Freedom to have fun!

By Theresa Mabry
Encompass Director of Operations

​Couples need to have the Freedom to have fun!  Who would you rather hang out with someone who laughs easily or someone who spends more time complaining? A person who turns any situation into an adventure, or a person who leaves no room in their routine for spontaneity? A partner who plans fun for the two of you, or a partner who sees everything on the calendar as an obligation?
The choice should be easy - most of us prefer to spend time having fun! And who better to have fun with than the person you’ve chosen to spend your life with?
Research shows that couples who have fun together and laugh together have healthier, more vitalized relationships. That sounds like a pretty good reason to give yourself the freedom to have fun as a couple! 

Today we want to share with you four ways to add more fun to your relationship:
 

1. Plan opportunities to have fun together - This could be day trips, family vacations, date nights out, or relaxing evenings in. You don’t need to break the bank. These could range from a budgeted cost that you save up for to a cost-free event that you both enjoy. It’s fun to have something to look forward to. If you’re running out of ideas for date night, maybe a book like 52 Uncommon Dates by Randy Southern could help you add some creativity to the mix!
2. Do spontaneous things - Planned events are fun to look forward to, but sometimes it’s nice to just say, “Hey, let’s go do this right now!” It’s a great way to shake up the routine and enjoy a nice surprise together. Don’t get so busy and preoccupied you aren’t able to add some impromptu fun to your lives. It may take extra work, particularly when you have young children, kids’ events, a busy work schedule and an overall hectic life, but it’s worth it. If you’ve been married for a long time without any excitement, today may just be the day to grab your spouse for some unexpected fun!
3. Laugh together - It’s wonderful to have a partner with a shared sense of humor. There’s no doubt, life is hard and should be taken seriously, but not too seriously! Find humor in stressful situations to lighten the load. This should be your safest relationship, so you should be able to laugh at your partner and not get upset when they laugh at you. As long as it’s not degrading or mean-spirited, some playful ribbing at one another's expense can prevent you from taking life too seriously. Don’t hesitate to laugh at yourself.
4. Team sports - Not everyone is sports-minded, but this point doesn’t mean you necessarily need to join a basketball team together. Find a common interest and work together. This could be lawn games, board games, home improvement projects, anything that gets you working together towards a common goal. If things have been stagnant lately, work as a team to introduce fun and laughter back into your relationship.

 
Don’t wait for your partner to plan a night out. Each of you can take ownership in this area. Think about what makes you laugh together and strive to add more of that into your schedule. Your relationship will benefit, and you’ll have a blast doing it!