I speak from experience when I say that being a husband is not easy. It takes a lot of work, time, and effort to be the best you can be for your wife. If you’re looking for ways to make yourself into an even better husband, this post will point out some places where you (and most of us) could stand to improve.
So without further ado, here are 11 ways you can become a better husband.
1. Have a healthy work/life balance and make time for both the job and family.
You can be a better husband if you can be present with your family.
While it’s true that work is important, don’t be too tied down to the office. Leave early or come in late once a month. Let them see you giving yourself time to be with them.
Try not to be glued on the computer either when you’re at home; turn off the screen and play some board games with the kids instead
Go out camping every weekend or go away for mini-breaks, even just overnight sometimes is enough for your marriage and relationship will thrive.
2. Support her dreams and encourage her ambitions.
You can be a better husband if you are encouraging her and being the biggest cheerleader for her, it will help to feel like she has your support.
Encourage your wife’s dreams be they graduating college or starting a business, be the person that stands by them no matter what.
3. Learn how to be more romantic with her.
Admit it: men are wired to be more practical than romantic. I don’t know about you, but I have trouble thinking up reasons why my wife deserves a dozen roses and chocolate every time a holiday rolls around – the tradition just doesn’t make sense to me. But good news: It’s not supposed to make sense! Chocolates and flowers aren’t supposed to be logical; they’re meant as a way of showing your love for that person in some tangible way. (By the way, my wife doesn’t actually like flowers and chocolates. She’s more of a bouquet of ink pens kind of gal.)
However, your wife’s love language may not be gifts. Maybe it’s quality time instead or acts of service. Learn what your wife thinks is romantic, and go from there.
4. Help out around the house without being asked.
Chores are a huge part of marriage, and she’s certainly more likely to be happy with you if you’re apt to pitch in without having to be told. After all, homemaking is an undervalued skill that takes work and effort. Don’t be the guy who sits around watching TV while your wife cleans up; be the one that pitches in instead!
5. Give her compliments.
Most of us are built to be complimented; it makes us feel good about ourselves, and the one doing the complimenting is seen as being thoughtful and considerate! Everyone likes to be appreciated, so make sure that your wife knows how much she’s loved through little verbal and physical gestures – no matter how big or small.
Read our post on 5 Thoughtful Ways to Compliment Your Wife.
6. Be patient.
Patience is a virtue we simply don’t possess enough of these days; everybody seems to be in a hurry, and every person wants everything right now. But relationships are about long-term goals, which means that you need to be willing to be patient with your wife’s needs and desires.
7. Keep your promises.
You can be a better husband by keeping your promises.
Your wife is going to be disappointed if you promise her something and don’t come through on it – so be sure that the things that you say you’re going to be doing, you actually do them! This will earn her trust in you over time.
8. Be willing to compromise.
Compromise is part of every marriage relationship, and the healthiest relationships are the ones where both partners feel like they’re being heard. If you need something different than she needs in order for your marriage to be happy, be sure and tell her! Try to work together to reach a mutually beneficial arrangement.
9. Stay calm and don’t overreact when you’re angry.
Everyone gets frustrated at their spouse, but that doesn’t mean that the best way to solve that frustration is to be mean or hurtful or to lash out at them. Remember: marriage is hard enough without making it harder on your wife! If you’re thinking of saying or doing something cruel because you’re angry, take a moment—be sure and think about what could be done instead that would be more helpful to the relationship overall.
10. Listen to her talk about her day (even if it’s boring).
There’s a big difference between listening to your wife talk and just letting her talk. Listening means that you’re focused on what she says, instead of thinking about how you’re going to answer the question when it’s your turn. If your wife has a long day at work or had a bad experience with one of her friends, be sure and be supportive – she needs someone who will be sympathetic and empathetic.
11. Make time for date nights, even if they are just a movie night at home with take-out food.
Date nights are important to every marriage relationship – they give you both an opportunity to be alone, be together, and have some fun without the demands of work or the kids. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on expensive dinners in order for it to be date night; sometimes just having a relaxing evening at home with take-out food is what you need!
In summary, the most important thing you can do to be a better husband is by being attentive and caring. If you are willing to put in the time and effort into understanding your wife’s needs and desires, it will lead to happy marriages for everyone involved! Remember that marriage takes work; this doesn’t mean that one party has more responsibility than another but instead means each person should contribute their own strengths accordingly. Lastly, don’t forget about date nights—they’re an integral part of every successful relationship!
