Abstinence and Quality Time
This article is part of a series called Abstinence and the love languages.
Quality Time isn’t just about being around the other person — it’s about being present to the other person. It’s okay if the activity or event doesn’t go as planned — the point is to appreciate being in his/her presence!
Here are just a few practical suggestions of ways to spend quality time together:
- Go on a hike
- Take a cooking class
- Try that DIY project you’ve been thinking about
- Go rollerblading
- Have a picnic
- Make a bucket list of places to visit throughout your city or state. Scratch them off one by one.
- Start a hobby together, like geocaching, woodworking, painting miniatures, mountain running, racquetball, writing poetry, collecting board games, etc.
- Find a book or series of books to read at the same time. Carve out a day of the week to sit down over coffee or beer and discuss what you’ve read so far.
- Try a date night package
- Take a moonlit walk (Google can tell you when the next full moon rises and sets for maximum effect)
- See who can learn a language fastest through an easy app like Duolingo. Use your new vocabulary to communicate when you don’t want the kids to hear.
- Set up a tent and camp in the backyard
- Trivia night
- Attend a sporting event together
- Make personalized Valentines cards for your kids. You’ll get quality time and they’ll appreciate having a keepsake you both worked on.
- Go to an arcade
- Do dishes side by side
- Scrape together old memories from when you were dating and make a scrapbook
- Staring contest
- Plan and execute a prank to play on the kids
- Go out of your way to participate with your spouse in one of their interests that you don’t have in common. Really try to learn why (s)he appreciates it!
- Wine and canvas
- Axe throwing
- Visit the local art museum (appreciate the real art and don’t be afraid to giggle at the “art”…it deserves it)
- Go stargazing
- Get out your favorite instruments and have a jam session (even if it’s really, really bad)
- Turn on your favorite music and dance in the kitchen
- Take up a home improvement project
- Plant a garden
- Go canoeing
What about the other love languages? Click here.
— CCL Staff Member