Balancing family life

Balancing family life

Words by Lifestyle Staff

Families are not one-size-fits-all. They come in all shapes and sizes. Despite that, one constant for every family is the need for balance. Balancing work, family, friends, and other responsibilities can seem impossible when there’s pressure to pick and choose. However, carving out time for family strengthens those important relationships with your loved ones. Whether it’s a few minutes or a few days, there are many ways to create family time. Read on for a few different ideas from our Lifestyle staff on ways to bring balance back to your family time.

WIND DOWN AND BE IN THE MOMENT

Set boundaries—set a time to put devices down for the night. This opens you all up to be present and decompress before bed.

SCHEDULED FAMILY TIME

Carve out a designated day and time for a date night, game night, movie, whatever it may be. By creating consistency, it gives everyone something to look forward to.

SHARE A MEAL

Every meal spent together? Unlikely. Try instead to share at least one each day. Busy after school? Do breakfast together. Stressful mornings? Sit down together for dinner. Unpack any feelings. Try talking about the rose (something positive) bud (something to look forward to), and thorns (something challenging) of everyone’s day.

HAVE A SHARED FAMILY CALENDAR

Knowledge and communication are gold for family time. Get clarity by sharing any upcoming appointments, field trips, recitals, or sports games. You’ll be able to visualize what you want to attend, and inspire the best plan to accomplish it.

MAKE TIME WHERE YOU CAN

Sometimes our life is a blur of schedules and appointments, and true connection feels lacking. Think of good questions to ask while you’re in the car driving to the next thing, or bond over the latest pop hit on the radio. (Quality over quantity!)