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[column size=”1/2″][adrotate banner=”8″][/column][column size=”1/2″]With all the different things that vie for your time, it can seem like you never get everything done. Whether you are married with children or single and dating, between work responsibilities, your social life with friends and maintaining things like your home and vehicle, it can be difficult to find time to spend with the person that is most important in your life — your significant other. For this relationship advice column, here are four creative ways to carve out more quality time together.[/column]
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Take a Mini Vacation
While a yearly, full-blown vacation is a chance to have a week’s worth of blissful togetherness, these things take time to plan — and most employers only allow one each year. Taking a mini vacation doesn’t have to be a complicated affair. Instead, it can be a simple as taking a Friday off work and going away together for a long weekend. If you want to beat the crowds — and possibly save a little money — shift your day off to Monday. Many establishments have specials on Mondays and you won’t have to deal with as big of a crowd either.
Stay in For the Day
Taking the morning off from work and lounging around the house gives you the opportunity to enjoy a leisurely breakfast and movie together. Being able to focus on each other while the kids are at school or the commuters are fighting traffic will increase the fun factor, too. Alternatively, meet at home after lunch and spend a few hours together before the dinner rush hits.
Mix it Up
It’s easy to fall into a rut when it comes to your relationship. A sure-fire cure for this is to do something spontaneous. Surprise him with tickets to a local band after work. Do something for her that you did when the relationship was still in its early phases like bringing her flowers to her desk at work. Steal him off for a surprise lunch — just the two of you. Working these impromptu little nuggets of time adds fun and playfulness back into your relationship.
Learn a New Hobby — Together
Take up a new interest — one that involves only the two of you. Don’t bring the kids and don’t invite your friends. Make this time together just for you to connect again. From active pursuits such as recreational soccer or table tennis to an art workshop or a massage class, you can explore new and exciting concepts as a couple. As a bonus, not only will you be able to spend time together, you also have a built-in person to run new ideas by or to try out new techniques.
Use the above ideas as a jumping-off point when it comes to finding creative ways to spend more time with your partner. You’ll infuse some fun and anticipation into your life while also getting to know a different side of the one you love.
