Relationships are built on time. If you never spent a minute
with your sweetheart there is no chance that you would even be in
a relationship. The more hours, days and months worth of positive
communicating you do, the stronger your ties become and the more
successful your relationship can be. If you want a truly blissful
relationship you need to carve in a reasonable amount of time in
your schedule to be together. Often, that means you need to get rid
of something. So let's consider some ways to "simplify" your life
and create more time for relaxing and relating with your life mate.
Some of these will work for you, others will not. Do what is
reasonable for you.
* Unless you really enjoy yard work, consider getting rid of your
lawn. Many flowerbeds take considerably less time (and water)
to maintain than a lawn. Or, move to a condominium or townhouse
where yard maintenance is taken care of for you. Athena and I
have lived in condos and townhomes for much of our married life.
That is one reason we have the time to do so much fun stuff and
travel for long periods.
* All too often people "inherit" pets that they really never
wanted. If you are not strongly attached to your pet, consider
offering it to a family who would dearly love it. Pets can take a
lot of your time (and money) so don't feel guilty for putting your
relationship first.
* When making a meal like lasagna or a casserole, consider making
two or three while all the ingredients are out and put the extra
in the freezer for a night when you want to relax. Athena and I
bought an upright freezer just so we could do that.
* Unplug the television. It saps more hours from most couples than
anything else. Even worse, television entices you and your children
to buy stuff you don't need, making you work more to buy "stuff."
* Cancel sales catalogs, ezines and magazines you never read (or read
out of habit - not out of enjoyment). Take the time to remove your
name from junk mail lists. Here is a website where you can do that.
* Use automatic bill payment as much as possible. Almost every
bill and mortgage can be set up. Most employers are now able to
provide automatic deposit.
* If you use credit cards, consolidate all of them to one card that
you use and one as a back up in case of emergencies. Set it up
for automatic bill payment too. It will force you to pay it off
every month.
* Don't overwork your kids (and yourself) by signing them up for
every possible activity. Let them choose one or two at a time they
are most interested in.
* Drop out of clubs/organizations that you don't enjoy or don't
have much value for you.
* Get in the habit of asking yourself, "will this
purchase/activity/experience help me to have a more blissful
relationship or will it put stress on it?" The more deliberate we
are in our decisions on how to spend our time and money, the more
likely we are to make choices that will strengthen our relationships.
with your sweetheart there is no chance that you would even be in
a relationship. The more hours, days and months worth of positive
communicating you do, the stronger your ties become and the more
successful your relationship can be. If you want a truly blissful
relationship you need to carve in a reasonable amount of time in
your schedule to be together. Often, that means you need to get rid
of something. So let's consider some ways to "simplify" your life
and create more time for relaxing and relating with your life mate.
Some of these will work for you, others will not. Do what is
reasonable for you.
* Unless you really enjoy yard work, consider getting rid of your
lawn. Many flowerbeds take considerably less time (and water)
to maintain than a lawn. Or, move to a condominium or townhouse
where yard maintenance is taken care of for you. Athena and I
have lived in condos and townhomes for much of our married life.
That is one reason we have the time to do so much fun stuff and
travel for long periods.
* All too often people "inherit" pets that they really never
wanted. If you are not strongly attached to your pet, consider
offering it to a family who would dearly love it. Pets can take a
lot of your time (and money) so don't feel guilty for putting your
relationship first.
* When making a meal like lasagna or a casserole, consider making
two or three while all the ingredients are out and put the extra
in the freezer for a night when you want to relax. Athena and I
bought an upright freezer just so we could do that.
* Unplug the television. It saps more hours from most couples than
anything else. Even worse, television entices you and your children
to buy stuff you don't need, making you work more to buy "stuff."
* Cancel sales catalogs, ezines and magazines you never read (or read
out of habit - not out of enjoyment). Take the time to remove your
name from junk mail lists. Here is a website where you can do that.
* Use automatic bill payment as much as possible. Almost every
bill and mortgage can be set up. Most employers are now able to
provide automatic deposit.
* If you use credit cards, consolidate all of them to one card that
you use and one as a back up in case of emergencies. Set it up
for automatic bill payment too. It will force you to pay it off
every month.
* Don't overwork your kids (and yourself) by signing them up for
every possible activity. Let them choose one or two at a time they
are most interested in.
* Drop out of clubs/organizations that you don't enjoy or don't
have much value for you.
* Get in the habit of asking yourself, "will this
purchase/activity/experience help me to have a more blissful
relationship or will it put stress on it?" The more deliberate we
are in our decisions on how to spend our time and money, the more
likely we are to make choices that will strengthen our relationships.
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