It can be really easy for couples to forget to make time for each other. With kids, a pandemic, work, etc things just get busy and can get complacent. I have found a few of the best ways to make time for your spouse that I think are truly helpful and doable.
Best Ways To Make Time For Your Spouse
- Schedule it in: Some people need to schedule their workouts in so there is nothing wrong with scheduling in date nights or time together. We make it a point to put date nights or potential date nights on the calendar. We are far less likely to skip them or cancel them. We haven’t had as many out-of-the-house dates lately but we do try to have at-home dates.
- Unplug: When you are spending time together, put the phones away. This is something we are constantly working on being better at. Social media will always be there.
- Do a project: Maybe you need to organize a closet or paint a bedroom or something else around the house. Doing a project together is a great way to spend time as a couple. We actually had my mom come over recently and watch the kids so we could organize our office and honestly it was kind of fun!
- Take advantage of days off: Andrew gets bank holidays off work so we try to take advantage of those since usually, Liam is in school. Next year Charlotte will be in school those days so hopefully we can have time for just us!
- Make vacations a priority: We prioritize one kid-free vacation together a year. We’ve gone to Florida twice, and Laguna Niguel, we’ve also done nights away at a hotel. We think it’s important for our kids to see us spending time together and putting our marriage first.
- At-home date nights: When you have kids, an at-home date night is sometimes the best you can do. While we make going out on dates a priority it just doesn’t always work. We’ve had to cancel dates because Liam is sick or a babysitter wasn’t available. So cooking a meal together, or even picking up take out is fun. We have done puzzles, watched movies, played games, or just talked.
These are just a few instances of the best ways to make time for your spouse. I would love to know if you have anything you’d add?
This post was originally posted in 2019 and has been updated for 2021.
Thank you for the great tips, Neely! Just in time for Valentine’s Day too. 🙂 💕
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Life does get crazy sometimes, and we end up not even having time for the people we love. Thanks for the great tips, and the reminder!
We struggle with this, mostly because our schedules are so different. But when we do have days/nights off together we make the most of them. And vacations are a MUST.
My husband and I both work from home, so it’s pretty easy to “make time” for one another. Although, it has to be after a certain hour cause at times my husband cannot disconnect himself from the business world.
My hubby and I definitely take advantage of holidays from work. Our tradition is to decorate our house for Christmas when we have off for Remembrance Day (basically Canadian Veteran’s Day).
One of the best pieces of advice I ever heard suggested that the greatest gift you can give your child is a great relationship with your husband (or wife or co-parent). As true now as when I first heard it.
My husband and I literally schedule time together into our calendar. Between both of us working for ourselves and two kids at two different schools, plus me doing the yearbook and photography for my oldest son’s elementary school, we are always busy!
When my husband and I were both working opposite hours, scheduling time to see each other was so important! I don’t know how people do it consistently but it was worth it for us.
You are so right! It’s very important to schedule ahead and make time for each other. I have been struggling wit putting my phone away and living in the moment but I am working on it!
One thing my husband and I promised to each other is to take time off for a vacation at least once a year! It’s so important to make time for each other!
These are such great tips! SO often, life gets so crazy and before I know it, it has been months since my husband and I had a date night. Scheduling it is a great idea for our family.
Oooo great suggestions!!!! I hate that it sounds so in romantic, but hubby and I always schedule time in. Hey, it works!
Scheduling it in is essential. I know it doesn’t quite as romantic but the intimacy is important. And you can always be spontaneous within a time frame. Just schedule it.
This is something that all marriages and couples seem to struggle with. It is so great when you can make that little bit of time to spend together.
Definitely take advantage of those days off! My husband has been working 60 hour weeks lately (6:30am-5:30pm, 6 days a week) and then coming home to work on his side project for a client. We’ve barely seemed to even get time to just watch a 30 minute show together. But yesterday was our day off and we made the most of it with a lazy breakfast, shows, going on a walk together, and just quality time in the same space. It was marvelous. And so important!
It really matters! I found that if I really schedule our time together in my organizer it makes the day go by faster as I look forward to a romantic evening 🙂
It’s so important! My husband and I used to have to put it on the schedule when we worked full time jobs out of the house. Now, since we work for ourselves from home, we have a bit more time. We do a lot of projects together 🙂
My spouse and I have been together working from home almost 24/7 since the pandemic began and it’s easy to forget that that’s work and not really being together. So we set clear boundaries and make sure we do things together-together and not just be in the same room. On weekends and our days off we go on bike rides or a nice walk in the woods.
I love this post! For me taking advantage of days off is so important. My husband travels for work and so when he’s home I always feel like it’s important that I take advantage of it and be home too.
These are some great recommendations. The past year has been a crazy one.
These are all some great chooses, but the one that seems really interesting is the vacation one.
Yes you’re absolutely right, one should always make time for the spouse! We usually have date nights and we always go on vacations together.
I really like the tip of unplugging and scheduling vacations. Best way to create memories.