How To Relax Together As A Couple
It’s that time again: calendars are filling up and it seems like we get busier and busier each year. Last November, we posted about how you can handle holiday stress and everything that comes along with balancing schedules and emotions through Thanksgiving and Christmas. Brandon and I have been focusing more on enjoying quality time together and making sure that we destress and relax after the work day is over. We thought it’d be fun to share how to relax together as a couple and what we particularly enjoy to mentally take our minds off work or help us jump into time together for an average evening.
A Beverage Of Choice
We’re actually not huge drinkers and only partake in the occasional glass of wine every so often. Our real preference is tea, and lately, hot cider (see this recipe here for an amazing batch). There’s something about this that just feels more relaxing to us both and we enjoy the conversation that it creates too.
A New Space
We’ve been in our home for almost two years now. It’s a small one story and we really spend 90% of our time in the open concept living space. That being said, on Halloween we set up camp in the garage with lawn chairs, cider, and had a great view of the front yard as kids came by. We’d never really thought about using the garage and driveway as a new space to relax and chat, but we enjoyed it so much that the habit has continued! Sometimes finding a new perspective or space in your house is just what you need for a change of pace.
A Therapeutic Activity
For Brandon, throwing the ball with Tara is therapeutic and usually one of the first things he does when he comes home is head to the backyard for a few passes. We both enjoy sitting on the back porch and playing ball with her in the evenings or taking a quick walk. Anything that makes you feel calmer should be done, in my opinion. Reading at night is therapeutic to both of us and we make it a priority to have at least twenty or thirty minutes of reading time before we turn the lights out. Find something that calms you down and add it into your routine together.
Listen To Music
Brandon gets all the credit for the music in our house. He’s continually making playlists for us and we go through stages of what we’re listening to. Khurangbin has been a favorite of ours which I would describe as smooth instrumental music with a Thai flair (sounds so weird, we know; but so good). We’ve also been playing a lot more old school jazz lately in preparation for our trip to New Orleans. Finding new music together is always fun and I’m convinced a little music at night makes for a happier home.
On Katherine: Forever 21 sweater, Wit & Wisdom jeans, similar blanket scarf (less than $10)
On Brandon: Asos sweater, Banana Republic pants