Adults everywhere can share the same problem: there are just too many things to do and not enough time in which to do it. With work, school, activities, chores, and seemingly a thousand other things to do during a given day, finding ways to spend quality time together can feel impossible.
But never fear: there are ways to spend more time with your family even with the busiest of daily schedules. And when you spend more quality time with your family, you learn to better appreciate what you have in that family.
Here are nine creative ways to spend more time with your family.
Take a Dip in the Pool or Hot Tub
So long as your pool or hot tub is not fixed a leak, spending a little time together splashing around or enjoying a good soak can be great for everyone. Just being in the water can help to alleviate the stresses of everyday life even for a little while.
With a trustworthy, reliable hot tub, you and loved ones can share time relaxing, talking, and forgetting about the craziness even if it is for just a little while. For those who really want to get creative, investing in a hydro hammock can make for a great alternative to a hot tub.
Do Things Together
In the life of a busy adult, there are things that need to be done in order to prevent the chaos from overwhelming everything. And it is that need to get those things that can result in not spending enough time with the ones you love.
So why not do those things together? With kids especially, they can be happy to help you fix things. This is because it isn’t about the activity, it is about spending time with you. Not only that, but it can also make for a great teaching moment for your grandchildren as well.
Take a Walk
Not every moment spent together will feel like taking a trip somewhere, but even the smallest of activities can have a great impact on the time spent together. Maybe gathering up the family for a walk after dinner will be up your alley.
Not only is walking a good thing to do for the physical activity that it provides, but it can also allow you to catch up on what happened during each other’s day, talk about upcoming events, or anything that strikes a conversation.
Sit Down for Dinner
When schedules are crazy, simply making dinner can feel like a tall task. After a hard day at work or a long day at school, it can be much easier to simply throw something into the microwave and eat it alone.
But in order to spend time together, it means turning that meal into a gathering. Maybe have the kids help out with preparing the dinner. At least make it a point to sit down at the dinner table, free of devices, and enjoy one another’s company.
This can be a great place to catch up on the day, learn about what your kids are doing or experiencing, and generally enjoy the company of your family. Sitting down for dinner has become a lost tradition and is something that can bring the family together even for just a little bit.
Plan Little Trips
Spending time with your family in a meaningful way is just not possible on a daily basis for some and that’s okay. Even if you can only plan a monthly trip to a local venue, that can be enough to create a connection and positive memories for your kids.
Try to get to a museum, a park, a local fair, or any other kind of event or gathering. This will allow them to get out of the house, experience some culture, and do so with you at their side. That is quality time spent and something that they can look forward to each month.
Read Together
When kids are younger, reading to them can make for a great bonding experience. But when they are able to do so on their own, the experience doesn’t need to stop. Instead of reading to them, pick a book to read together as a family.
Doing this allows for discussions on the book and gives you a way to share your values and ideas with them and vice versa. Even if it is a half-hour per week, it is a great way to share in something together and engage in meaningful conversation.
Take Part in Something Your Teen is Interested in
There is a gap between parents and teenagers and always has been. But one way to close that gap is to step into their world for a bit.
Find out if there is a way for you to be a part of one of their favorite activities or hobbies. Even if it isn’t, listen to them and find out why they love it and what you can learn so that you can participate in the conversation, too.
Create a Designated Time
Coordinating busy schedules can be difficult, but there is always time either weekly or monthly for no devices or other time-wasters. Kids may be apprehensive at first, but this allows families to share time together in a meaningful, attentive way.
Don’t fight for your kid’s attention; stow away the devices and enjoy some quality time even if it is only once a week or so.
Start a Show
In this day and age, “Netflix and binge” is a hobby. Find out the kind of shows that your kids are into and see if there is common ground. Even if the entirety of a series is available, schedule a time each week to sit down and enjoy an episode.
This gives you something to share with your kids and gives everyone a specific time to look forward to each week. That can be a valuable motivator when it comes to bringing the family together.
