Stress can be an overwhelming problem in a marriage.  Now we could sit here and go through all the reasons for worry and stress, money problems, jobs, etc. but the bottom line is that if you want to succeed in life and succeed in marriage, then you must find ways to reduce your stress and relax.

The following are some really wonderful ideas for inexpensive things that you can do to bond as a couple and reduce your stress.

1.  Take a vacation from reality.  You don’t need to actually go anywhere to do this.  Simply take some time off from life.  Turn off the phone, TV and computer.  Spend some time together.  If you have kids, send them to grandma’s house.  Give each other massages, take baths, do some reading together (not the newspaper) and essentially just block out everything for a day or two.  This will provide you both with a much needed break without having to spend a fortune on an expensive trip.

2.  Take a walk together.  Hold hands and talk.  The fresh air and endorphins will do both of you some good and give you both a much needed break.

3.  Exercise together.  Pick up a cheap yoga tape online.  There are some really great one’s for couples to do together.  Yoga is not only great for getting in shape, it is also very relaxing.

4.  Talk about what is really on your mind.  Letting go of emotions and feelings can really help to take the pressure off.  Create a time and place to just let go of some of the pressures of the day and share your thoughts, fears and concerns.  Sharing these with your life partner, can help you to feel better and they may be able to help you see solutions that you don’t see yourself.

Working together to help reduce stress is good for each of you as individuals and for you as a couple.  You may ask can reducing stress really save my marriage? And the answer is YES!

A big issue is that men and women tend to like different things, so how can you still take time for yourself, while keeping your spouse satisfied? Take Tom, he is an avid football fan, and when football season comes around, Cristi his wife becomes a football widow.  She doesn’t like football, and can’t stand the fact that he is completely out of touch for the entire season.  Is she wrong? Well, to a point.  It is important to nurture our spouses and encourage them in their interests, even when they are not shared interests, but sometimes men will take these things to the extremes.  The best thing to do is to keep your interests, but also set limits on yourself.  It is important to let your wife and family know that they are important during football season, or whatever season it is that really gets your attention.  Set certain days and times, and watch only the games that are really important to you.  For instance, set up a weekly schedule and still participate in the household on your off times.  Use those times to take your wife to dinner, play ball with your kids, or just generally help out around the house.  These little things can make a world of difference in your wife’s resentment towards the things you love.  It can be amazing to watch this transformation.  For instance, if you do the dinner dishes before heading into the den to watch the game, your wife will probably be less resentful of the activity.  Life and marriage are balancing acts and so you really need to find a way to do the things you love without putting your home life on hold.  Doing some little things can help really bond you together.  And occasionally if she is into it maybe ask her to come and watch the game with you, even if you have to explain it.  Who knows, maybe she will even become a fan too!