Married Couples, Tell Us What Unconventional Thing You Do To Keep Your Marriage Alive

Marriage requires a lot of communication, patience, and work, and no two couples operate the same way. Couples must work together to find healthy ways to keep their partnership strong, and some of these methods can get rather creative.

Perhaps, after 22 years of marriage, you and your partner decided you were interested in opening up your marriage to keep the spark alive. You attended some swingers' parties and explored options on the apps. You agreed that you could only pursue physical intimacy outside of your marriage, not emotional connections. It's been a fun development in your marriage and inspired you to communicate better as a couple.

Maybe you and your partner don't live together. You were both married previously and had kids with your first spouses, so you decided to buy a duplex and each claim a side. You can see each other as much as you want, sleep over with one another, share meals, etc., but you also have your own space. You love your arrangement and think it has made your union stronger and more passionate.

Or, maybe you and your spouse have something called an " ice cream timeout." If you're in the middle of a fight and need a break to cool off, you can call an ice cream timeout, and you and your partner will pause the discussion and get ice cream. It's helped you both become more effective, intentional communicators and keeps you from saying something you'd regret in the heat of the moment.

Married folks, what's something unconventional you and your spouse do to keep your relationship strong? Tell us in the comments or submit anonymously using this form .