Traditional wedding vows insist that spouses declare their intention to stay together until one of them dies. However, quite a few marriages eventually end in divorce rather than in the death of one spouse. Factors ranging from infidelity to changing personal values can damage marital relationships and make divorce feel inevitable.
Those contemplating divorce are often eager to try anything that might help save their marriages. The three options below can potentially help people avoid divorce by facilitating resolution of some of their marital issues.
Marital counseling
When spouses have difficulty communicating with each other or have challenges related to bad behavior, marital therapy can help. Spouses may attend sessions on their own in addition to joint sessions with a marital counselor. They can learn new relationship skills and go over marital conflicts in an environment with a neutral party who can help facilitate closure and compromise. Many couples may find that attending marital counseling helps them improve their marital circumstances.
Sleep divorces
Some people develop negative feelings about their marriages because of sleep deprivation. They may have a different schedule than their spouses. In some cases, one spouse snores and the other is a light sleeper. A lack of adequate rest can lead to emotional deregulation. Chronic fatigue can put a lot of stress on marital relationships. Many couples, especially those dealing with health-related snoring, may find that sleeping in separate rooms actually improves the state of their marriages. Sleep divorces can help in some cases but may not resolve other issues that spouses could have with each other.
Postnuptial agreements
When spouses think divorce is on the horizon or have struggled with misconduct, a contract can be a viable solution. A postnuptial agreement is a marital contract drafted during the legal marriage rather than before it like a prenuptial agreement. Spouses can agree to penalty clauses to protect against bad behavior. They can discuss their expectations for the relationship. Their agreement can also make it clear what might happen if they divorce, which can serve as a deterrent to filing.
Spouses hoping to avoid divorce often need to discuss their marital concerns and look for ways to protect themselves. Negotiating a postnuptial agreement can be a smart move in conjunction with a sleep divorce or couples therapy. Contracts can help spouses align their expectations and reduce the conflict if they do decide to divorce later.
