Especially for couples who didn't live together prior to the wedding, getting married is a huge lifestyle adjustment. It doesn't have to be stressful, though. Below are 6 tips for surviving your first year of marriage. Talk about your expectations for married life Happily-ever-after may make for a great Hollywood ending, but in real-life, people don’t just ride off into the sunset. The first year of your marriage will make-or-break your relationship, so it’s important to sit down with your partner and really discuss your expectations of being husband and wife. Discuss your financial goals Hopefully, you and your husband discussed your credit histories and debts before you got married. If not, now is the time to do it! You should also decide on whether you want to open up a joint banking account and what your financial goals are as a couple. Do you want to save for a down payment on a home or spend your current savings on a vacation? Knowing what your future goals are can help shape your present ones and help prevent you from going deeper into debt. Figure out the holiday schedule ahead of time No doubt about it; the holiday season presents a lot of challenges for newlyweds. Deciding whom to spend Christmas with and for how long can often be tricky, so it’s best to decide ahead of time how to navigate this time of year. You don’t want to be stressed out when December comes. Establish healthy habits as a couple Establishing a routine when it comes to daily tasks and responsibilities can help the first year of your marriage flow more smoothly. Make a schedule for when chores need to be done and for other activities like working out or going grocery shopping together. If you’re not sure how to go about divid tasks, try switching off responsibilities every other week until you get a feel for who does what best. Keep the romance alive You may not be old yet, but now that you’re married, you will need to work at keeping your relationship exciting. The daily grind of everyday living can wear a couple down and leave you feeling irritated with each other, so be sure to plan regular date nights and keep things hot in the bedroom. Think in terms of ‘we’ The biggest change couples have to get used to in their first year of marriage is thinking in terms of ‘we’ in regards to decision-making. A successful marriage can only happen when newlyweds are able to navigate daily life challenges as a team. How did you get through your first year of marriage? Comment below Source: sheknows.com