Making the Time
As a recent study from the Pew Research Center confirmed, spending time with family is a top priority for Americans. But making that time isn’t always easy in our increasingly busy lives, especially now that summer is over.
We asked three of Happier Living’s clinicians to share their suggestions for how to strengthen family bonds even when time is short and commitments are many.
Angela Kiel-Hulbert, LPC
Intentionality is the key to establishing a strong family connection with the hustle and bustle of everyday living. Depending on the dynamics of your family, a color-coded shared calendar may be a great solution to organize everyone’s activities at a glance.
For those in search of a more traditional approach, perhaps a monthly game night or Sunday dinner is the perfect solution to bring everyone together.
A more adventurous alternative could involve gathering the group for an annual family vacation.
No matter the method you choose, the most important element is enjoying the time that you have with those you call family!
Teresa Ipong-Garcia, LMFT
Sit down at least once a day for a meal together. If anyone is not hungry, they can sit with a glass of water, coffee, or juice. The goal is to sit face-to-face and just check in with one another.
Set a weekly standing appointment—game night, a walk, outing, activity, for example.
Leave a box of conversational questions/prompts out on a table to get a conversation started.
Cook together, whether it’s a meal, dessert, or snack.
Kensie Hoag, LCSW
My number one tip is to show appreciation. When we express gratitude, we strengthen the bond and allow the other person to recognize their strengths. Even if we are busy and have different schedules, sending a simple text saying, "Thank you for doing the dishes,” or "Thinking of you. I hope you have a good day" makes a massive difference with a small amount of effort.
Leaving notes in unexpected places or a quick hug breaks up the monotony of busy schedules and the "daily grind" we all get lost in.
Lack of appreciation in relationships often leads to resentment, which is a known relationship killer. If we can show it in small ways on a more frequent basis, it allows the communication to open and for us to notice and be more mindful of things that can be classified mundane.
