Having a happy spouse does make life a lot better. And the extent to which this happens has now been looked into and the results are encouraging.

The thing about having a happy marriage is that it starts from the beginning. You can’t expect a fulfilling union when you don’t pick the right partner. And according to SivanaSpirit, some of the things one must look for include finding an honest person, someone who’s ready to commit, ensure you both have common interests and make sure you’re not going into the marriage hoping to change them.

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It’s also important that you be on the same page when it comes to life goals, have the ability to forgive each other and avoid people with addiction issues, at least, until they seek help.

How to have a happy marriage

Now, when you do find a decent partner, the next, lasting hurdle is to create a happy union. This does take some work but once two people know what they expect from each other, then it can be possible.

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Accord offers some good advice to keep a union blissful. They involve doing things together as a couple and maintaining a close relationship physically and emotionally. In the end, incorporate unity in all the aspects of your life, this way, you always feel like a team.

A happy spouse equals long life

In a 2019 study published in Psychological Science, it was shown that having a happy spouse not only makes your marriage last but may also help you live longer too.

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The researchers discovered that spousal life satisfaction is linked to mortality and this has nothing to do with a person’s socioeconomic standing, demography or their health status. In fact, they found that having a happy spouse has more of a direct link to longevity than when the person themselves are happy.

Living a long life is usually directly affected by the adoption of good health habits such as diet and exercise. And when you have a partner who’s happy and active, you’re more likely to be the same.

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Olga Stavrova, one of the researchers, explained that the opposite is the case too:

Stavrova concluded that life satisfaction and longevity are possible when people have partners who take physical activity and health seriously. Thus, the study begs the possibility that when choosing a life partner, one may want to consider the value and commitment they place on their own health.

How to make your spouse happy

We all want happiness and a long life, don’t we? And now that it looks like we need to have a happy partner for that to happen, you may want to consider ways to boost your spouse’s bliss.

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Some things you can do to put a smile on your significant other’s face include appreciating them, talking, making time for their needs, going out of your way to make something super special for them and putting some effort into planning intimacy.

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While we may have all been aware that having a happy marriage can boost one’s mood, now that you know it can help you live longer too, it’s worth it to put the energy into doing things that make your spouse happy. And in the end, you both win.