With the rising divorce rate, many people are concerned about saving their marriage. It is not uncommon to find people who have chosen not to marry and have simply decided to live together because they fear that getting married will only make them vulnerable to divorce. Being married, these questions have bothered me a lot, but I was determined to find a way to get a marriage proof divorce. Here are some tips to do so.

1. Communication is key: Say exactly what you have in mind and don’t leave others guessing. It’s better to tell someone exactly what you want them to know, rather than assuming they know and that even applies to sex. Also take time into account. Give them some time to eat and rest after a tiring day at work before bringing up any problems. Usually it is best not to discuss problems after 9pm.

2. Be quick to apologize whether you are on the right or not. Being at peace and in harmony is more important than being right.

3. Put your spouse’s interests before yours. Do to others what you would like them to do to you. For example, prepare meals first to please them. Cook how they like it and how they like it Not necessarily how you like it. Even if that means cooking two meals, it is worth the effort to maintain your marriage.

4. Create memories together. Find common interests and spend some time on them on a weekly basis. Maybe a weekly dinner or a movie just the two of you. Just find some time to be alone at least once a week to keep the flame burning

5. Do the best you can to stay attractive, whether at home or on the go. Be clean, well dressed, and groomed. Remember what attracted you to the other in the first place and keep it up. Many people make the mistake of neglecting their appearance after marriage. That’s a great marriage killer.

6. Commit to your marriage. A good marriage takes time and hard work. Don’t look for excuses to give up on your marriage, and don’t use your children as an excuse to avoid your spouse. Also avoid using the D word (divorce) as a threat every time something goes wrong.

7. Read marriage books and consult with marriage counselors if necessary, but remember that no amount of advice or information you receive will help unless you are fully determined to make your marriage a success by making it a priority.

8. Avoid nagging. Nobody likes a spouse who exasperates them. Say something once or twice and leave it at that.

9. Look at each other above yourself. Give your spouse compliments both in public and in private. Men must open doors for their spouses and pull chairs for them. Speak well of each other and never argue in front of children.

10. If you want to be really bold, let lovemaking be more about pleasing your spouse rather than getting pleasure for yourself. You will be amazed at the satisfaction you will get while living to please your spouse.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of tips to save your marriage, but they have worked well for mine and are a good place to start. They are useful not only for married couples, but also for anyone in a loving relationship.