Wondering how to turn ordinary time with your spouse into quality time with your spouse? In this episode, you’ll learn what quality time really means, what type of activities will benefit you and your spouse the most, and how to start enjoying more quality time in your relationship, so you can enjoy a fulfilling life with the one you love.
1. LISTEN TO this week’s episode…
2. DANCE to this week’s song…
3. check out THE SHOW NOTES…
THIS WEEK’S SONG: Just A Little Time by CLNGR, Shy 5
DANCE STYLE SUGGESTION: We recommend dancing West Coast Swing or Rumba to this week’s song. But remember, there’s no dance police here so go with the type of dancing you’re most comfortable with…even if it’s the trusty hug-and-sway we all did at prom :)
LET’S CHAT: What’s your favorite way to spend quality time with your spouse? Email and let us know at: DancingThroughMarriage@Hotmail.com
HAVE YOU DOWNLOADED OUR DANCING THROUGH MARRIAGE GUIDE YET? This guide includes a 5-day challenge that will help you and your spouse get started dancing from home so you can reconnect as a couple, rekindle romance, and have fun dancing your way to a more fulfilling marriage. You can grab the guide here.
Rather read this episode? Read away…
Are you and your spouse just spending TIME together…or are you spending QUALITY TIME together?
As newlyweds, I'm not sure my husband and I really knew the difference. But the longer we've been married, the more we've learned that not all time together is quality time together.
And when we started paying attention to which activities made the most impact on our relationship, we started living a more fulfilling life.
If you're looking for a way to turn ordinary time with your spouse into quality time with your spouse, then I think you're going to enjoy this episode of the Dancing Through Marriage Podcast.
In this episode, I'll be sharing with you…
What quality time really is
What type of activities will benefit you and your spouse the most
And…how to start enjoying more quality time in your relationship, right away!
Ready to get started?
Let's get to it!
We've all heard how important it is to spend quality time with our spouse. And that it's a necessity to keep our relationship thriving, but...
What exactly is quality time?
According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, it means; time spent giving all of one's attention to someone who is close.
While I do agree that quality time is giving someone your undivided attention, I also believe that it's only part of the equation.
The other piece of the puzzle is how you're spending that time, and if it's fulfilling a current need.
So now let me ask you a very important question…
What does quality time mean to you and your spouse?
For my husband (Rich) and I, our definition of quality time changes depending on what's going on in our lives.
If we're overworked and tired, quality time might be doing something relaxing that helps us unwind and relieves stress.
If we've been feeling too serious or uptight in our relationship, quality time might be going out for comedy night or watching a funny movie to help us unwind.
Or, if life has become a little dull and repetitive, quality time might be doing something exciting and adventurous, to help us climb out of the rut.
You get the idea, right?
Now let's look at it from a different point of view…
Let's say that life for Rich and I was currently dull and repetitive, and one of us suggested something mellow like putting together a puzzle. That probably wouldn't sound too enticing, now would it?
But on the other hand, if we were currently tired and overworked, something like a puzzle would be just what the doctor ordered, and we would be all for it.
Now, any type of quality time spent together is a good thing.
But spending the right kind of quality time at the right moment is important, because our relationships are always changing, evolving and going through different stages.
And at each stage we need different things and activities to feel fulfilled.
How do you figure out what type of quality time you need?
I would recommend starting out by having a chat with your spouse about what life looks like in your marriage right now.
Identify…
What's missing, lacking or needed most in your relationship at this very moment.
And, what type of activity will help fill that gap.
This will help define what quality time means for you and your spouse in the current moment, so you can give yourselves exactly what you need to feel balanced and fulfilled in your relationship right now.
Once you know exactly what you need in your relationship, there are all sorts of ways to fulfill it.
Sometimes you might need everyday activities, like…
Snuggling on the couch
Watching a movie.
Making dinner together
Or, taking a leisurely walk
And sometimes you might need memory-making activities, like…
Going on vacation
Checking something off your bucket list
Or, dancing the night away in each other's arms
Whatever it may be, staying in tune with your spouse and what the two of you need, is key to spending quality time together.
And the more quality time you spend together, the more quality your relationship will be.
Now that we've talked about what quality time means to you and your spouse, and what type of quality time is needed in your relationship, there's one thing to avoid that might get in your way.
Our advice about quality time, after twenty years of marriage.
Spend less time focusing on what everyone else is doing (as glamorous as it may look on social media) and more time engaging in the activities you and your spouse truly need to feel fulfilled in your relationship.
The thing is, no one knows what your relationship needs better than you and your spouse.
And even though that date night Johnny and Susie took last weekend overlooking a vineyard during sunset looked amazing...
It might not be what you and your spouse need right now. And there may be another activity that would fulfill your relationship even better.
Not to mention that your relationship is always changing, and so are your needs as a couple.
So stay focused on yourself and your spouse, and get creative in the way you spend time together. And make the most of every minute because it goes by in a heartbeat.
Now that we've talked about quality time, here's your next step…
Rich and I enjoy spending quality time together in many different ways, but there's one activity that stands out for us.
And that's dancing.
We've found that dancing together to music we love, is a great way to keep our relationship balanced and fulfilled.
On next week's podcast we'll be talking more about spending quality time with your spouse, the benefits of dancing together to music you love, and how it can fulfill your relationship, and keep it fulfilled, in a number of ways.
Until then, we want to help you take the first step towards dancing your way to enjoying more quality time with your spouse.
At the top of this post, we've provided 2-minutes of music for you and your spouse to dance to, from wherever you're listening.
And don't worry if you've never danced before, we've made this really easy for you.
All you have to do is follow my lead, and I'll guide you every step of the way.
And remember, after you're finished with your 2-minute dance break, be sure to check out the show notes and bonus material at the top of this post.
Ready To Put The Spark Back In Your Relationship?
This step-by-step guide will help you and your spouse…
Reconnect as a couple
Rekindle romance
and, dance your way to a more fun and fulfilling relationship… even if you’ve never danced before!