Top Ten New Year Resolution for Newly Weds

After considering the fact that nearly all newly weds face the same challenges, I figured out that as a newly wed, I could share with all newly weds what I believe should be their top ten New Year resolution. By newly weds I mean those couples who are not older than 2 years as married. Older couples though more experienced unlike the newly weds who have much to learn, can as well adopt some of the resolutions I have suggested for the newly weds.

The top ten New Year resolution for newly weds which I have suggested below are for both spouses to achieve together as well as for individual spouse.

1. Pray together every morning

Beginning the day together in prayer is one of the best ways to achieve spiritual bonding between spouses. The benefits of spiritual bonding in marriage cannot be overemphasized. If two are agreed and truly become one in body, soul, mind and spirit, there is no limit to places they can go and what they can do together. Spiritual bonding best achieved through having morning devotions together is the way to achieving true oneness in body, soul, mind and spirit.

2. Maintain the romantic atmosphere

One mistake newly weds make is to allow pressure of work or other life demands make them to neglect the importance of a romantic atmosphere in their relationship. As dating or engaged couples it was natural to always create the atmosphere when out on a date together. Now as married, though living together it becomes hard to find the time and so easy to rationalize the need to create this so important relationship strengthening factor. Number 2 top ten New Year resolutions for newly married is to always create and maintain a romantic atmosphere in their relationship.

3. Always say 'I love you' at the least opportunity

Someone said 'I love you' are three beautiful words we always want to hear, because they cause us to react, positively of course. If you want positive response from your spouse throughout the year, keep saying I love you at the least opportunity. Further more, these three words have a way of casting out fears and doubts and reassuring the hearer. Each spouse no matter his/her temperament needs some reassurance of the other spouse's love from time to time.

4. Always say 'thank you'

Just like 'I love you' I think 'thank you' is the next set of words we want to hear. It is actually the least way of appreciating someone's effort. As your spouse makes effort to please you or attend to your needs, never forget to say thank you. We all need to feel appreciated and not just being used without any care. If you don't fail in appreciating your spouse's efforts in this way alone he/she will not feel unappreciated. You could however go further to appreciate him/her more in other ways, but the first test to prove you are not ungrateful is to be able to say thank you always.

5. Always plan together

'Two heads are better than one' is an old saying that is still true today especially for married couples. Planning separately can only lead to chaos. To be able to plan together means that married couples need to be completely open to each other especially about finances. Planning together does not necessarily mean having a joint account but it means being able to have a common goal and plan for each other and for your family. When married couples plan together they can then help each other to attain their separate life goals and end up having good rewards for their joint efforts.

6. Share things together

I have heard that some couples (maybe older ones, and especially among the rich who can afford a big house) come together in one room only when they want to make love. Each spouse has a separate room, separate bed, separate everything. This might be for reasons of convenience or whatever the reasons. For newly weds I suggest that they should resolve to share almost everything possible. The benefits are the closeness and fondness that results. Sharing things together also brings up issues, good and bad about each other which may then be appreciated and or resolved leading to better relationship. Newly wed couples must be willing to sacrifice convenience in other to appreciate each other more in this way.

7. Stop labeling each other

New Year resolution number 7 for newly weds is to stop labeling each other. Labels like lazy, sluggish, talkative, nagging, wasteful, spoilt, greedy, reckless, etc do not help relationships to flourish. Instead of labeling once one spouse has identified a particular trait or habit in his/her partner, he/she should take it as a responsibility to help him/her overcome the bad habit.

8. Stop keeping friends of opposite sex you are sexually attracted to

It is not uncommon to find that some newly wed still keep and even go out with friends of opposite sex who they are sexually attracted to, apart from their spouse. This situation can be illustrated with the picture of one using a long spoon to dine with the devil. The question is why do you dine with the devil in the first place, why take the risk? Before long suspicion (distrust) and jealousy will result if such friendship continues and distrust and jealousy have a way of quickly ruining marriage.

9. Stop keeping to each other alone - share your life together with others

Newly weds should resolve to step out of keeping to each other only and spend some quality time with other couples, especially older ones in order to learn from the experiences of others. They should also be willing to share their lives together with others and to spend more time with their extended family.

10 End the day together in prayer

Just like the first resolution, the best way to end the day, everyday for newly weds who desire strong bonding and a relationship that will last forever (till death do them part) is to have prayers together everynight before they go to sleep