when you are away from each other because of work, family visits, parties, or other events, try to maintain active communication with them to be aware of everything going on with them and show you care about their whereabouts and how they feel wherever they are.

Be Trustworthy

Building trust is one of the tips for a healthy marriage as it will enable your partner to feel secure and safe in the marriage and help them realize that you are committed to achieving their goals and dreams. To make your partner believe you are trustworthy, try to align your actions with your words, so whatever you say you'll do, ensure you do it so they may believe your words; if you say they are very important to you, but you continue to prioritize time with friends over time with them, they will begin to lose trust in your words.

Maintaining honesty in all situations with your partner is an excellent way to build trust as it helps them understand that you will always tell them the truth, so ensure you tell the truth even in difficult situations and avoid white lies of omission or little lies. Also, ensure you apologize whenever you do anything wrong, as it shows that you are truthful even when at fault and care about the marriage so much that you will admit your faults to save the relationship.

Maintain a Personal Life

Personal life is vital for a healthy marriage as it produces multiple streams of happiness for partners, ensuring they don't depend on only each for emotional satisfaction, which may lead to a feeling of resentment. As one of the tips for a healthy marriage, personal life offers you a healthy sense of self, and you can lead such a life by spending time with your family members without your partner, enabling you to hear their thoughts and compliments about here, share in their joy, and build a part of your happiness with them.

Also, try to maintain old friendships and make new ones because they will offer you support, help, and exposure beyond what your partner can solely provide, allowing you to grow outside the limits of your marriage. You can also have a personal life by pursuing your interests or hobbies, which can help you build your creativity, get a sense of accomplishment, and boost your mood; your hobby may be anything from composing music to boxing.

Couple gazing at each other with love

Fight With Fairness

Fighting fairly is also one of the tips for a healthy marriage because it involves you arguing with your partner about issues while still respecting them and showing them kindness and affection. One way to fight fair is to attack the problem directly without taking a dig at your partner's reputation or character, showing that you value their being despite the current situation of your marriage.

You can equally fight fairly by validating their complaints and listening to them even if you disagree with the contents of their speech; downplaying their issue without listening can cause them to bottle it up and develop resentment toward you. Furthermore, ensure you express yourself to them adequately because it's unfair to expect them to read your mind about the issue that annoyed you; hence, you should tell them their faults in detail.

Embrace Change

A long marriage knows no rigidity because the partners in it are dynamic by their human nature and will continue to change as the seasons go by; thus, it's essential that you embrace change in your partner as it's one of the tips for a healthy marriage. To embrace change and channel its occurrence for the growth of your marriage, you have to first understand it's normal for change to occur as humans can't stay in the same spot for an extended period.

When your partner changes, embrace the change and help them foster their new interests except for the ones that may cause trouble, which you should identify and tell them about in a gentle conversation where you share the risks involved. And don't stop at these; you should also try out some changes of your own so you won't be left behind in the old habits; you may change your restaurant or comfort meal, or pick up new sports to play every weekend.

Conclusion

Staying in a marriage that gives you butterflies in your belly, affection, great moods, and good health can be achieved when you utilize tips for a healthy marriage such as good communication, trustworthiness, individuality in marriage, fighting fairly, and embracing change in your marriage.

Resources

https://www.allprodad.com/10-ways-to-improve-communication-in-marriage/

https://www.fatherly.com/love-money/what-building-trust-in-a-marriage-really-requires/amp/

https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-ideas/losing-individuality-amp.html

https://www.amherst.edu/campuslife/health-safety-wellness/counseling/self_care/healthy_relationships/10_tips_for_health_realtionships

https://www.heysigmund.com/fighting-fair/

https://www.womenshealthmag.com/relationships/a19941897/healthy-relationship-changes/

Author
Jennifer Luttman, LPC, ACS

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, and owner of Overcomers Counseling. I'm dedicated to helping individuals find strength and healing through life’s challenges. With a deep understanding of mental health and years of professional experience, I specialize in fostering hope and resilience while equipping her clients with tools to thrive. Passionate about empowering others, she creates a safe, supportive space where everyone feels seen, valued, and capable of overcoming obstacles on their path to well-being.

Common Questions about Marriage

What if my spouse refuses to get help?

If your spouse is resistant to treatment, you might need to get help from a professional. An interventionist can work with you and your family to plan a confrontation that will encourage your spouse to seek help.

What if my spouse is not a military member, can we still get marriage counseling through Tricare

Yes, as long as one member of the couple is eligible for Tricare, marriage counseling can be covered.

How often do we need to go to counseling?

This is something that you'll need to discuss with your counselor. In some cases, weekly sessions may be appropriate. In other cases, you may only need to meet every other week or once a month.

What are some common mistakes to avoid in striving for interdependence?

Common mistakes include neglecting personal growth, failing to communicate openly, not respecting boundaries, and overlooking the importance of individual interests.

What can we expect during our first couples counseling session?

During your first couples counseling session, your therapist will likely gather information about your relationship history, current challenges, and individual backgrounds. They may also ask about your goals for therapy and what you hope to achieve. This initial session serves as an opportunity for you and your partner to become comfortable with the therapist and begin building trust in the therapeutic process.

What are some signs that my relationship is not emotionally healthy?

There are a few key signs that may indicate that your relationship is not as emotionally healthy as it could be. First, do you or your partner feel like you have to walk on eggshells to avoid conflict? Do you find yourself withholding information or emotions to keep the peace? Do you ever feel like your partner is trying to control or manipulate you? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then it's possible that your relationship could be improved.