You Should Live on Your Own Before Getting Married
Getting married is a huge life event that changes your priorities. As exciting as it is, getting married also means there are certain things you won't have the chance to do, such as living on your own. To help you cross the most important items off your pre-marriage bucket list, here are 20 things you should do before you get married.
1. Travel with Friends
Of course, you can still travel without your partner after you're married, but it becomes more difficult. Use the time leading up to getting married to travel with a few companions whom you trust. This will allow you to live independently, and you can splurge before you have to worry about household finances.
2. Live on Your Own
It's valuable to live independently before you settle down and get married. This will teach you to manage a household, and you will grow accustomed to sticking to a budget. From paying bills on time to doing your laundry, living on your own will make sure you are a contributing member of your marriage.
3. Build Financial Independence
It's vital to establish your financial independence before you get married. This will teach you to save, budget, invest, and manage your debt. By doing so, you will come into a marriage with little to no financial baggage and can contribute as needed.
4. Spend Time Alone
Learning to enjoy being by yourself will build your self-awareness and resilience, and develop your emotional security. Solitude helps you learn about yourself and gives you time to reflect on your goals, values, and future. Spending time alone will make you stronger in a relationship.
5. Have an Honest Conversation About Values
Before the big day, you and your partner should sit down and discuss your values to ensure they align and are compatible. Discuss topics like religion, finances, career goals, family expectations, and politics. This needs to be an honest conversation, so don't hold back, but be open to what your partner has to say.
6. Learn to Cook a Few Meals
Cooking is an important life skill, and you should learn how to whip up a few meals before you walk down the aisle. These meals don't have to be fancy, but they can give you some basic cooking skills that you can later expand on. A great tip is to ask for a family recipe or buy a few cookbooks.
7. Resolve Lingering Family Issues
You don't want to carry too much emotional baggage into a relationship, so it's best to try to reconcile any issues with your family beforehand. This can be healing a broken relationship, setting boundaries, or resolving a conflict.
8. Experience Living with a Roommate
Living with a roommate before you live with your husband or wife will teach you valuable skills about sharing a space. You'll learn what annoys you and discover some of your bad habits that may need to be rectified.
9. Pursue Career Ambitions
You don't have to give up your career goals once you're married, but your priorities might change, and your schedule might be busier. Lean into your career ambitions pre-marriage, and try to push your career as far along as possible before you're spending every evening on wedding planning.
10. Save Some Money
Saving money before marriage will teach you financial practicality and also give you some peace of mind. It will foster independence and let you live with less stress. This will also ensure that you don't have to rely on a spouse financially.
11. Pursue Hobbies
Pursuing your hobbies and interests before marriage will help you develop your personal identity. Committing to a hobby will give you joy and personal fulfilment that you can bring into a marriage. Hobbies also provide opportunities to develop your creativity and meet like-minded people.
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12. Learn Conflict Resolution
Before getting married, learning how to resolve conflicts healthily will be invaluable later on. Disagreements are going to happen, so learn how to actively listen, avoid blaming others, and the art of compromising.
13. Practice Self-Care
Before committing to another person, you need to develop an understanding of how to take care of yourself. By practicing self-care, you can be more considerate of your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
14. Set Healthy Boundaries
You and your partner should set healthy boundaries before your union is official. Boundaries define what will be acceptable in your marriage, and protect your emotional health and self-respect. You will also learn how to communicate your needs and stand firm when the time calls for it.
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15. Attend Premarital Counseling
Premarital counselling doesn't have to be an option only when there's an issue in your relationship. It's a proactive step that can help you and your partner develop healthy habits and build a foundation of trust and understanding.
16. Learn Personal Time Management
By honing your personal time management skills, you will be better equipped to prioritize your responsibilities, passions, and alone time.
17. Reconnect with Old Friends
Friendships can fade as we get older and busier, or as more disagreements and misunderstandings happen. Friendships provide support during our marriages, so it's worthwhile to reach out to old friends and rebuild those relationships.
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18. Evaluate Your Relationship Goals
By evaluating your relationship goals, you can confirm that you're getting married for the right reason. Ask yourself what you really want and define your expectations for your partners.
19. Take Risks
Risks and mistakes teach us valuable life lessons. Before getting married, you should embrace any opportunity to take a calculated risk or two. This can teach you how to own your mistakes, and the reward might be worth the risk.
20. Create a Bucket List
A bucket list outlines the adventures you want to have and the ambitions you want to pursue. It's best to make your bucket list before getting married, and then pursue each one with full commitment.
