By: Dr. Donald E. Wetmore
In my thirty years as a Professional Speaker giving over 2,000 presentations on Time Management and Personal Productivity and nearing our 30 year wedding anniversary, I have observed some techniques that help Nancy and I to spend more quantity and a greater quality of time as we seek to enhance the communication in our relationship.
Our marriage is not perfect. We have experienced the ups and downs like most. The point is, if we are having trouble at home, it will keep us from fully focusing on what we have to do at work. Try some of these:
- Daily phone call. I travel a lot, and when I’m not traveling, I’m in my office. But wherever I am, I schedule a daily phone call to my wife. Nothing special, just checking in and tell her that I love her and it’s always nice to hear her return the sentiment.
- Weekend Getaway. This was especially valuable when we had our four growing kids at home. Twice per year, Nancy and I would schedule a weekend getaway, ship the kids off to Grandma, and spend Friday night to Sunday afternoon together in a hotel. Maybe go to New York City, see a show, take in a movie, and enjoy a quiet dinner or two. And no agenda and no arguing (we’ve always done our fair share of arguing), just time together to enjoy each other the way we did before we got married.
- Date night. As best we can, we set aside Friday night or Saturday night for just “us.” No parties or “double dating.” We enjoy movies, the golf range, and seafood. As I travel a lot and am away on weekends at times, we will reserve a weeknight for our “date night.” There’s only one way to make it happen. You have to make it happen.
- Surprise roses. I send or bring home flowers for Nancy from time to time, when there is no real occasion to commemorate and when she least expects it. I might even send some flowers to her at work. She enjoys them. I do too.
- Love note. Under her pillow or often on the dashboard of her car before she goes to work, I leave one of my originally authored poems (“Roses are red; Violets are blue; You’re terrific; But so am I too.”) (I really do better than that!) I know Nancy appreciates the thought but it is also a regular helpful reminder to me of who she is and what she means to me.
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Dr. Donald E. Wetmore
Certified Executive Coach, Consultant and Trainer
Author, “Organizing Your Life” and “The Productivity Handbook”
Productivity Institute
Personal Productivity Solutions to Leverage Your Impact
127 Jefferson St.
Stratford, CT 06615
(203) 386-8062
(800) 969-3773
info@balancetime.com
https://www.balancetime.com
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