How to Set Goals With Your Husband

Married

In order to have a successful marriage, both spouses have to take time out of their busy schedules to plan their future together. One of the primary ways to achieve this success is to set goals for the marriage.

Both spouses must try to accomplish these goals in the realistic time frame that has been decided mutually. Having weekly meetings to address concerns and revisiting those goals is common. A marriage takes work and this is something many couples discover after they are divorced.

For instance, having a baby at some specific period in your life should be one of the most important goals that a couple could consider, yet many couples find themselves expecting a baby they're not ready for.

Things You'll Need

• Notepad
• Pen or pencil
• 1/2 hour of time
• Possible mediator

Instructions

Setting Marital Goals with Your Husband

1. Get a notepad. Set aside 30 minutes to create marital goals. Note the common goals that you both wish to accomplish. Set realistic goals and a time limit for each goal. Get a mediator to help you to reach these goals, if necessary.

2. Decide together what career goals are important to each of you and how you will reach those goals, compromising if necessary.

   Decide if and when you want to begin a family.

   Make a decision on subsequent college education, how it will be funded and how long it will take to accomplish.

3. Talk about how you will manage conflicts and whom you will consult as a mediator.

   Provide honest answers about your personal finances.

   Decide whether you will incorporate personal finances or if you will keep them separate.

   Set budget goals that will help with your financial well-being.

4. Talk about your vision for the future and where you see your marriage in the next five years.

   Document this and place it somewhere visible.

   Make changes to your vision as you see fit.

5. Inform your husband of your insecurities, strengths and weaknesses. There may be an area in which he is stronger and you can complement each other.

   Use your strengths to make your husband look good. Men operate from an ego perspective.

   Run your household effectively and let your husband know what you love and don't love to do around the house.

Tips & Warnings

• Never take each other for granted. Talk about concerns to make your marriage stronger. Implement goals that you know you can commit to. Make the goals binding by signing it as a contract.

• Don't put too much pressure on yourself because it will only frustrate you and make you want to give up on your goals. Ask for help if you need it. No one is perfect and you will make mistakes. Own up to them.

References

• Image (Married)