Basic HTML Version
52
maskmatters.org
summer
2012
The
Simple
Life
Trouble-free solutions for making
family life more manageable
story // Leo Babauta
neighborhood, reading together, or playing
board or video games. Or you can plan a
lunch or dinner out, or a trip to the movies
or local amusement park. If you have
several children, rotate dates with them.
÷
Create alone time for
your spouse.
It’s easy to become
so busy with your kids that you forget
about your significant other. Don’t let
this happen—it’s a sure way to drift
apart and lose that bond that led you
to having a family together. Keep the
relationship alive by getting a babysitter
(maybe once a week) and doing
something together, just the two of you.
÷
learn to let things go.
Don’t always be so strict. Let things go.
They’re kids—let them live. Remind
yourself that it’s not worth all the hassle to
A
nyone who has children knows
that life with kids can be
challenging. From extra laundry,
to bathing and cooking and shopping and
driving and school and chores and sports
and dance and toys and tantrums, there is
no shortage of complications.
So how does one find peace and
happiness among the chaos? It’s easier than
you think.The trick is to make your family
your top priority, and choosing only a small
number of priorities in your life. If you have
too many things you want to do, or need
to do, your life will become complicated.
But if you choose just a few things that are
important to you, you can eliminate the
rest, and simplify your life greatly. Here are
a few ideas:
÷
self-suffiCienCy.
As your
children get older and become more
capable, teach them do things for
themselves. Having them to do it—instead
of you just doing it—takes time and can be
a little frustrating at first, but it will pay off
for years to come.
÷
one Calendar.
Organize your
life with a simple calendar filled with your
family’s activities and appointments. When
you receive papers from school or soccer
schedules, immediately enter everything
into the calendar. A quick glance each
morning will help you plan your day.
÷
Bedtime routines.
Kids thrive
on routine and no routine is better than
the one before they go to sleep. Have a
regular routine before bed, which might
consist of cleaning up, showering, brushing
their teeth and getting into their pajamas.
Reading with before bedtime is also a great
idea because it quiets the
kids down after a day of
activity and gives you quality
bonding time together.
÷
don’t sChedule too muCh.
Sometimes we schedule things back-to-
back-to-back, so that every minute of every
day is planned out.This can
lead to stress.
Instead,
schedule as
little as possible each day, and leave
space between events, appointments
or activities, so that your day
moves along at a more leisurely
pace. A more spaced-out schedule is
more relaxing than a cramped one.
÷
have dediCated family
times.
Try to find regular times
in your schedule when you do nothing
else but spend time together as a family.
Dinnertime works well, as do weekends.
÷
CommuniCate as a family.
Regular communication between family
members helps solve or prevent problems.
Schedule regular times when the family can
talk about family issues. A weekly “family
meeting” is a good idea.This is when you
can all sit down, talk, compliment and
thank each other, and plan a family outing.
÷
go on “dates” with your
kids.
If you have trouble finding alone
time with each child, setting up a date can
be a good way to ensure that you do things
together. Make a date with your child for a
specific day and time, and together, decide
what you want to do. It can be something
as simple as taking a walk in your
reboot & reconnect
summer
2012
maskmatters.org
53
get on their cases about things. Instead, let
things go and just relax.They’ll turn out
just fine in the end, as long as you love and
support them.
÷
Spend quiet time at home.
Often, we get so busy that we find
ourselves on the road most of the time,
going to one event or another. Try to spend
time at home as often as you can. You
can watch a DVD instead of going to the
movies or play outside instead of going to a
sporting event. You can read to each other,
or by yourselves, or tell stories.There are
dozens of things you can do at home that
cost nothing, and that are relaxing and fun.
÷
Create traditionS.
Kids
love traditions, from special things you
do during the holidays or on vacation.
Create traditions at your home, whether
it’s family dinnertime, family meetings or
a designated “family day”—anything that
brings you together. If you make it a regular
thing and give it special importance, it will
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be a tradition that your kids will remember
well into adulthood.
÷
make Cooking and
Cleaning a family thing.
Cooking and cleaning can be time
consuming and take your time away from
your children. However, doing these
activities as a family solves both problems.
Having everyone pitch in can simplify
cooking and cleaning, and it gives you
quality time together while teaching your
children valuable life skills.
÷
reduCe CommitmentS.
This
tip applies to both your commitments
and your kids’ commitments. If you have
too many, your life will be complicated. If
you reduce your commitments, your life
will be simplified. It’s that simple. Make
a list of all your family’s commitments
and see which ones align with your
priorities. Which ones give you the most
joy and benefit? Which ones just drain
your time and energy without giving you
much back in return? Keep the essential
commitments—yours and your kids—and
eliminate as many of the rest as possible.
÷
get aCtive.
These days, kids can
become very inactive (and unhealthy) with
all the TV, Internet and video games they
consume. Get them active by going outside
with them and taking walks, going for
swims, playing sports. If you run, let your
kids run with you. Get them bikes and go
to the park. Do challenges, like races or
obstacle course challenges. Make it fun, but
get them active.
÷
foCuS on doing, not on
Spending.
Too often, we send messages
to our kids about how to live life based
on what we do: shopping, eating out, and
going to the movies. Instead, teach them
that what’s important is doing things,
not buying things. Go for walks in the
park, play outdoors, read, tell stories, play
charades, cook and clean, go to the beach or
lake, wash the car.