Thoughtful Ways To Help Your Family Thrive
You can help your family thrive in many ways based on your unique quirks and dynamics. However, some ways to help families thrive are universal and can benefit all group members.
Working together rather than against each other is a crucial part of family life. A mutual purpose can help everyone feel like part of the team and boost productivity. Here are some thoughtful ways to help your family thrive.
Appreciate One Another
Connecting with each other is vital to a family’s success. Take time to spend together as a family that can help you shut out the noise outside and get to know one another on a deeper level. Discuss daily activities as well as future goals and dreams.
Acknowledge each other’s strengths and weaknesses and show appreciation for them. Have dinner together without your phones to connect and unwind from your day. Recognize your family members' contributions and show them how much you appreciate them. When you show appreciation to your children, they can discover their feelings of worth and their attachment will grow stronger.
This can help you build a stronger bond as a family and build cohesion and morale within the family unit. Share your goals and plans to achieve them to help each other succeed. Find little ways to show your family you appreciate them, like leaving notes for them or applauding their efforts.
Prioritize Self-Care
Self-care looks different for many people, but the overarching concept is the same. Take care of yourself so that you can adequately care for others. Take the time to care for your health and well-being as much as your children's. Nurture your personal growth to increase your overall life experiences. Everyone’s path is different regardless of the house they live in.
Cater to one another’s needs within your household and recognize the differences between you, your spouse and your children. Notice what each of you acknowledges as self-care. Whether it’s reading a book, going to the nail salon, watching sports or scrolling through a news feed–allow each family member some time to do their own thing.
You can all benefit from a bit of independence, including your children. If you have difficulty letting go, start with baby steps and work your way up. Five minutes can help you destress guilt-free on the first day–before you know it, you’ll be away from the house for hours at a time.
Lean on Each Other
Share the workload and responsibilities within the house to maintain balance. If you have to delegate and create a chore chart, start there. Leaning on one another can help your family work together nicely without one person feeling resentment for doing it on their own.
Cook together when your kids are young, teach them how to measure correctly and encourage healthy eating habits. Cooking can also teach kids how to problem solve and is a great bonding experience. When kids enjoy cooking, they are more likely to eat healthy meals when they help make them. Teach your kids the joys of cooking and how to implement recipes to make their favorite meals.
Lean on one another in times of doubt, uncertainty and happiness. Reward good behaviors to encourage your children and build their self-esteem. Let your family know you are there to support them–win or lose, success or failure.
When you have a strong support system, you are more likely to take risks and put yourself out there. Knowing you have someone to support you can significantly impact your child’s life and decision-making process. Be the calm of their storm and help motivate them to keep trying until they find their rhythm and path to success.
Make Time for Fun
Family time can often seem daunting on top of work, school and household duties. Ensure that you carve out time for fun so the family can bond and connect outside of the responsibilities and obligations life offers. When you emphasize things that must be done and leave little room for downtime, tension can arise within the family.
If you share the workload within the home, there should be plenty of time to bond. Spending quality time together as a family can build self-confidence in your children and help cultivate their social skills—schedule game nights where everyone gathers around the dining room table for board games or cards.
Go to sporting events or go shopping–anything your family likes to do for fun so you can enjoy spending time together. Prioritizing downtime can benefit everyone in your household. Ensure that you take the breaks you need from parenting and prioritize self-care to recharge.
Helping Your Family Thrive
Your family will thrive from structure, but they can also benefit from downtime, support and encouragement. Carve out time for family activities to strengthen your bonds and prioritize each other over outside distractions in this crazy hectic, whirlwind life.