How to Cultivate Healthy Relationship Practices When You Don’t Get Much Time With Your Partner

1. Quality Over Quantity

If your schedules are busy and there isn’t much you can do to change that presently, embrace the situation and shift your mindset to appreciate the time you have together. It can be easy to feel resentful or unhappy with the limited quantity, so instead, focus your attention on the quality.

Use your time together to create new memories and invest in the relationship. Make the most of your physical time together rather than ruminating on the time you miss out on. 

2. Cultivate a Routine

When your day is filled with activity, and you don’t have much time to spend with each other, create a ritual for the morning, evening, or both. Start your day with a moment together, even if it is just a quick cup of coffee. End your day with a short nightly walk to catch up on any pertinent details of the day.

If weekdays are jam-packed, schedule a weekly date on a weekend day of your choice. Designate this day as date night and make it a consistent routine. Rent a movie, go to a nice dinner, attend a concert, or choose a new activity each week to explore new interests. 

3. Communicate Efficiently

So often, we speak to each other, but communication still lacks. Practice efficient communication with your partner. Yes, it takes practice.

Keep your partner in the loop on your schedule for the week, any breaks you may have, and any important events that shouldn’t be missed. You can always look to a shared calendar app for help if needed.

Don’t be afraid to tell your partner what you’re feeling and why. Rather than hiding your emotions, share them with them and allow them the opportunity to work through them with you. It can be easy to fall into a pattern of avoiding it due to the busyness of the schedules. 

4. Be Intentional with Your Communication

When you’re short on time, schedule check-ins with your partner during available times. Those few minutes can enhance your communication and connection, whether on a voice call or through a video chat.

Similarly, texts or voice notes can be used to send sweet messages throughout the day or during one of those important events. It will further connect you when you can’t be together physically. 

5. Express Gratitude

Spending time apart can make it feel like there’s a world between you two. By the time you get to see each other, gratitude, appreciation, and affection might not be the first things on your mind when the conversation starts.

Take time to strengthen your bond by expressing gratitude for your partner. Verbalize your appreciation for them and how much you value what they bring to your relationship. 

6. Date and Have Fun

This one is so important, it gets a second mention. A healthy relationship thrives on leaving the house and partaking in new experiences. Whatever frequency makes sense for you two, set a routine time frame.

If you have kids, plan to hire a babysitter. If it’s just you two, be intentional with your time and who you share it with besides your partner. We are social beings, so interacting with the world is meaningful. 

7. Keep the Spark Alive

When life gets busy, intimacy tends to take a backseat. Prioritize physical and emotional intimate moments to keep the spark between you two alive. It is, after all, one of the foundational pieces of any relationship.

If you or your partner are struggling to balance your relationship and busy schedules, contact us for a consultation. We’re here to help!