Want to mend your relationship? Buy a dog

Quitting Facebook, breaking off unhealthy and non-beneficial friendships and buying a dog are the three most effective ways of saving a failing relationship, a new British study has found.

After polling up to 2,000 people, the researchers found that ditching social media was most beneficial because on these sites, one is under the constant gaze of friends and family which adds pressure on the relationship. Buying a dog on the other hand was found to be beneficial as it gave a couple something common to look after and bond over.

They also found creating more time for each other, talking honestly to each other and heading off for a romantic break helpful in mending an ailing relationship. In fact, eight out of 10 of the respondents said having more quality time together helped save their relationship, while 78 percent of the couples found that making time for old-fashioned date nights helped mend their relationship.

Three-quarters of the respondents felt that heading off together on a make or break holiday where they candidly discussed the important issues in their relationship was helpful.

WHY RELATIONSHIPS END

Other things which were found to be beneficial to relationships were ending bad or unhelpful friendships, making an effort to spice things up in the bedroom and finding a new hobby to enjoy together as a couple.

Also on the list was counselling sessions, moving house and writing down reasons you fell in love with your significant other in the first place.
The researchers found that the most common reason for dwindling romances was spouses stopping communication followed closely by taking each other for granted and having to deal with money issues in the midst of it all.

Other reasons for relationship breakdown were a dwindling sex life, being so caught up in everyday life happenings that you barely see each other, growing apart and infidelity.

The study also revealed that many relationships may be going south simply because couples do not try enough before giving up. Most of the respondents felt that couples should try for just under 12 months to fix things before throwing in the towel.

In the wake of these findings the researchers advise that couples think long and hard before giving up on marriage as giving up can have long-term financial and emotional consequences for both of them and any children involved.