They say honesty is the best policy and it seems this is true for a growing number of couples. A new survey of over 1,000 married individuals by London law firm Brookman Solicitors has revealed that nowadays, more couples are truthful about their feelings, which in turn helps to avoid family tensions, prevent relationship breakdowns and even divorce!
Over the festive period 1023 married individuals in the US participated in Brookman Solicitors online survey. The relationship survey entailed 10 questions on a plethora of topics including honesty, relationships, family tensions especially over Christmas, their partner’s use of technology, and their relationship hopes for the future.
Often the best way to deal with arguments is to listen and compromise – keeping issues and emotions pent up will only make the situation worse. 66% of individuals surveyed said they alleviate tensions by addressing any conflict head on as soon as the issue arises.
The stress of not revealing how you truly feel can not just impact your relationship but it can also impact on those around you such as family, friends and colleagues. Communication is key to prevent relationship hurdles escalating beyond repair.
Honesty is the best policy
It may seem the easiest option to just give a quick white lie here and there but often not sharing the truth with your partner can lead to deeper rooted problems in a relationship.
Our survey has revealed that over Christmas only 58% of individuals would be honest with their partner over whether they liked their presents with many others pretending to like the gift for a significant period after. We are only human and often it is best to just admit the truth to help maintain respect and trust in your relationship.
Look UP from your phone
In today’s digital age where many of us are addicted to our phones, especially social media. It is easy to lose a grasp of reality but this can be incredibly detrimental to a relationship. Interestingly, 40% of our respondents said their partner wouldn’t check their social media profiles at all on Christmas Day.
Many respondents hoped this would continue into the new year so they could enjoy each other’s company and make more memories without the pressure and distraction of documenting their activities on social media.
Embrace happy thoughts!
A positive mindset can do wonders for relationships – only a third of respondents in our survey said they would be likely to experience family arguments or tensions over the holiday period.
Keeping calm and listening to others before jumping to conclusions can prevent any miscommunication or unnecessary arguments – this can be applied to not just your partner but also for your wider family and friend network.
Set goals for the future
A new year often means new year resolutions! 63% of those surveyed said they planned to change or improve as aspect of their life in 2018. This change could involve a career change, new home, a diet or even a new relationship.
If your partner decides to set goals for the upcoming year make sure to help and support them achieve theirs too. A motivated couple who support each other are much more likely to achieve their goals this year!
