Lawrence Walton
Maintaining a bond between you and your partner takes effort, sacrifice, and time. But even this isn’t always enough to avoid a breakup. Challenges like financial stress, parenting struggles, or miscommunication can creep in, creating emotional distance between you and your partner over time. You may have many reasons why you want your relationship to survive hardship, including kids, financial stability, or simply because you really love the other person.
Either way, there are things you can do today to save your relationship from breaking down.The key is to take small but intentional actions that foster trust, respect, and connection. From making an appointment with a marriage counselling Melbourne expert, to taking steps to strengthen communication between you and your partner, here are some practical things you can do within the next 24 hours.
1. Call a Professional Counsellor
The first thing you can do right now is to contact a professional marriage counsellor. Making an appointment with an expert in marriage counselling could be one of the most relationship-changing steps you can take to save your marriage.
2. Write it Down
Getting your thoughts and ideas on paper is a great way to prepare for a discussion with your partner as well as with your marriage counsellor. You can include:
- The problems within the relationship from your perspective
- What you want changed
- Where you see those changes taking place
- The benefits of those changes
- Possible solutions
- The benefits of saving your relationship
This is something you can do right now, whether you’re at work, scrolling your phone in bed, or drinking your morning cup of coffee.
3. Take a Crash Course in Listening
Hop online and find a good course on listening skills. Listening is an art, and many people who think they’re good listeners are in fact not. Active listening involves not just hearing but understanding and validating your partner’s feelings.
But good listening can be learnt, and acquiring this valuable skill will set you up for a better relationship, as well as constructive conversations with your partner. Get the gist of good listening right now by checking out a basic YouTube video or reading an article online.
4. Set Up a Date
Perhaps there’s a lack of romance in your relationship. Planning a date is something you can do within the next 24 hours to spice things up. It doesn’t have to be extravagant—sometimes a walk in the park or cooking dinner together can reignite lost sparks.
Surprise your partner by asking them out on a date, and write down a few conversational topics you can have with them. Plan something you know your partner will enjoy, and show them that you care about their wants and desires.
5. Spend Time on Your Memories
Photos, old videos, and even your wedding album can be a powerful way to remember the good times (and the way you felt at the time) with your partner. Nostalgia is a strong emotion, and we all wish we could look back at the past and grab a hold of those feelings we felt when we were hopelessly in love.
Hopefulness, goals, and positive expectations can all be remembered fondly by looking back at the start of your relationship and comparing it to the current status quo. So, grab some old photos and force yourself to remember the good times.
6. Focus on Future Goals
Are there any common goals you and your partner can agree on? Having this common vision with your significant other is a good way to view yourselves as a team. Aligning on future aspirations—whether it’s travel, career milestones, or parenting strategies—helps rebuild trust and unity.
It also helps you to constructively talk about where you see yourselves in the future, and how your current problems hinder both of you both from reaching them. Write down some of the common goals you and your partner have, and focus on these as a way to strengthen your bond.
7. List Ways You Can Compromise
Compromise is an important part of any relationship. You and your partner both have certain expectations from the relationship and listing these can help you recognise where you could possibly compromise.
You know your partner well enough to understand what they would change about you if they could. Identifying areas where you can let go of small frustrations will show your partner you’re serious about working on the relationship. So, is there anything you can think of where you can make compromises? If so, write them down and start working on them today.
8. List Your Boundaries
It’s also just as important to list the ways you are NOT willing to compromise. Setting boundaries on aspects of your relationship that are non-negotiable is a great way to communicate those needs to your partner.
This also helps you to understand what you can and cannot put up with in the relationship, which enables you to make better decisions about your future with the other person.
9. Communicate With Your Partner
Marriage counsellors are experts at helping you and your partner communicate better. However, it’s worth learning communications skills at any given time within your relationship, so why not start right now?
Start by expressing your thoughts clearly and listening to understand—not just to respond. There are tons of online resources that can help you get started on the journey of better communication with your significant other.
Final Thoughts
Your marriage is worth saving, and these steps may just take you down the path of restoration. Remember that there is no quick fix to mending a relationship, so stress hard work and effort should be expected.
Every small action matters—over time, they can build the momentum needed for long-term healing. Focusing your energy on the right solutions like the ones listed above will equip you and your partner to better understand each other, and set you on the road to relationship recovery.
