How Couples Can Find Extra Time for Each Other

Once you're married and start having kids you will soon discover all that quality adult time you used to have seems to disappear. Here is how to find some of that time again...

Get up early ~
I know you're tired. Having kids does that to you. But believe me, getting up a little bit early to have some quality time with your spouse will definitely pay off. You can nap later in the day when the kids do. Get up a little bit earlier than you need to in the morning, and you will have time to sit quietly and enjoy a cup of coffee together, or go for an early stroll. You don't have to plan for anything in particular; just set the alarm a little bit earlier than usual, so that you can get up and spend a little bit of quality time together before the rest of the house wakes up.

Meet for lunch ~
Okay maybe not lunch. Maybe it's dinner, or maybe it's breakfast, or maybe it's just walk in the park. If either one of you has a job that has some kind of break, have the other one come over once a week or so and meet them during that break. For instance, if one of you works in an office where lunch is always from 12:30 to 1:00, your spouse could show up at 12:30 with something easy to carry, and you could walk together while you eat. Just stroll around the block enjoying each other's company for that bit of time.

Date Night ~
Sometimes when you can't find the time to spend with your significant other, you have to make the time. Plan one night a week to be your date night. It doesn't matter what you do, as long as you do it together and you get out of the house for awhile. Go back to doing some of the things you used to do when you were dating. You know, those long walks on the beach, the movie that you didn't watch because you were snuggling in the back of the theater; things like that. Just plan one night a week, and put it right into your schedule, so that you don't plan anything else over it. Make that your planned special time, and don't let anything else interfere with it.

After Dinner Walk ~
It's scientifically proven that taking a walk after dinner helps settle your stomach and improves digestion. Today, many of us are so busy that we don't bother with that after dinner walk. One way couples can get extra time together is to bring back that habit of taking a walk after supper together. If you have very small children you can take them with you; just put them in the stroller. You don't have to go far, and you don't have to go anywhere in particular. Just walk out the front door with your partner and stroll around the block. Take some time to discuss your day, your plans for the future, or whatever else comes to mind.

You find the time, or make time, for everything else important in your life; now is the time to make deliberate efforts to plan special time for you and your special someone.

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