7 Bad Habits that Can Break a Marriage

January is known as “divorce month”, once the holidays are over and a new year approaches, people are anxious to close bad chapters of their lives.

If you don’t want to end up as a divorce statistic, you need to avoid bad habits that can break a marriage. 

Bad Habits that Can Be Detrimental to Your Marriage

1. Always having the last word.  If you are trying to win an argument for the sake of winning, know that it may damage your marriage.
2. Bad or ineffective communication skills.  Good communication skills are essential in life, but even more important in a marriage. If you are no longer communicating openly with your spouse, how can your spouse fix the problem?  
3. Constantly criticizing.  No one likes to be criticizing all the time; let alone nitpicked about everything.  Try to see the good in situations and your partner instead of seeking the negative. Or try getting curious about the thing that has irked you.  Why did they do what they did? Ask curiousity questions. A positive attitude goes a long way.
4. Harboring resentment against your spouse.  Resentment can build up and slowly destroy your marriage.  Forgiveness is a huge part of marriage, learn to forgive so you can move forward in a healthy way. Resentment may also be a sign of something you are noticing that is missing from your relationship.  For instance, if you are feeling resentment every time your spouse leaves the home for work, maybe you are missing time with your spouse.  So instead of feeding your resentment toward your spouse, ask your spouse for some alone time together, maybe a “date night”.
5. Lack of intimacy.   Even with the demands of children, work, and everyday life, it is essential to make time for each other.  It is important to plan dates nights that allow you to have quality, alone time with your spouse without the children around. 
6. Distracted communication.  Always glued to your computer or cell phone when your spouse is trying to have an important conversation with you can have a negative impact.  Try to give your spouse undivided attention when they are trying to have an important conversation with you. Or even simpler than that, what if you gave your spouse 15 minutes of your full undivided attention every day, what might that do for your relationship?
7. Being abusive.  Abuse can come in the form of verbal, physical or emotional abuse.  No matter what type of abuse exists in a marriage, it is unacceptable.  Your spouse may tolerate it for the time being, but ultimately, it can put an end to your marriage for good.  If you are the abuser, seek professional help to get to the root of the problem rather than taking it out on your spouse.

Avoid Bad Habits That Can Break a Marriage

If you are on the receiving end of the bad habits, you may have no choice but to consider divorce, or you can explore ways to respond differently to your spouse’ behaviors in a way that will  result in a change in your spouse’s behavior.  If you are curious how you can change your behavior or reaction, or are considering divorce, contact Sabra Law Group for guidance.  You can schedule an appointment with Sabra at (646) 472-7971.