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Planning Family Downtime (No Matter How Busy You Are!)

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Is your life is filled to the brim with activity? Life is busy and crazy! You would love to have some downtime, but it sounds impossible, right?

In a survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 83 percent of respondents said they spent no time during the day relaxing or thinking. We tend to overschedule and overwork ourselves, while forgetting the importance of taking time to relax. Follow these steps to help your family soak in some much-needed downtime and feel refreshed and recharged.

Prioritize

To make sure family time happens, you must make it a priority. Don’t think of downtime as a great idea for when the right day comes. Otherwise, that day might never come. With school back in session, days are filled with soccer practice, homework and school programs. Every minute of the week seems to be scheduled, which is why you must schedule family downtime every week. Don’t mark it in pencil and erase it when something else comes along. Treat it as a non-negotiable appointment for the entire family—no cancellations, unless an emergency arises. If you absolutely have to cancel your downtime, reschedule it for another time that week. If possible, schedule the same block of time each week to make a habit of winding down with the family.

Tune Out the World

To get the most out of this time with your family, tune out phones. Invest in an unplug box to hide away all the electronic devices during family time. This way, the family will interact just with each other, and no one will be tempted to text friends or answer work emails.

Tuning out the world also includes doing no chores or homework. If you have laundry to catch up on, schedule it around family downtime. It’s also important to let friends know your family’s tradition, so they will be less likely to tempt your kids to skip out on family time.

Involve the Kids

The only way family downtime will work is if the kids enjoy it. Let every family member take turns deciding the week’s activity. Whether it’s a game of mini golf, a hike, game night or simply a few hours to veg out on the couch watching TV, the decision is that of the designated family member. Also, make a rule of no complaining. If the entire family shares common interests, doing the same activity each week becomes a possibility. Sunday strolls, Friday game nights or movie marathons are all fun ideas and will give kids something to look forward to each week. For more free and cheap fun ideas in Kansas City, visit KCParent.com.

Say No

There are so many choices regarding what our kids are involved in that sometimes it can be hard to turn down opportunities. However, we have to remember that downtime is just as important as extracurricular activities. Saying yes to making family downtime a priority also means saying no to other activities. There will be missed birthday parties, neighborhood barbeques and baby showers, but just remember your family is your priority. Be open with your friends about your ritual. Once your friends understand your reasoning for unwinding with your family, they won’t have any trouble with you missing out on their party. In fact, when they see how refreshed your family feels, they might ask you for pointers on how to schedule downtime with their family.

Take a Road Trip

The best way to bond with family is to spend hours together in a car and break away from your normal routine. Take a weekend road trip with the family to go sightseeing and, most importantly, to spend quality time together. Maintain the same rule about tuning out the world and putting away the electronics for the car ride as much of the trip as possible. Sometimes vacations can leave you more tired than you were before, so throw away the trip itinerary. Stay up late and sleep in every morning. Let the day guide you instead of a tour guide. Once the trip is over, you and your kids will have created lifelong memories and may even come home feeling fully rested.

Fun Family Downtime Activities

Regan Lyons is a freelance writer who lives in St. Joseph, MO, with her husband and 4-year-old daughter.

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