4 Keys to Spending more Quality Time with your Family

We are all busy. It takes a lot of time to work on a career, a house, a project or anything else that you have going on in your life. But what’s more important to you…productivity or priorities?

Relationships with your family should be at the top of your priority list, but sometimes it is the easiest thing to push to the bottom of that list. I’m as guilty as anyone reading this. In fact, sometimes I think I even make my dog feel like she is ignored because I’m so busy doing other things.

If you invest more time into your wife and kids, then you will have a stronger marriage and family. The only way to do that is to spend more time on them. Time is short for all of us, but remember that everyone has the same 24 hours in a day. Here are a few ways you can use your time more efficiently and squeeze out some extra minutes to spend with your family.

1. Unplug and Disconnect
This doesn’t mean that you have to completely shut everything down and unplug it, but you know what I’m talking about. Put your phones away, turn off the television and computer and just interact. Play with your pets or go for a walk. Spend some quality time without electronics, because there’s a good chance that you will be distracted. Uninterrupted quality time is underrated and should be experienced more often.

2. Don’t Come Home on the Phone
There’s nothing more discouraging to a spouse, kids or even pets than when you are on the phone when you walk inside the house from a long day. Everyone is excited to see you, but that enthusiasm has to be curbed because you are talking to someone else on the phone. By the time you hang up, the enthusiasm has dwindled and you missed that special moment. Make it a point to finish your call before you get out of the vehicle, and especially before you open the door.

3. Stay Connected with your Spouse
Just because you’re married doesn’t mean that you don’t have to continue rekindling the fire between you. Reconnecting with each other throughout the day when you are apart can really make you feel a lot better. Whether it’s texting during lunch break, or even better, grabbing a quick lunch together, that little bit of time means a whole lot. There are many ways of communicating nowadays, so make sure you find one way that you can communicate with your spouse a couple of times throughout the day.

4. Make Plans and Stick with Them
When you make a plan to spend time with your family, don’t let anything else get in the way of that. You aren’t the only one affected when you have to change plans at the last minute. Your family is excited to be able to hang out with you, even if it’s just for an hour. Don’t disappoint them by blowing them off for something more “important.” The time you spend with them is precious, so use every minute of it to its fullest so that you are always building a strong relationship with your family.

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