Want to build a stronger, more fulfilling marriage? In The Five-Year Marriage 2nd Edition: Secrets, Tools, and Strategies for Reimagining Marriage So It Works For You, Annmarie Kelly shares practical tools to help couples create lasting, dynamic partnerships.
Here are five actionable tools from the book to start strengthening your marriage today.
1. The Five-Year Contract
Kelly’s signature tool is the Five-Year Marriage contract, a framework for setting shared goals and reevaluating your relationship every five years. This keeps your marriage purposeful and aligned with your evolving needs.
How to Start: Draft a simple agreement with your partner outlining your goals for the next year. Revisit and revise it annually.
2. The Vision Board Exercise
Create a shared vision board to visualize your dreams as a couple. This exercise helps you align on priorities and stay motivated to achieve them together.
Try It: Set aside an evening to create a vision board with images and words that represent your shared future.
3. Active Listening Techniques
Effective communication is key to any marriage. Kelly’s active listening strategies, like paraphrasing and asking clarifying questions, ensure both partners feel heard and understood.
Practice Tip: During your next conversation, take turns summarizing what your partner said before responding.
4. The Gratitude Journal
Gratitude strengthens emotional bonds. Kelly recommends keeping a shared gratitude journal to record moments of appreciation for each other.
Quick Start: Each week, write down one thing you’re grateful for about your partner and share it with them.
5. Scheduled Connection Time
Busy lives can disconnect couples. Scheduling regular time to connect—whether through date nights or daily check-ins—keeps your relationship a priority.
Action Step: Plan a weekly activity, like a walk or dinner, to focus on each other without distractions.
Transform Your Marriage
These tools are just the beginning. The Five-Year Marriage 2nd Edition is packed with strategies to help you build a marriage that works for you. Order your copy today and start creating a stronger, more intentional partnership! Available on Amazon in Kindle or paperback!
