How to spend more time with your family

 

Most things we do in life are for our families, but it often feels like those tasks are getting in the way of spending proper family time together. Whether that’s commuting to or from work, going to the grocery store or even something as simple as putting away the laundry, life likes to throw lots of little obstacles to navigate. Here are some ways you can make sure you’re spending as much time with your family as you can.

Remove dividing walls

As much as we’d love to drop everything and spend time with our children, there are often a list of things that need to be done. If you’re stuck at the stove preparing dinner or at the sink cleaning dishes, it can feel like you’re missing out on all the fun the rest of your family are having in a separate room. While it may seem impossible to persuade your children to spend time in the kitchen when the big screen TV and all their toys are in another room, there is a way to be able to see each other.

Consider literally removing those walls that divide you. A more open plan layout will allow you and your family to see each other from lots of different rooms around the house. The easiest and most cost-effective way to do this is to install sliding glass doors into the wall that backs onto your garden.

For example, Cover Glass, NorCal's frameless folding glass doors, can give you an uninterrupted view of your children enjoying the garden. They can also bring more light into your room and make it a more welcoming space for children to enjoy. You could even sit together and spot the nature through the glass while carrying out those day-to-day chores.

Schedule a free slot

Often it can be hard during the week to find time when everyone has a free schedule. Whether it’s mom having to stay late for a work meeting, or one of the children having soccer practice, there are lots of other arrangements you need to check before planning a family activity. Instead of checking everyone’s schedule separately every week, set aside a few hours in your weekly schedule where nobody is allowed to plan anything.

For example, if you say every Tuesday evening is family night, then you’ll know all your family will be free at that time every week. You might need to miss the odd one for appointments that can’t be changed, but more times than not, you’ll find yourself having free time with the ones you love.

Embrace technology

If you can’t commit to the same day every week, try using technology to synchronize your calendars. Most email providers now allow you to add appointments to your calendar and share them with the rest of your family.

You can also use technology to make sure you see more of those family members that live further away. Conferencing software like Zoom or Skype are great ways of spending time with extended family without the need to drive or even fly miles away.