Effective communication between couples plays a vital role in making a marriage successful. It is through communication that you express our thoughts, emotions and ideas to each other. Remember those days when you two were a newly married couple. During that phase, communicating with your spouse was quite easygoing as there were so many things to say and so many things to know from each other. However, with passage of time, the curiosity to learn about each other dies out, and a communication gap develops. Lack of communication in relationships results in misunderstandings and conflicts. Talking to your spouse regularly can keep such marital problems at bay. Tips for Communicating with Your Spouse During communication with your spouse, there are some guidelines that need to be followed, so that both of you can share your views with each other comfortably. They are as follows: Be Attentive When you are having a conversation with your partner, make sure there are no distractions around you. Your attention should not get diverted towards the television or newspaper or radio. Even if children or friends are around, you cannot focus your attention on the discussion. Therefore, it will be better if you can select an isolated location where you can give undivided attention to each other. It could be in the comforts of your bedroom. Or, you can go for a walk or long drive where you can talk more freely. Show Respect No matter how upset you are with your spouse, speak in a respectful manner. If you use foul language or mocking tone or you scream or shout, your partner will lose interest in listening to you. On the other hand, when you talk politely, he or she will be more willing to listen to what you say. Many a time, words expressed out of anger create a lot of misunderstanding or may hurt your partner very badly. For that you may have to regret later. Speak Honestly Do not hesitate to express yourself honestly. There could be some difference of opinion. This is absolutely normal in any relationship. You cannot agree on everything that your partner say, and vice versa. Some differences of opinion should not break your relationship. Rather, discussion on those differences with an open mind can resolve many issues. However, do not just keep talking about the dislikes only, talk about those things that you like about him or her. This will keep the conversation going in a positive atmosphere. Listen Carefully During communication, listening is as important as speaking. When your spouse is talking, do not interrupt in the middle. Do not just sit quietly, but maintain a receptive body language that shows you are listening. Let him or her express her thoughts and opinions freely. Even if you disagree with those thoughts, give a ear to each and every word, with an open mind. Once he has finished, then you can give your reaction. Make Eye Contact This gesture is crucial for any communication. It shows that you have an interest in what the other person is saying. Absence of eye to eye contact gives an impression that you do not have any interest in the discussion. This will irritate the person who is talking. Maintain eye contact even when you are talking, which in turn assures the listener that you are speaking honestly. Moreover, eye contact, gentle touching, holding hands will make both of you feel closer to each other. With your busy work schedule, household chores, managing kids there is very little time that is left for each other. However, efforts have to be made so that you can spend at least half an hour of your day, exclusively with your spouse. This will lessen your grudges, misunderstandings will disappear from your marriage, and your marital bond will strengthen more than ever before.