Cheating is something that happens all the time. Don’t just assume it happens in Hollywood movies or with celebrities. It can happen to ordinary people as well. If you ask 5 people if they know someone who has been cheating or who has been cheated on, their answers will be ‘yes’.

But if you really care for and love your partner, if he is your soulmate, you won’t have any need to have someone aside. Just in case, here are some of the most important things every couple needs to nourish in a relationship. So, let’s start.

1. Communication

If you want to keep your relationship or marriage alive, you and your spouse need to communicate. Communication is a key to a happy and successful marriage. Bottling up your feelings is not an option, so always try to be open about how you feel and what you think.

If you can’t be open about your desires with your partner, your marriage is already doomed. So talk, no matter if you two fight or cuddle, just talk!

2. Never assume

To prevent cheating in your marriage, you must be clear on what you and your partner consider ‘cheating’ to be. People may not have the same feelings to what does and what doesn’t count as cheating. Maybe your spouse considers dancing with another girl as cheating but for you that is completely normal.

So, you two need to sit and make rules. It is very important not to cross the line. Once you lose trust in your spouse, it is very difficult to bring it back again. Trust is something that has to be earned.

3. Be intimate

If your spouse doesn’t get what he wants at home, you can be sure he will find it in other places. Intimacy makes deeper bonds with people. It helps us feel that our spouse still loves us and that he is attracted to us.

In fact, a great way to prevent cheating in your marriage is to be open to new ideas and to experimentation. Your partner’s fantasies might not sound like your cup of tea but give them a shot and who knows—you might just like them too.

4. Avoid jealousy

The one who is not jealous doesn’t really care. But there is line that shouldn’t be crossed. If you think your guy makes you feel uncomfortable by being jealous, you two need to sit down and decide how to move on.

You should feel satisfied and free in your relationship. You should feel free to have a coffee with a new colleague from the office and make your man totally okay with that. If things are different than this, you definitely have issues you need to discuss.

5. Be a good partner

Being a good partner is the best way to prevent cheating and infidelity. If your physical and emotional needs are already satisfied, you don’t need to seek them elsewhere. You should always be your partner’s priority but never an option.

Bear in mind that marriages are like plants. They need to be watered to keep them alive. If you don’t do it, they will fail. So, never feel sorry to go an extra mile to make your marriage better. I am sure it will pay off eventually.

6. Appreciate

NEVER forget to tell your spouse how you appreciate him. It will mean the world to him and for you, those are just words like all the others.

Don’t tell your partner about all those things he didn’t do well. Make him feel proud for all the good things he did. Remember—the two of you are still learning how to function as a couple, so you should have an understanding for mistakes to come.

Whenever you have an opportunity, tell your partner how much he means to you. Because if you don’t do it, someone else will!