1. Get ready together

If you and your spouse both work away from home, then there's a big eight-hour block in the middle of the day when you're apart from each other. The time you spend getting ready in the morning is your last chance to hang out before that block. So take advantage of it - sit and eat breakfast, share a pot of coffee and even brush your teeth together.

2. Manage finances jointly

In a lot of marriages, one person provides the most money and the other handles all the logistics involved with paying the bills. But this often causes resentment on both sides: The one managing the finances can feel overburdened with the responsibility to keep the fridge stocked and the lights on, and the one not handling the finances can wish they had more control.

Do it together! Carve a little time out of each day to go over your finances with your spouse - you'll be a closer couple for it.

3. Surprise each other

One of the biggest challenges with marriage is that it's hard to keep things from getting stale. The best solution to this problem is frequent daily surprises.

That's right - a surprise every day. You probably don't have the financial means to jet off to Europe that often, but a smaller surprise will do just fine. Pick up his favorite candy before you head home; have a home-cooked meal ready when she walks in; etc.

4. Express love nightly

You never know if a sudden medical emergency will make any given night your spouse's last.

Even if you're in the middle of a fight, put that aside during the very last moment of the day and express your love and adoration, whether with "I love you" or some other similar phrase you prefer.

5. Turn off electronics

At the end of the day, you just want to unwind and sit in front of the TV. When your spouse is in the mood to do the same, this can indeed be a relaxing and bonding experience.

Just don't overdo it - you should spend a decent amount of each day with all electronics turned off so you and your spouse can just talk. You'll be surprised at how much closer you'll feel after doing this for only a few days.

Follow these healthy habits to make your marriage more enjoyable and everlasting. You won't regret it.

The post 5 simple but important things you should do with your spouse every day appeared first on FamilyToday.

I know what you're thinking: Marriage advice from a dentist? Yeah, yeah, I know.

But don't think of it so much as marriage advice per se, but observations from a married man who has gone through the stresses of dental school and is running his own dental practice as a fairly recently married man.

Up until the point where you say "I do," marriage is still a theoretical concept. No matter how much you prepare yourself, you can never anticipate all the ways that your thoughts on things like money and family will change.

Here are some reasons marriage will change the way you think about everything.

1. You're legally committed

Once you sign the papers, you're legally tied to each other. You're now Mr. and Mrs.

No longer are you responsible only for yourself. You have a partner in your life who is going to be a part of every major decision you make. From where you live, to whether you're going to buy an espresso machine, you have to consider someone else in your decisions.

2. Your finances are tied together

Money is an issue most couples discuss before they get married and it's the third leading cause of divorce. In fact, the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysis found that 22% of all divorces are because of money issues.

Since your finances are tied together, you're going to view your purchases differently. Expensive purchases that you wouldn't have never given a second thought to before you were married may end up keeping you at night.

3. Their family is your family (and vice versa)

When you marry, you acquire an entirely new family. Regardless of how close your spouse is to their family, you'll need to match their expectations for how they want you to behave around them. It could be as simple as dividing holidays but it may also involve co-parenting or step-children. Be prepared to completely change your perception of family.

4. You want to be your healthiest for them

From flossing your teeth to hitting the gym, you're going to want to be your healthiest. This doesn't necessarily mean you need to look like you just stepped off a magazine cover, but you do want to be with them for a long time, and that means caring for your health.

Getting regularly tested for medical issues and making sure they're taking care of their body are two things you'll want your spouse to do for you, and you should do these things for them.

5. Sex is all about trying new things

You've been through the awkward sex phase and now that you know each other a lot better, you may be willing to try new and adventurous things. The emotional connection you had before marriage sometimes intensifies once you make a commitment to be together "till death do us part."

6. You know they won't go anywhere

Tying the knot means you no longer have to worry about being embarrassed around each other.

Knowing that you've both made a commitment to each other means you're going to be more relaxed around each other. It's ok to laugh. It's ok to let weird noises escape. In short, you can truly be yourself and know that your spouse will still love you.

7. Their success is your success

You share your successes and your failures. No longer is their success just theirs. Prior to marriage, you may have celebrated a bonus together. Post-marriage, that bonus will actually signify a change in both of your lives. Fully supporting each other in your highs and lows will allow you to perceive your successes and failures differently.

8. You'll appreciate alone time more

You'll build a new appreciation for "me time." Seeing each other day and night means that you'll truly appreciate being alone. While you grow as a couple, continue to also grow as an individual. Indulge in yourself once in a while.

Marriage may change everything, but the biggest change will be in how you view your life and surroundings. Embrace it, and learn to truly explore the new avenues it opens up for you.

The post 8 reasons marriage will change the way you think about everything appeared first on FamilyToday.