For so many people the evenings seem to be a time to collapse. You give your best energies at work, then you transport kids to various practices, try to get some dinner in everybody, and then – you get to the couch read to veg out. You don’t want to be bothered with bills, or kids quarreling, or anything that will drain you. Finally, later in the evening, you get up off the couch and drag yourself to bed. Sound familiar?
Is this what you thought your marriage would look like at this point? Perhaps it is time to take a different approach. You married your spouse probably hoping that you would be a team, a partnership, and would enjoy your evenings together. So, allow me to offer five suggestions of some things about which you and your mate can be intentional.
- Read together – out loud. Take turns reading, whether it be a book for enjoyment or one that will improve your marriage or parenting. Discuss your thoughts regarding what you read.
- Monitor your screen time. It is so easy to sit in a chair, with the phone glued to your hand as you scroll through mindless information because you are bored. But what if you put the phone away – yes – AWAY for the evening. You won’t die – really.
- Go for a walk together. What a great way to debrief about your day.
- Listen to a podcast together that you both would enjoy and then talk about it. This can stimulate your brain out of its vegetative state.
- Finally, consider meditating and praying together. This can be more bonding than just about anything else you can do.
I hope you will consider and try some of these suggestions. I would love to hear how they work.