I know we’re going out of order,
here. Hubby wanted to write the “continuing courtship” post but I had time to
write today so I’m posting this one :)
.
I’ve heard some couples complain
about feeling like they’re stuck in a rut. Sometimes Cameron and I get into a
routine that isn’t the most fun and we want to break out of it. (Honestly, that
happens the most when we start watching TV a lot.) The best way to get out of
this is to be spontaneous! Surprise your spouse with an outing, try a new
recipe or restaurant, go somewhere you’ve never been together, break your routine.
This can be really hard to do
when you’re both working, or going to school, or both. Your daily routine is
pretty much set for you. So how do you break out of the monotony? Look at your
priorities. What are the things that are most important to you as a couple? For
Cameron and I we make sure that we pray together and have personal and couple
scripture study every day, and of course we go to work and school and try to
eat well and keep the house clean, but other than that, our priorities are flexible.
Put first things first, then see what’s taking up your time that could come out
of your routine to make way for play time.
1. Weekends
Weekends are a great time to mix
it up because you generally have a little bit more time. If you or your spouse
works or has school on the weekends, try to find another day where you can both
take a break to be together. Weekends are also a great time for short trips. If
you can afford it, take a Friday or Monday off of work to give yourselves a
three-day weekend and get out of town. Go camping, stay at a bed and breakfast,
even in your own town, and just look for adventures where you are.
2. Evenings
They’re a great time to throw
your routine to the wind and have a bit of fun! Evenings are better for
slightly shorter excursions and adventures, especially since you might have to
be up early the next morning. And guess what? You can be spontaneous at home!
One night a few months ago Cam was feeling a bit down and we’d been doing the
same old dinner-and-a-movie-at-home spiel for several date nights, so I
suggested we go camping. It was about 55 degrees and raining, and let me tell
you I only like camping in nice weather, and even then I get a little grumpy
sometimes. I pulled out our tent and camping chairs into the living room, we
pushed the furniture into the kitchen and we set up our tent right there!
We
went to the store and grabbed some Jiffy Pop (the kind that comes in a little
tinfoil skillet that turns into a bubble when you pop it)
and then ran over to
J-dawgs and got some delicious hot dogs, because obviously those are the two
things you eat when you are cooking over a “fire."For some reason neither of
us thought to get marshmallows. We made a “fire pit” in our tent by putting
twinkling Christmas lights in a basket, then rolling up pieces of paper to be
our “logs.”
We brought ALL of our blankets into the tent so it would be
comfortable to lie on the floor and we played cards, told stories, and ended up
falling asleep. It was really fun (and warm and dry, I might add) and it was a great
way to break our routine!
3. Mornings
If you don’t have anywhere to be
super early, or even if you do, mornings can be a great time to mix it up. Wake
up early and make your spouse a nice breakfast, drive up to a hill and
watch the sunrise. Do something you don’t usually do whether its exercise together, eat
together, do the crossword puzzle in the paper together, just set aside as little as
ten minutes to do something with your spouse that you generally don’t do with
each other. Together time, where you’re really mentally there together, is one
of the best ways to come closer and connect.
I'm so grateful for my husband who is always so thoughtful and helps lift me up and is always looking for ways to be spontaneous and show his love to me. How are some ways that you and
your spouse are spontaneous and keep from getting stuck in your routine? What
do you like to do together for fun?
