Once we have logged hours as a married couple and as parents, we sometimes can get in a funk.
With being so focused on maintaining a household, a job, and our spirituality, our personal relationships can be affected. Frustrations are bound to arise and the first attack will be on the person we are married to, our spouse. To eliminate these frustrations from mounting into something else, we need to learn how to be creative in our marriage to achieve the quality time we need to have with our spouse.
Creativity in marriage is only limited to your imagination. Just what can you do to get more quality time in with your
spouse?
- If your spouse wakes up and get ready for work before you, how about getting up with them and sharing a cup of coffee or sharing breakfast?
- If you spouse must go to bed before you, why not go to bed with them and lay there talking and sharing until they fall asleep. You then can get back up and finish your nightly tasks.
- Designate a night that there is no TV and you guys entertain each other.
- Share the task of getting the kids to bed. Hey after tackling that task together you definitely will want to sit down & relax and laugh at how tough it is to get the babies in bed.
- Cook dinner together or share the task of cleaning the kitchen together.
There are so many things that you could do to carve out 10 minutes of quality time with your spouse daily. Your marriage and daily routines are specific to your family needs. We can’t always be with our spouse physically but we can definitely connect mentally. Don’t neglect QT because you are not in the same house with your spouse on a daily basis.
In my household, my husband works the third shift and some days don’t come home. He is a truck driver. So I have to get really creative when it comes to spending quality time.
Some of the things I do:
- I am his personally alarm clock. I wake him up and spend time talking to him while his getting dressed for work. Please remember some nights, I’m waking him up at 2am so that means I am going without sleep but it’s all worth it.
- I will even suggest that I drive him to work. Those 30 minutes in the car is quality time for us. We talk and laugh the whole way there.
- I even dedicate his first hour driving for us to talk over the phone.
- When he is gone from home for a couple days, I will have a meal cooked when he gets home and we will spend time catching up on what I’ve been doing while he was gone & he will share his trucking stories.
Yep, our quality time schedule is off the normal hour charts but we must do what we have to do to stay connected and build on our foundation. [pullquote]Tailor your creativity to fit into your family structure but also give you the ultimate chance of connecting with your spouse[/pullquote].
Please remember, that we as men and women need and seek attention and companionship. That is one of the reasons we got married, so if you don’t see the importance and the need to spend QT with your spouse daily, someone will give them the attention they are wanting.
So get to thinking, get creative, and set aside some time to spend with your spouse.
What can you do differently to get 10 minutes of quality time with your spouse daily?
This week marriage challenge: Quality Time http://youtu.be/52SNLsTmBcY
Desiree says
I cannot tell you how much I love your blog. Seriously, more and more with each post I read 🙂 My husband and I have been together for almost 5 years now and our 2 year wedding anniversary is this summer. One thing we’ve always done, right from the beginning, was about 20-30 minutes of “pillow talk” every single night. He works outside the house most days and I work from home and take care of the kids everyday. I’ve always found our chats to be cathartic. Sort of a decompression time where I can share my stresses and struggles, and I can listen to him and his as well. We both say regularly that, that time is what keeps our relationship so close. It truly is worth it. Thanks so much for your posts, I will be back regularly!
Nikki says
Wow, this was a great post 🙂 I liked the tips, they were so sweet!
Have a great Tuesday, I’m following you now and looking forward to your future posts!
Nikki – inspire nordic
Bev says
Really, really love your blog. I’ve been looking for one like this for a while. After 20 years of marriage, my husband have finally incorporated a “date night” into our weekly schedules. It’s been really great. I’m looking forward to reading more of your posts.
Stopping in via the A-Z blogging challenge, and have decided to follow.
Bev @ Blue Velvet Vincent
Adena says
Glad you are doing the A to Z Challenge!! This is a great topic. My husband is a truck driver so it is hard to find quality time. He just happens to be off this week so we have some fun family things planned. And a date night. Or two.
Still Dating My Spouse says
Adena,
My husband is a truck driver as well, so I understand. Get creative with your quality time. Maybe you guys can skype to get that time in when he is on long hauls.
Thanks for visiting and don’t be a stranger.
Pamela
Still Dating My Spouse says
Bev,
Thank you for stopping by. 20 years of marriage is commendable. I’m glad you guys are dating again. Please stop by again!
Pamela
Still Dating My Spouse says
Thanks Nikki…
Pamela
Still Dating My Spouse says
Desiree,
Thank you for the kind words. “Pillow Talk” is great! We enjoy pillow talk as well. Since we are empty nesters we are able to get pillow talk every night LOL
Definitely stop by again!
Pamela
Cari says
I cannot tell you enough how much I love your blog or how much of an inspiration you are to me. Sometimes the only time we get is grocery shopping, but we make the most of it. I will definitely start working on ways to bring in more quality time. Maybe I’ll go to the creek with him tomorrow, like I used to. We always had so much fun catching crawfish together!
Thank you for the amazing post!
Still Dating My Spouse says
Cari,
I love it…. I have so many ideas about the grocery store…oooooh if only I could get my mister to go to the grocery store with me He wouldn’t look at it the same LOL I would go up every aisle and find an item that would be great to use in the bedroom & tell him what I would do with it on him…Yeah if it never happens just the thought of it would make your hubby blush LOL
Plus I would go to the frozen food section and stick my face in so my lips would get cold & give him a big cold kiss! Hey QT is QT however you can get it. I would make those trips to the grocery store so memorable….Ooooh what about the bathrooms (if they were clean) mmmmm if only I could get my hubby to the grocery store LOL
Thanks Cari for your thought provoking comment LOL
Pamela
Cari says
LOVE it! I am definitely going to try those out next time we go (except the bathroom- yuck) I do believe it will make my hubby blush- I’m so glad I’m the only one that can make him blush!
I’m sure you will think of a way to get your hubby in the grocery store!
Patricia says
I’m the one that works a full-time job outside the house ~ David is retired though he is one busy dude, mainly with his Parkinson’s friends. I know that he will always be at the door when I come home and that’s when we just talk and talk – oh wait, no he talks and talks and talks. I’m the quiet one. We love singing together and will just bust out into song when we hear a phrase. Quality time ~ gotta love it!
Quida says
Pamela! You are right on target. I love all the wonderful tips and it is sooooo sweet that you are able to do these great things for your spouse. I know he should be so grateful. I love this posting and will be back for more of your great tips. Keep up the excellent work. 🙂
Making Our Life Matter says
We get our QT at night, after we turn off the lights. We lay in bed just talking 🙂
Lee Wise says
Simply put… a good, quality post about spending quality time with those we love. I enjoyed your spirit coming through and the actions you obviously take.
The things that stood out to me were: (1) the decision to do so; (2) the follow through to make it happen; and (3) the over all spirit of reflecting love to your mate.
All the best to you and those you love,
Lee
Terri Pray says
I count myself fortunate that at almost 13 years of marriage, Sam and I are still courting. But my parents are still courting after 43 years of marriage!
Still Dating My Spouse says
Lee,
Thank you for such motivating comments. I’m really glad you enjoyed reading the post. Please stop by again!
Pamela
Still Dating My Spouse says
Jen,
I can’t argue with lights out, talking to hubby, and just bonding! Quality time at its best…
Thanks for sharing!
Pamela
Still Dating My Spouse says
Quida,
Thank you for your comments and stopping by. Please don’t be a stranger!
Pamela
Still Dating My Spouse says
Patricia,
Please share some of your singing moments! Hey if he’s talking and you are listening and adding your two cents when you can, I say QT! LOL Glad you guys have a Quality Time routine in place. Keep up the great work.
Pamela
Still Dating My Spouse says
Terri,
What a blessing to have parents that have been married for 43 years. What a goal to achieve. Thanks for stopping by!
Pamela
Rhonda Neely says
Love, love, love your ideas. It’s so important to do what it takes to keep a marriage alive!
Shawn says
Love your blog. Great tips about spending time with our hubbys!
Still Dating My Spouse says
Shawn,
Thank you for stopping by. I must visit your blog. Please come back through sometime.
Pamela
Still Dating My Spouse says
Rhonda,
Thank you for stopping by. Yes it is imperative to date our spouse daily!
Pamela
Jen Reg says
another great post. : )
i’m happy to have come across your blog because i usually read parenting blogs and i now realize, reading marriage blogs is great as well. you’ll be seeing more of me. : )
Jen Reg says
hi pamela! me again : )
this post made me realize a lot of things. i even wrote about it today. can’t wait for more tips from you.
Alli says
Love this! I suggest this to my busy husband alot and try to do these things. Appreciate you sharing this and I plan to keep reading your posts!!
Still Dating My Spouse says
Alli,
Thank you for stopping by. I really hope I can continue to give you some ideas on how to continue dating your spouse.
Pamela