Remember dating your spouse, when life was an adventure and you had all the time in the world to have fun together? Now that you’re married and maybe have added kids to them, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut with each other. Without the energy and time you used to have, free time together can become mundane.
Don’t put your relationship on the back-burner, though. Research shows that couples who play together stay together. Increased playfulness between spouses leads to increased happiness in marriage. And a happy marriage is a long-lasting one. Have you tried doing anything fun with your spouse lately?
Cut the monotony out of your together time and try doing something fun together. Maybe its after hours once the kids are in bed. Or maybe, you take the kids along. But doing something fun with the one you love does not have to be expensive or elaborate. Instead, make your fun together simple and be consistent about planning time to spend together. If you’re lacking in creativity, try out some of these ideas.
Cook For Fun.
One night, try waiting to eat until the kids are in bed. Then, make a meal together, from start to finish. You’ll appreciate all your spouse can do that you never knew about. And, without the kids, dinner is much less hectic and a lot more romantic.
Try Googling your favorite dishes and take the whole night to make something fancy. Or, whip up something simple and eat it out in the backyard. You could also try making it a competition, with each of you making separate dishes with the same, limited ingredients available to each of you.
Run Together.
Before we had any kids, Lizzy and I trained for a marathon together. We learned a lot about ourselves while training with each other. Set a date for when you’ll run, find a race, and then pick a training program together. Study up on how to run quicker or what you can eat and drink while running that will positively affect your time.
If you’re kids are young, pick a shorter race and train separately. Then you only have to find someone to watch the kids the day of your race. Make sure to set goals together, though, and to keep each other posted on your progress. Setting and accomplishing a goal together will help you feel closer to each other.
Read Together.
Reading is a lost pastime in our world. And it’s no wonder, since as a parent, you have no time to read. Pick a book together as a couple and read it out loud together when you’re looking for something to do. Make sure the book is short enough that you can finish it relatively quickly. And make sure you’re both interested in what you’re reading. Fiction usually works best, since you can pick it up and put it back down again without forgetting too much of what you read.
Find an Old Movie to Watch.
Try an old movie out when you’re looking for something to do together. Work your way through an entire black and white movie, or pick a genre you’re both unfamiliar with and try it out. Old movies don’t have the special affects we’re used to, but they make up for it in dialogue and character development. It’s easier to connect with each other while watching something a little older. You can get up in the middle to make some popcorn, and you don’t necessarily have to ban your wife from talking in the middle.
Have Fun Playing a Game Together.
We never have more fun than when we’re competing with each other. Try your hand at a game and see how many times you can beat your spouse. Or, pull out some of your old childhood games. Jenga, Sorry, Clue, and Battleship are all timeless classics you could try returning to when you have some time.
Travel Together for Fun.
Plan a weekend away, with or without the kids. Try camping close to home or taking a road trip further away. You’ll enjoy wherever you’re at as you meet the challenges of traveling together and discover new parts of the world.
Be Together.
Whatever you decide to do together, make your time with each other count. As parents, you don’t have a lot of spare moments together. You don’t need to be elaborate to have fun together. Get off of Netflix after the kids are in bed and see what else you can do to ensure your relationship stays healthy.
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