A bit of Spousonomics! ~ Life Stylzz

06:15

Marriage is a religious, social and legal union of two individuals till death do them part. But in the last decade, India has witnessed a steep increase in the number of divorces. Spousonomics, enabling couples to economise their time and efforts, can help.

In the book Spousonomics, authors Jenny Anderson and Paula Szuchman write that the most important things in a successful marriage are faithfulness and sharing household chores like laundry, dishes and cleaning.

Rajesh Raman has been married for five years now. He and his spouse Garima come from different cultures and traditions. Says Raman, "Before marriage, I never celebrated Holi. But now, it has become the most awaited celebration." He adds, "We complement each other well. The qualities that I lack — time management, planning for future goals, etc — are compensated by my spouse. I make up for her being short on patience. "

Many times, the financial position stated by the groom or bride before marriage is contrary to the truth and leads to strained relationships, says Dr Shailaja Pokhriyal, consultant, clinical psychology, Dr B L Kapur Memorial Hospital, New Delhi.

There can also be issues related to allocation of different resources and on how to bring up the child. Hence, for a lasting relationship, one should be accommodative and open to communication.

Tips for a happy marriage
Division of labour
As an individual, we might be good in certain areas. For example, some people are better at cooking, while others panic at the sight of a vacuum cleaner.

Incentives
Get your spouse to do what you want by giving him/her an incentive of his or her choice.

The principle of cost and benefit
Both partners should understand the cost and benefit of an argument. Communicating with each other is the key to all successful relationships. It reduces the possibilities of misunderstandings.

(Inputs by Dr Rachna K Singh, lifestyle management expert, Artemis Health Institute, Gurgaon )