After tying the knot, you might find the transition into domestic life is more difficult than you’d initially imagined. Most couples experience some growing pains during this shift, so don’t be too hard on yourself when things are awkward or uncomfortable. Still, you should take note of areas where you’re experiencing issues. Addressing these problems early or before they even start can do wonders to help keep your new marriage strong during those first few years. Find the best path for your journey with these suggestions.

Put in Effort

While results tend to matter in academic and professional environments, this is not quite the case with marriages. Solving a problem you are experiencing with your partner will not always be possible. However, putting in the effort can do wonders for making both parties feel heard and engaged in working toward a solution. Routines change, and relationships are easy to take for granted as the years wear on. By tackling problems early in your marriage, you can limit the odds of creating distance between you later from a lack of meaningful engagement.

Talk About Sex

For many people, sex is easiest during the earliest stages of a relationship. Though it might be a stereotype in some ways, gay men are statistically more likely to sleep with a romantic partner on the first date than straight men, straight women, and lesbian women. As the relationship moves forward, however, sex can become stale or ignored altogether. This can cause many men to seek physical attention elsewhere. Open relationships and open marriages are more common than they used to be, but a discussion always needs to be had in advance.

Having sex with another person while in a committed relationship is cheating. If you and your partner have already discussed terms and conditions about bringing outside individuals into your sex life, on the other hand, it can create a new and interesting playing field. Always have the conversation before acting on sexual desires, as cheating is the easiest way to ruin any relationship beyond repair. 

Work on Emotional Intimacy

Several studies have uncovered that gay men, while often more adventurous with sexual relationships, struggle as much as straight men in regard to emotional intimacy. Societal conditioning and generational differences can make gay men feel awkward about discussing thoughts or emotions with other men, even romantic partners. Since emotional intimacy is a cornerstone of any strong marriage, you should focus on how to develop this with your partner. You don’t need to share every thought with one another, but you need to be able to talk freely to each other whenever possible.

You must also stay mindful of negative emotions that bubble up in regard to emotional connections. If your partner turns to friends or relatives when he or she needs to talk about emotions or problems, you can’t get jealous over this. Instead, mention that you would also like to be supportive in this way. By acting with care, you’ll have a better chance of establishing a healthy way to address your personal issues together.

Remember Time Matters

Recent reports suggest that the average couple only spends a few hours together on a weekday. Demanding jobs and social obligations can make people feel like ships passing in the night. If you tend to only see your spouse when you’re about to fall asleep or when you’re preparing for work in the morning, you need to slow things down and look at your schedules. Find at least one night each week where you can sit together and be present for each other. It doesn’t matter how you spend the time, as long as you have it to use.

Marriage is filled with ups and downs. To weather the storms ahead, develop a strong marriage with habits that bring you closer together.