Technology can be both a benefit and a curse when it comes to relationships. The iPhone is one piece of technology that can be used to improve your marriage or any close relationship because of the ways it can enhance communication. Here are 4 ways:
1. Shared calendar
Communication is one of the keys to a healthy relationship and a shared calendar helps with this. My wife and I each have a work calendar and then we have a shared family calendar. Our calendars are shared and synced using iCloud. Here is Apple’s tutorial on how to set up iCloud: Set up iCloud. Once you have iCloud turned on, you can open up the Calendar app. Tap on Calendar(s) in the upper left corner of the screen. Here you will see your iCloud calendars. Tap on the little blue arrow to the right of the calendar name to share the calendar with someone else. Make sure they have iCloud activated on their device as well. Then, both people will be able to view the calendar and it will stay updated on all devices. Once the calendar is shared, you can tap on the name of the person you have shared the calendar with and turn on the “Allow Editing” feature. Now both people will be able to add, delete, and modify events on the same calendar. This can help save a ton of conflict by simply getting both people on the same page with their calendar.
2. Shared Reminders Lists
In the same way that you can share a Calendar using iCloud, you can also share Reminders lists. This too can help increase communication between both parties. My wife and I have shared To Do lists and a shared To Buy list. Our shared To Buy list has helped us be more productive and efficient whenever we go shopping for groceries or anything else. We both know exactly what we need and have access to the list while we are in the store. In addition, if one of us is at work and we need to buy milk on the way home, one or the other of us can add a location based reminder on the shared To Buy list (see more about How to Set Location Based Reminders here). As soon as one of us leaves work, the reminder to Buy Milk will pop up.
3. Text Messages
Text messages are obviously not a feature limited to the iPhone. However, with Siri, texting is really easy even when driving (while using the Apple headphones) *Check applicable texting laws in your state to see if Siri is allowed while driving – TeachMeiOS does not recommend ever looking at your iPhone screen while driving.
Sending a text message if you will be late is a fantastic way to avoid potential tension or conflict. I recently was running 15 minutes late and I was able to use Siri to send a text to my wife to give her a heads up. It diffused any potential conflict that could have arisen.
I can also send a quick message to my wife if she calls when I am in a meeting asking her “What’s up?” I can do this from my lock screen with a preset text message. For more on how to do this, see this post: Send a message in response to an incoming call.
4. Mint App
Money can always be a source of tension in a relationship. My wife and I track a budget using the Mint app (link to Mint app in App Store) and Mint.com. This is a very easy way to pull in all your expenses from cards and bank accounts. Mint will categorize and organize expenses for you as they happen and will track them against a budget that you set up. Whenever my wife or I is at the store, we can check the Mint app on our iPhone and immediately know how much money we have spent that month and how much is available.
Update: One app I really like is called Postagram. You can create a postcard on your iPhone and then send it as a real, hardcopy postcard to your spouse or anyone else for only $.99. This can be so meaningful especially if you travel a lot. Here is a link to the Postagram app in the App Store: Postagram Postcards 
I hope these are helpful tools you can add and use in your relationship. Are there other ways you have discovered that the iPhone can be helpful in your relationship? Add your thoughts in the comments section below.
