Raise your hand if you and your partner get caught up in the day-to-day chaos that is life and forget to make time for each other –– my hand is up real high!
Especially when life gets busy or a little stressful, it’s easy to put your blinders on and become a social recluse. I find that when I have a lot going on at work, I tend to keep to myself a little more at home –– I go to sleep earlier, continue working, or just watch Netflix. Brian is a very routine-oriented person, which means that if he gets in the habit of coming home and turning on the tv…. that’s what he’ll do everyday until bedtime.
Sure, when life gets stressful we’re allowed to binge watch F.R.I.E.N.D.S. –– but what happens when this becomes a habit? What happens when you’re routine is routinely keeping you from spending time with your partner?
Brian and I are absolutely guilty of this. Too many days we walk in the door after a long day, sit on the couch, throw on Netflix and stare at our phones until it’s time to turn in –– sound familiar? It’s something that we constantly have to work on… because we both work 40hr+ work weeks and sometimes we really just want to come home and be left alone!
So, we came up with a few ways that will help carve out some ‘us time’:
- Cook together: Throw on your favorite playlist and find a recipe that you’ll both enjoy. We tend to cook smaller, quicker meals during the week and larger, food-prep type meals on the weekend. Even if one of us is not cooking, just being in the kitchen together sparks conversation.
- Go for a walk: Having two dogs, we tend to go on walks a lot. It’s such an easy way to spend time together, not to mention shake off those work-day stressors!
- Tea time: Brian and I have started drinking tea before bed as a way to unwind and share our day with each other. I don’t know how/why we started doing this, but this is by far our favorite.
- No-Device Night: Let’s be real… we all have a problem with screen-times. We stare at our phones and sit in front of the tv instead of interacting with those around us. Designating a ‘No-Device Night’ will force (in the best way) us to communicate, reflect and be more productive. We’ve done this in our household many times and let me tell you.. our house has never been as tidy and we have never gotten lost in conversation as much!
- Bedtime Bests: We all need a little more positivity in our lives, don’t you think? At the end of each day/week, take some time to share the best thing that happened to you. This is a great way to end the night, and it allows us to appreciate what we have a little more.
What are some ways you make time for partner?
Allie Uffda 