Uncovered… Fun

There’s never been a more important time to have fun. 

But when I was asked if I would like to write about fun for Marriage Week 2021’s Naked Marriage campaign, I wondered if I could have been set a more challenging task in the middle of the third lockdown of the covid-19 pandemic. 

Having fun with your spouse or partner is undoubtedly incredibly important It has huge benefits for our mental and physical health and is hugely beneficial for your marriage or relationship too. 

Yet, for many couples its been difficult to find the fun through recent times.  

IT STARTED ALL SO WELL 

At the start of a relationship, couples spend lots of time going to fun places, having fun experiences, laughing a lot, perhaps teasing each other and flirting 

When we “settle down”, we start dealing with the mundane things in life. The conversation focuses on who’s turn it is to unload the dishwasher, feed the cat and how to cover the bills for the month. Definitely unfun topics.   

For couples who go on to have children, limited one-on-one time is eclipsed by how to share caring responsibilities. 

While these are all important, or certainly important in the moment discussions, things can start to feel pretty serious and dull. 

INJECT YOURSELF WITH UNFUN VACCINE 

It’s time to act. Rid yourself of unfun and bring back the magic. 

Making time as a couple to talk intentionally about how to have more fun together is a good place to start. Intentionally means doing something deliberately. In other words, don’t wait for it to happen. 

Think about new adventures that you can experience for the first time together. Even couples who have been together for many years will have places to visit and things to do that neither have experienced before.  

It’s not all about planning a big outing or experience though. In our family, we enjoy turning the music up loud and having a dance around the kitchen. Occasionally we’ll pop the disco light on and perhaps even some flashing neon glasses. It never fails to bring joy, and my husband and I will invariably end up laughing hysterically. Fun doesn’t have to cost the earth 

However, a word of warning. What might be heaps of fun for you, may be your partners worst nightmare, and vice versa. Luckily my husband and children love me making a fool of myself on the kitchen dance floor. I love it too.  

The more you practise having fun, the more it will become part of everyday life.

 

Check out this short social media video produced by Premier Radio for the Uncovered series:

“Coordinator of Marriage Week, Michaela Hyde & her husband Nick speak to Premier Radio’s Chick Yuill about the importance of fun in their relationship.”

 

This content is supplied by

Explore Relationships

Explore is a relationships education charity, set up in 2000 which delivers workshops that help young people discuss, evaluate and explore long-term, positive, healthy relationships within the context of marriage. Each session is run by a professional Explore local development officer who manages the whole session. Our pool of hundreds of volunteer married couples attend schools with us and take part in a facilitated dialogue with students. Students are encouraged to ask whatever questions they want to, direct to the couple, who give open and honest answers concerning their own relationship. The charity in funded through voluntary donations and a contribution from schools. They are always keen to introduce new couples with interesting stories to tell. Students and teachers consistently rate Explore workshops excellent or very good.

 

This Uncovered by

Amanda Edwards, CEO Explore Relationships

Short tips

Here’s some tips to try to bring more fun into your marriage or relationship… 

  1. Talk with your partner about what is fun for them and share what is fun for you. 
  2. Be intentional… book in time specifically for fun. 
  3. Notice opportunities to laugh in the moment; be prepared to laugh at yourself and with your partner. 
  4. Resist falling into the habit of every conversation being serious… when life gets busy it’s easy for conversations to become transactional 
  5. Make a list of things that would be fun first experiences for both of you, and get planning your next adventure. 

 

Lowcost fun ideas: 

  • Kitchen disco 
  • Cooking a new menu together 
  • Walking to something local that you’ve not been to recently 
  • Sharing a book 
  • Rediscovering a childhood hobby and sharing it 
  • Trying a new exercise class together

 

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