How to…Spend more time with family

Children grow up all too fast – before you know it, they’re graduating high school and flying the nest! So it’s important to enjoy time with our families whenever we can – these golden moments create lasting memories that will be cherished for life. Busy lifestyles mean that, all too often, family time gets pushed aside by other chores. So, it’s not surprising that one of the top 10 New Year resolutions is to spend more time with family.

Got a full schedule? Don’t worry – there are lots of ways you can squeeze in extra family time!

Get organized

Make a big family wall chart to clearly mark each person’s commitments, so you can easily see when everyone is free at the same time. Color-code it with a set of Sharpies to schedule in group family time – okay so it might not be spontaneous fun, but it will ensure you get quality time where you can plan something worthwhile.

Free it up

Consider your schedule – is it crammed with classes, clubs and after-school activities? Do you find yourself spending a lot of your time driving your children from one thing to another? Maybe you’re doing too much. Family time can be just as important. Spending time with adults can be beneficial for children’s learning and development, so try cutting a couple of after-school clubs per week.

Delegate

Sharing out those time-consuming household chores will free up your time to spend having fun with the family. Encouraging your kids to get involved will give them useful experience for when they’re older – take it in turns to do the laundry and clean the bathroom. Order household supplies in bulk so you don’t have to go shopping as often – kids get fed up in supermarkets and would rather be out having fun!

Family exercise

Instead of going to the gym alone, take the whole family out for a bike ride or a swim. A hearty walk in the open air is great exercise and provides an opportunity to chat with your family and catch up on what you’ve been missing. Seek out new places instead of going to the same park every time – think of each walk as a mini-adventure to make it more fun. Pack a picnic box and make a day of it!

Use your imagination

Family time doesn’t need to be expensive – have a big craft session with glitter glue and craft kits; stage a treasure hunt for little ones; make a photo collage; play dress-up with your old clothes; bake cupcakes and have fun decorating them… the opportunities are endless! Getting creative and trying something new is a great bonding experience.

Picture it

Kids grow up fast, so preserve those special memories by carrying a disposable camera in your bag on days out. You can have hours of fun making family videos on a camcorder – remember to pack a couple of spare DVC cassettes so you don’t miss out on those priceless moments.

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How to…Enjoy Life to the Fullest

If you ask the average person what they want out of life, ‘to be happy’ will be right up there at the top for most. Happiness means different things for different folks, but to really enjoy life to the fullest you need to discover what makes YOU happy – whether it’s curling up with a good book or dancing the night away.

Get Organized

We all lead busy lives, so maintaining a satisfactory work-life balance can be tricky when you’re trying to juggle children, friends, family and work commitments. Organization is key to ensuring you’re using your time efficiently. Ever wonder how some people manage to fit so much into their week? Well, we all have 24 hours in a day; it’s up to us how we use them! Use Post-It Notes to remind you of important tasks, such as appointments, so you don’t waste valuable time.

If weekday mornings are stressful, prepare lunch-boxes, school uniforms and school bags the night before, to prevent frazzled nerves. This will leave more time for everyone to enjoy a healthy breakfast in the morning, without racing against the clock.

Buying household products in bulk will save both time and money – stock up on the essentials, such as batteries and cleaning products, and you’ll save all those emergency trips out to the shops. The more organized you are, the more free time you will have left over to enjoy yourself!

Keep Healthy

To really get the most out of life you need stacks of energy! Stay on top of your game by eating a healthy, balanced diet to provide all the nutrition you need to enjoy an active life. Boost your intake of essential vitamins with nutritional supplements and ensure your body is kept hydrated by drinking plenty of water. A good night’s sleep is essential for physical and mental wellbeing – so if you’re disturbed by snoring or congestion, try Breathe Right strips to improve sleep for both you and your partner!

Pamper Yourself

Did you know that stress is thought to be the root cause of around 75% of doctor’s appointments? It’s so important to make time for relaxation, so that stress doesn’t accumulate and take over your life. Don’t feel guilty about booking some ‘me time’ into your schedule. Enjoy a hot bath with some calming beauty products to chill out and soak away the worries of the day. A spritz of your favorite perfume will invigorate the senses and leave you feeling refreshed – try something light and uplifting, such as Light Blue by D&G. If you don’t get much time to yourself, try to arrange a babysitter once a month, so that you can truly relax and indulge in whatever makes you happy.

Life Goals

Remember that you can’t please everyone – life is short, so don’t waste time worrying about things you cannot control. Sometimes it’s the smallest things in life that bring the greatest joy, so let go and enjoy life to the fullest!

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