Avoid These 10 Annoying Behaviors

Fools show their annoyance at once,
but the prudent overlook an insult.
Proverbs 12:16

“Are you listening to me?” Leslie asked.

“Of course,” I replied, “I’m hearing every word.”

But we both knew that wasn’t the point.

Leslie was bringing me up to speed on her day while I was sitting at my computer, giving her occasional eye contact.

“Seems like you’re more interested in your email or Facebook or whatever you’re looking at there.”

She was right.

I readily admitted it. It’s become a pattern – a very annoying habit – I’m working on. Especially after reading about a recent Louisville University study that looked at 160 married couples and their annoying behaviors.

The researchers found that relatively minor unpleasant behaviors appear to affect a partner’s emotions in a way that resembles how physical allergens function. The first experience is likely to produce a small negative reaction, but repeated contact increases sensitivity.

Wet towels on the bathroom floor cause mild irritation. But the reaction gets stronger each time it happens.

There is nothing so annoying
as to have two people talking
when you’re busy interrupting.
–Mark Twain

Here are some of the most highly ranked annoying behaviors in marriage:

• Asking your spouse to tell you how you look.
• Making negative comments about what your spouse is wearing.
• Packing too many items and suitcases for a trip.
• Taking too long to get ready to leave the house.
• Boring your spouse by spending too much time shopping.
• Nagging.
• Looking at your phone while talking to your spouse.
• Being possessive.
• Spending too much time on the computer.
• Being bossy.
• Spending money just to “even the scales.”
• Using sex as a tool of manipulation.
• Not picking up after yourself around the house.

The bottom line of the study was this: the more annoying behaviors we have, the more “deromanticised” our marriage becomes. And the longer the behaviors continue, the more irksome they become.