Month Four: Living for the weekend

Learning how to balance a busy schedule and quality time. The “self-care” of marriage.

Wow! Four months in already!? That seems so wild to me, but I couldn’t be any more grateful. This month hit us hard with a lot of different things on our social calendar. From Easter to traveling, birthdays and events to attend it was all so much fun but we noticed that these things can take away from the amount of quality time we get to spend together.

As we both have full time jobs, Monday-Friday, 9-6, and commutes that take us in opposite directions, finding quality time with one another in the week can be difficult and at times impossible. It’s always, “running to the grocery store after work”, or “it’s cleaning day”, “it’s laundry day” (and when you start three loads of laundry at 7pm, that process lasts a while). Therefore, weekends become our times to really prioritize our tasks and make time to catch up with one another. This doesn’t mean that we clear our schedules just so we can stare at each other all weekend, or watch movies all day, this means learning how to say no to plans, trips or outings and choosing things that you and your significant other can do together. Putting your phone down for an hour or so and truly being in tune with what’s going on around you. Even if this means doing returns, organizing the garage or cleaning the house; it doesn’t take a big extravagant date to have a good conversation with the ones that you love.

Even if you’re not in a relationship, think about your friendships; sometimes we get so busy that we abandon friendships for some time. So even if that means just calling up your girlfriend for a movie night in or help cleaning out your closet, quality moments can be made from slowing down for a bit. Or learn how to say no to more plans for yourself, spend some quality time alone, have a homemade spa day or watch that new Netflix movie you’ve been wanting to see. I know this whole “self-care” movement is big right now, but it really is important in the world that we live in today.

We get so wrapped up in this busy busy world of ours that it’s nice to slow down for a change to put building and maintaining our relationships first. In marriage we have learned that this is crucial to maintain a healthy communication between us. We grow and learn from one another in these moments of rest, that we allow ourselves. This week, challenge yourself to make time for yourself, your friend(s) or your Significant Other in a way that will provide a quality conversation or moment. It’s so refreshing, and I promise you will grow from that moment in your own way!