By At its core, marriage is more than a fleeting feeling like that depicted in television shows and romantic novels. It’s a commitment to stick together through the good and the bad.
Those who decide to take the plunge and get married reap numerous personal, familial and economic benefits. Here are nine reasons why it’s important for your overall well-being: 1. It may save your life.
1. It Makes You Stronger
A spouse is a source of support when things get rough. Research shows that married people have a better chance of getting through difficult times, both emotionally and physically.
Marital satisfaction also increases happiness and guards against mental health troubles that can lead to early mortality.
Work on making your marriage stronger every day. It doesn’t have to be something grand, just little things like spending time together and laughing.
2. It Makes You Happier
Research has found that people who get married live longer and are generally happier than those who remain single or cohabitate. However, the happiness effect may be influenced by how people expect marriage to transform their lives.
Happily married couples tend to check up on each other and encourage healthy lifestyles, such as regular meals, moderate drinking, and a stable social network. The result is better physical health and mental stability.
3. It Makes You More Self-Aware
For decades, there has been a strong link between marriage and healthy lifestyle choices. Whether it’s not smoking because of the danger to their partner or eating a diet of home-cooked foods, married people are less likely to engage in risky behaviors.
Healthy marriages depend on honest, forthright communication. This goes beyond discussing kids’ schedules and grocery lists; it also includes addressing each other’s fears, hopes, dreams and anxieties.
4. It Makes You More Trusting
Marriage is a big commitment and requires sacrifice. It also has its challenges like bickering over finances, raising children and arguing about whose turn it is to take out the trash.
But it’s also a way of ensuring that you are taken care of in your old age and beyond. Married people have lower rates of unhealthy behaviors such as smoking and drinking than those who are single.
5. It Makes You More Loyal
It also improves your sexual intimacy. Studies show that married couples experience more satisfaction with sex and are less likely to engage in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) than those who are cohabitating or not married (2).
Married people tend to be more dependable and responsible. This is because they are more committed to each other and their community. This is also why research shows that married people live longer than single people (3).
6. It Makes You More Flexible
Statistically, married couples are better off than singles. They have twice as much income and enjoy more market and public goods. They also benefit from the division of labor and specialization.
Psychological flexibility is the ability to maintain a broader perspective, even when things are difficult. It helps you avoid wasting time and energy on what won’t change.
Fiery, passionate love is great, but it doesn’t have to be the only reason for marriage.
7. It Makes You More Creative
Despite the perception that married couples are less creative than their single counterparts, research suggests the opposite is true. Satisfying marriages boost workplace creativity, particularly for employees who aren’t naturally very creative.
A happy marriage enables you to deepen your engagement with experiences on an emotional, cognitive and intellectual level. This could mean mountain biking, art, acroyoga—anything that gets you to explore new ideas and philosophies. This helps you grow as a person and brings excitement back into your relationship.
8. It Makes You More Open
Marriage provides a secure platform for opening up to your partner about the things that are important to you. This includes your dreams, aspirations, fears, and feelings. It also teaches you how to communicate in a healthy and loving way.
It also teaches you how to be vulnerable and ask for forgiveness. It’s not easy to admit your mistakes and accept an apology when you hurt your spouse, but it’s a necessary part of marriage.
9. It Makes You Stronger
Marriage gives us the chance to develop a deep inner sense of responsibility for another person. This sense of accountability can reduce the risk of stress-related illnesses like high blood pressure and heart disease.
Married people also experience a boost to their immune system, possibly due to lower levels of cortisol. This can help them bounce back faster from illness and injury. This is particularly true in middle age, when the benefits of marriage are strongest.