By Samantha Gressick | Leave A Comment
An important part of maintaining a healthy marriage is making time for each other. But with the demands associated with maintaining a career, a family, a household, and a social life, you might find it difficult to consistently fit in as much alone time with your spouse as you’d like. Here are a few tips to ensure that you get as much one-on-one time as possible:
Set Your Priorities on Your Marriage
It’s no doubt that your spouse is a priority in your life, but what keeps you from spending as much time with him or her as you’d like? Think about everything in your life that demands your time and arrange them in order of importance. After you set clear priorities, take steps to simplify your schedule by removing unnecessary commitments. (Are there things that can be put off to a later date or removed from your schedule altogether? Are there things you committed yourself to but would have rather said no?) Putting your priorities into focus and arranging your schedule or to-do list in order of importance can help you devote more time to the things you value the most.
Schedule Regular Dates With Your Spouse
Schedule a specific time in your day or week for just you and your spouse. You can set aside time to talk each day – such as meeting somewhere for lunch or enjoying a home cooked dinner together – or you can designate a weekly “date night” in which the two of you spend an entire evening together, either in your home or out on the town.
Take an Interest in Each Other’s Hobbies
While it’s perfectly healthy to have your own interests and partake in activities separate from your spouse, it’s also beneficial to share in each other’s hobbies. Before my husband came into my life, I had never watched NASCAR, I knew nothing about the inner workings of cars, and I had never ridden on a motorcycle or four-wheeler. I can’t say that I have the same passion for his hobbies as he does, but I love the time we spend together while doing them. Being open to experiencing what he loves to do not only allowed me to spend more time with him, it also brought us closer, taught me to appreciate our time together, and taught me new things. It can bring the same benefits to your relationship.
Finding more time can be a daunting task when you and your spouse have busy schedules, but it’s possible with a little prioritizing and a little planning, and it’s beneficial to maintaining a healthy, happy marriage.
ABOUT Samantha Gressick
Samantha is a "military brat" turned military spouse whose life never fails to turn topsy-turvy on a{read more}
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Well I’m trying to take an interest in his hobbies, his dogs, his guns. I’m even learning to target practice at the range etc.., but when does he take an interest in mine?
Lauralee,
That’s great that you’re taking an interest in his hobbies, and I certainly hope he will do the same for you! Have you suggested that he join you in doing something you enjoy? If you let him know that it means something to you, I would hope that he’d agree to trying it! Best of luck to you.
He works out of the home and we spend lots of time in the same vacinity. I have more energy in the morning or daytime hours but he gets his energy later in the evening…I am up at 4:30-5 with kids and dead tired by 10-11 at night. So when he gets an hour with me to watch tv he then complains its not enough. Its not but the snippets of time during the day is never enough either. Blame on kids for stealing our time is wearing on me. I’m the one watching Yo Gabba Gabba daily and playing in play doh. I love it but c’mon…this isn’t what I pictured doing for 11 years when I graduated from college.
We have date nights every weekend, now he suggested both Friday and Saturdays…also because we are home we chit chat all day so when we sit on the couch to enjoy tv time together — he complains we have nothing interesting to talk about.
Fifteen years married in May…I think he’s bored. I’m not bored, just tired. Also looking for work because of slow times in his biz so he is not happy about that either. Neither am I but we need the steady paycheck. He has wild thoughts of me having these amazing conversations with the moms and dads while picking up my kids at school, but not having those exciting bits with him….Advice?
You can probably tell that I am not very empathetic … three kids, me doing the lion’s share of kid duties, errands, games, practices, playdates…No empathy when the spouse is emotional and needs that feedback are not a good combination.