By Brittany Wonnell, RD, CHWC
Life gets busy, work becomes hectic, our kids have homework and our parents have appointments. How are we able to care for ourselves while caring for so many others at the same time? Throughout the years, these hectic, stressful schedules have made us forget about the importance of genuine family time.
Genuine family time is absolute, legitimate and natural. It means putting your family on your calendar and getting together for positive interaction by turning off the TV and cell phones and listening to and understanding the ones you love.
Whether that’s your child, parent, grandparent or a friend, everyone needs to plan for family time in his or her everyday routine. Talking with people we love who care about how we feel and how we’re doing can help increase self-esteem and self-confidence. It also improves social wellbeing, which can help improve other aspects of our lives.
So if you haven’t put your family on your calendar, do so. Take your family out to eat at a local park, ask a friend to have a movie night, or spend some time with an older family member whom you may not see often. Shared family time is one thing we sometimes forget, but it’s an important step on our journey to improving our wellbeing.