Marriage isn't exactly a walk in the park. And even for couples who have been together for years before getting married, living together and being husband and wife is a completely different dynamic from being in a committed relationship.
That's why it's not uncommon for newlyweds to face these 7 challenges during the first year of marriage:
1. Money problems
Money is one of the reasons why a lot of couples fight and argue. Since you're now married, the both of you are basically sharing your finances, so it's very important to be smart when it comes to your spending.
Talk to your spouse about managing your finances, and figure out what things you need to spend on, and what things you shouldn't waste money on. It's also important to save up for the future, especially if you're planning on having kids soon.
2. Your in-laws
Dealing with your in-laws can be a delicate matter. For the most part, the 'horrible mother-in-law' isn't really as common as you might think. However, disagreements with your in-laws can be a pretty common occurrence.
That's why it's important to develop a good relationship with your in-laws, even before you get married.
3. Managing your time properly
Being married means that you'll be spending a lot of your time with each other. This means that sometimes, you won't have some 'alone time,' especially if your spouse gets to be a bit clingy.
Maintaining friendships and relationships outside the marriage is important since both your lives can't simply revolve around your marriage 100% of the time.
4. You start to become annoyed with your spouse
They say that "familiarity breeds contempt," and in some ways, it's true. As you and your spouse start living together, there are some things that would start to annoy you. Maybe your husband leaves his clothes on the bed, or he doesn't like to use coasters when using a glass. It's those little things that can sometimes add up to become a big problem.
Since you'll be spending the rest of your life together, it's important for the both of you to talk things through and figure out what setup would work in your marriage. It's a matter of compromise, and giving way to both your needs, as well as your spouse's needs.
5. Chores
Housework should be equally shared by both the husband and the wife. Establishing a schedule of who does what chore on a specific time and date is a good way of making sure that you're both doing your part in maintaining your home.
It's important to practice equality, and to play fair.
6. Gaining weight and hygiene
Being married means that you start getting comfortable with each other, and in some cases it means that you start to care less about your body and your hygiene, since you're no longer in the phase of trying to court or attract one another.
However, this type of behavior isn't good for your marriage since it basically shows a lack of effort to take care of yourself, or look good for your spouse. Keeping fit, eating properly, and being hygienic are all important things that show your spouse that you care about yourself, and that you care about how they look at you.
7. Intimacy
Marriage isn't all about the romance, especially since you'll start to have a lot more responsibilities once you're married. It's important to always find the time to be intimate with your spouse, or have a date night each week so that you can rekindle your romance.
In most marriages, the romance and intimacy go down every year, so make sure that you and your spouse don't fall into that statistic!
Source: bridebox.com
READ: 5 Simple signs tough times will make your marriage stronger
Republished with permission from The Asianparent Philippines
