Marriage does so many things to a relationship — good and bad. Ideally, getting married takes a love affair to the next level and adding more stability to the couple. However, it is also a common mishap that marriages sometimes end, sometimes even sooner than you can say “I do.”

Although there are a lot of possible reasons how a marriage could end, probably the most common is the one which is caused by a third party. And just like any problems where prevention is better than cure, here are some ways on how you can prevent this from happening to your own marriage.

Do what you do best to stay connected. You and your partner have something special because you have a connection. As long as that connection is preserved, you can be confident that your relationship is tough. Talk often. Often a couple who drifts apart is due to less time of connecting and talking. This is when the relationship becomes easy to be penetrated by someone else.

Be each other’s best friends, and you’ll feel like all you need is each other. Sometimes a third party starts when one of the couple’s once platonic relationships eventually evolves into something else. Although there is nothing wrong with having other close friends aside from your partner, you should not feel the need to look for another person to connect with. Otherwise, the platonic friendship ain’t so platonic after all.

Exert efforts to keep your love alive. Being in a relationship is not effortless. You have to make sure it stays as your priority no matter how demanding work gets, or no matter what personal issues you have. Plan romantic getaways regularly, be present at each other’s milestones like birthdays, anniversaries, etc., and make sure nothing gets in the way of that priority. Hire a babysitter just so you can still have date night.

Uphold respect. No matter how nasty your fights and arguments get, never let it break the respect. Respect is among the key foundations of your love and if you lose this, it would be so easy to lose each other.