communication | Prepare/Enrich Blog

To Be (Social) Or Not To Be: 5 Things to Talk About

March 31, 2021March 30, 2021 Ann Malmberg 3 Comments

Believe it or not, our social lives can be a source of conflict. One partner needs more social interaction, while the other prefers much less. One person thinks the party is on Friday, but the other person is certain they told you Saturday. Throw in limited free time, kids, and other various circumstances, and things can turn into a mess pretty quickly.

One of the keys to navigating this challenge is obvious, but oh so important: clear and honest communication. Here are five things to make sure you’re talking about.

Spring Cleaning For Your Relationship

March 24, 2021March 22, 2021 Ann Malmberg 3 Comments

Ah, spring. Those first few warm days where people feel the urge to open the windows, dust away the cobwebs, and deep clean the grime that has accumulated over the winter. Relationships can benefit from a regular “clean up” as well, or in this context it could be more of a “check in.” Whether it’s once a year on your anniversary or as often as a weekly or monthly date night, make a point to touch base with each other on the state of your relationship. Here are some things you might have on your task list:

Baby Steps to Relationship Growth

March 17, 2021March 17, 2021 Ann Malmberg 1 Comment

Growing is part of life. Physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, spiritually, you name it – we grow in so many ways throughout our lives. The thing about growing, though, is that there isn’t a shortcut. We usually can’t skip over the hard, uncomfortable, or awkward parts even though we’d sometimes like to (middle school flashbacks – yikes). Even though it might not seem like it at the time, those stages are valuable. We learn a lot from them, often gaining experience and insight that helps us down the road. Through this, we also gain the confidence to stretch the boundaries of our current state, growing as we tackle the next step.

It’s not entirely surprising then, that our confidence and motivation can take a hit when our “next step” is too big. Sometimes we go for it and fall, and we say, “Okay, not trying that again anytime soon!” Sometimes we just can’t even fathom how we’ll make it, so we don’t even try.

Have you ever experienced this? How about in your relationship?

The Benefits of Couple Friends

March 10, 2021March 9, 2021 Ann Malmberg Leave a comment

We know it’s healthy to have separate friendships after you’re married. Spending time with your own friends, away from your partner, helps you maintain a balance of “I” versus “we” and nurture your own identity. That being said, there are some unique benefits to having “couple friends,” too. Here are four big ones:

Can I Get Your Advice?

February 24, 2021February 24, 2021 Ann Malmberg 2 Comments

Has anyone ever asked you for relationship advice? How did you respond?

Chances are, we’ll experience this in some form or another in our lives. Maybe it’s a good friend seeking your input, a younger sibling looking for guidance, or a coworker venting about their significant other. Whatever the situation, you’ll have a choice of how to respond. That response, and the ease with which you give it, depends a lot on the context of your relationship with that person, as well as your own relationship experience. Your comfort level could range from “Argh, I don’t know what to say,” to “TMI alert!”

No matter where you fall on this spectrum, here are some things to keep in mind: