For generations, society has warned newlyweds about the dreaded seven-year itch or the five-year fizzle or even the 12 year itch. We have been conditioned to believe that marital satisfaction glides smoothly until hitting a mid-decade bump. However, fresh data surrounding modern marriages reveals a completely different reality.

When a marriage hits a rocky patch, it is incredibly easy to let the daily grind take over, allowing distance and hidden resentments to grow. But hitting a plateau doesn't mean your love story is over. It is simply a sign that your default routine has run its course, and it is time to actively choose each other again. If you don’t have a solid way of communicating and connecting, the relationship inevitably starts to slide downhill.