The transition of a young adult, especially a woman, from a carefree soul to a mature individual with increased responsibilities after marriage can be huge. This transition can be overwhelming and frightening but at the same time, it can be a start to a happy and fulfilling life with your partners. Therefore, mental health wellness is an irreplaceable factor for women undergoing this huge change of lifestyle after marriage. Taking good care of oneself physically and mentally would help immensely in the long run and help navigate married life in a better and happier way.
Here are some crucial mental health hacks for newly married women, each explored extensively to provide impactful insights into life:
Open Communication as a Foundation
Remember the iconic movie, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi? In the film, the newly married couple only engages in heart-to-heart communication very late in time, thus creating a lot of misunderstandings and trust issues. But once they do, everything goes back into place and they start to live a happily-ever-after type life together. Agreed, arranged marriages can be scary and can lead to a life full of uncertainty, but with open communication and acknowledgment of each other’s highs and lows, one can step into a lifetime of a supportive and loving marriage. Imagine in the film if both the hero and heroine had openly conversed and shared their fears and doubts, the movie would have finished in 10 minutes. Funny right? Therefore, open conversations do not mean expressing only one’s own thoughts but also listening to your partner’s ideas and opinions, respecting them, and considering them.
To create a space for open dialogue and heart-to-heart communication, the newlywed couple should spend a good amount of time with each other and try to share their fears, expectations, and dreams. This method will foster a sense of intimacy and form a deep connection based on the foundation of mutual trust and understanding. Open conversations become a powerful tool that helps eradicate misunderstandings and navigate challenges together, leading to a happy and content life together.
Embracing Realistic Expectations
When entering the early days of a marriage, it’s natural to have a lot of dreams and high expectations from partners. However, understanding the reality that not everyone is perfect is crucial to moving forward in life. Newlywed women should accept that marriage, like any other relationship, will have its share of highs and lows, and navigating through them together is the secret to a long and happy marriage. Setting realistic expectations includes accepting the imperfections and flaws both in yourself and your partner creates an environment of love and understanding in the marriage.
According to a study in the Journal of Marriage and Family, couples who practice mutual empathy and passion, have higher levels of relationship satisfaction. Sharing individual goals, ambitions, and fears gives a space to embrace realistic expectations, and discuss potential challenges, navigating the roadmap for the future. This shared space created by the couple sets the stage for an unbreakable bond between them thus resulting in a happy marriage.
Prioritising Self-Care
While stepping into the whirlwind of a new lifestyle and adjusting to a new way of life after marriage, the most neglected aspect is considered to be self-prioritisation and self-care. Self-care can be misunderstood by many as a selfish way to spend time which is utterly inaccurate. Women, especially newly married women should mandatorily find time in their schedules to care for themselves both mentally and physically and be a better version of themselves. This process not only benefits the woman herself but also her partner as she becomes the best version of herself and is mentally in a better place.
In a recent study from the National Institute of Mental Health, doing self-care activities like exercises, relaxation techniques, and spending time with your loved ones, helps reduce mental health issues. The drastic lifestyle change can sometimes impact women mentally and thus self-care is one of the best ways to tackle the problems and lead a happy and content married life.
Establishing Healthy Boundaries
Individuality is a crucial part of your personality and maintaining it after marriage can be done by establishing healthy boundaries that help in personal growth and relationship stability. Newly married women should make it a point to establish and communicate healthy boundaries with their partners, that pave the path for pursuing individual interests and have a world of their outside marriage. Establishing clear-cut boundaries also creates a sense of independence, mitigating feelings of suffocation and resentment that can arise due to the breach of personal space.
Seeking Support When Needed
Marriage is not a path on which you travel alone, it is supposed to be a communion of two people who love each other dearly and support one another no matter what. Newly married women can also seek advice and help from their families, close friends, and professional counselors to maintain their peace of mind and mental health wellness. Newly married women should feel secure enough to share their problems with their partners, loved ones, or any trusted individual for a better married life. Asking for help is considered taboo even today and it’s high time new couples feel courageous enough to ask for help for the betterment of their relationship.
The early days of marriage are filled with excitement and are a time of exploration, growth, and adjustment. By having open communication, keeping realistic expectations, prioritising self-care, and asking for support when in need, newlywed women can lay a solid foundation for a healthy and thriving relationship. Remember, investing in your mental health is profitable for a long, loving, and thriving married life!
