How to Raise a Happier and Healthier Family

If you want to try and make sure that your family is as happy and healthy as possible then the best way for you to do this would be for you to try and build as much emotional resilience as possible.

Reset for A Happy Family

If your family feels disconnected and they struggle with tension then the first thing you need to do is get together and have a talk about it. How this is done will probably come down to the age of your kids and the personalities that they have. You also need to give some thought to your family members too. This is a good way for you to open up different channels of communication for everyone. You could ask your family to sit down and have an open and honest conversation or you could ask everyone to talk at the same time. Either way, you need to try and choose a method that works for you.

Set Goals

You also need to make sure that you speak openly and honestly about things. Set goals that are achievable and that are manageable. Draw a line in the sand and start over again. Remember that you need to schedule family meetings and that you also need to review progress so you can change your goals accordingly. A happy family sits down together and can have a discussion. If you can set goals and you can take the time to bring happiness into your home then this will help you out a lot. You need to learn to value yourself as well as one another. If you can do this then you will soon find that it is easier for you to make sure that your family is truly happy and healthy.

Make Time to Talk

You also need to make time to talk with each other. At the end of the day, effective communication is the cornerstone of having a happy family. When you come together, you need to encourage people to put down their devices and you need to encourage them to talk properly too. Swap stories and make sure that you are invested in each other’s well-being. If you can’t be together all the time, or as much as you’d like then this is understandable. You can use technology as a way to connect, and to let family members know that you are thinking about them. If you have a toddler, now could be the time for you to try and include them. Look into basic emotions for toddlers and take the time to learn what it is they are feeling and how you can help them.

Prioritize your Partner

You also need to take the time to prioritize your partner where possible. Recognize that a strong and stable relationship with your partner will lead to a better relationship with your family. If you and your partner do not have that strong sense of security then this will not benefit your family. All too often, parents find themselves putting their relationship with one another on the back burner. This is a fundamental mistake, however. The reality of the situation is that the relationship is the base on which your entire family is built. You need to take the time to make it your priority. Work together to provide an example of what a healthy relationship looks like and also make sure that you are letting your kids see it too. Show them that you respect them and that you love them. Work together as a team and you’ll soon find that you can move mountains.

Put a Focus on Alone Time

Put the time you have together, first. Schedule date nights and try and do something fun if you can. Research has shown time and time again that couples experience a strong positive impact on their relationship when they go out on a date together. You may even be able to take advantage of improved communication as well as an increase in affection and gratitude. If you can, you also need to take the time to explore new and exciting activities together. It’s wise for you to try and put a focus on date nights and try something new. If you can do this then you will soon find that it is easier for you to see what makes your family so special.

Show Commitment

Happy families commit to each other. Commitment is knowing that you always have someone to turn to when you need it. It also helps you to create a sense of security and well-being. With that being said, commitment requires sacrifice. There could well be times when you need to drop everything and change your plans if your family should need you. This is, however, a very small price to pay for those who you love and it will reinforce the bond between you both.

Time Well Spent

You cannot possibly strengthen the bond that you have between you and your family if you don’t ever spend time with each other. Quality family time will help you to create more memories. If you miss your chance to do this as your children grow up then you won’t get that chance again. Make sure that you are putting family time first and don’t allow the business of everyday life to push it out of the way. You have to make sure that you allow your children to have their freedom while embracing the time with them right now. Take steps to have quality time too, and make sure that you put them in your diary. If you can do this then you will soon find that you can stop the level of disconnect that destroys a lot of families. If you have kids who just don’t want to spend time with each other then one thing you can do is try and come up with a mutually-beneficial time to sit with each other and then go from there. Treat everyone with the respect that they deserve and make sure that you are doing something that appeals to everyone. Although you may want to sit and have dinner, it may be that your kids love to go out to the cinema instead. If your son likes to ride his bike but you prefer to go down country roads then this is fine, come to a compromise and find a nice country walk that has a good bike trail without too many steep hills. This is the key to spending a lot of positive time together.

Eat Together

Families that eat together, tend to stick together. Sharing a family meal is one of the best things you can do, so try and keep that in mind. Studies have shown that kids who eat dinner with their parents at least five days out of the week feel closer to them overall. If you can make family meals a big part of your home life rather than having your kids just disappear to the other room to have a plate of food then this will help everyone. Don’t allow your kids to sit in front of the TV instead have a good conversation with them. You also need to share conversations about their day and discuss worries that they might have. Although watching television can be a good way for you to relax, you have to remember that too much of it can damage your well-being.

When kids have TVs in their bedroom, it can result in families being disconnected and they are less likely to watch things together. Instead, you may find that you end up spending hours of family time apart from each other and this just isn’t good, to say the least. If you want to do something about this then be mindful of the amount of television that you allow your children to watch and avoid having it on all the time. Be selective about the programs you watch and make sure that you take turns so you can give everyone a chance to own the remote. This is a small price to pay but it could end up bringing everyone closer together.

Have a Family Holiday

Holidays are such an important part of maintaining a happy family. They give you the chance to have a few precious moments together and they also allow you to make your family bonds stronger. Even if you cannot afford to go away for a holiday, it’s important to make it a priority to have a few days to stop work and spend some time together. You need to arrange some day trips and you also need to plan some activities that you can do away from home. If you can, again, make sure that everyone has a say in what you do and when you do it. If you can do this then you will soon see that it can help you to bring everyone together and that your family is much happier and healthier overall.