This post is sponsored by College Dudes Help U Move.

Life is full of changes and nothing is permanent, but the one thing that you can always count on is your family. No matter what, they will be there for you at all times. Some people believe that the quality of life you have depends on the quality of your relationships, especially the relationships you have within your immediate family. Spending time with your family is not only important, but it has its own benefits and nurtures your life in a positive way. If you are looking for ways to spend quality time together, then keep reading along. Here are 4 ways to spend more time with your family:

Eat Dinner Together

I am not sure why so many families eat apart. I think most of us are so busy that we have to fit in food where we can – quickly. Although everyday life and working commitments mean that everyone has different time commitments, that does not mean that we shouldn’t eat together. Gathering around the table as much as possible is an important way to bond, in my opinion. I find this to be even more important as children hit the later teen years, as they tend to like their own space at that stage, meaning that the meal table may be your only chance in which to be in the same place at the same time, for more than a few minutes at a time. Make dinner into a ritual in which everyone participates. Create a “no screens” rule and focus on talking to one another. Trust me – this is a great way to spend time together as a family and really helps to create a family that listens and respects one another (at least most of the time). When/if your children are grown up and away from the house, you could create a family dinner once a week, to keep the tradition going!

Try a New Activity Together

Families that play together, stay together. Well, the idea is that children eventually grow up and move out, so that’s not completely realistic – but there is an awful lot to say for the role of a shared activity when it comes to maintaining close family bonds as your family grows up. ‘Going somewhere together or trying a new activity presents endless options. It could be a full day out, or something as simple as a walk along a beach for an hour, skimming stones (something I used to love as a child, plus it’s free). You could visit a museum, go bowling, visit another city, play mini golf, walk through woods, go on a family bike ride, or anything else that appeals. Going somewhere together can really help to improve communication with family members, since you’ll all be sharing the same experience. It allows conversation to arise naturally, since everyone’s focus is on the same thing, without distractions from home. And it doesn’t have to cost a lot, or anything at all. There are options for all budgets.

Work-from-home, if Possible

If you work, try to work-from-home, if possible. A typical commute is about 30 minutes each way. In a major city, it can be longer than that, too. Working from home saves so much time that you could use to spend with your family instead! Most companies are offering full wfh (or part time) wfh options now, which is amazing!

Simplify Your To-do List

Keep in mind: you do not have to do it all! Simplify your to-do list and only do what you absolutely need to do. Laundry? That’s probably a must. Going out to dinner with co-workers each week? Maybe push that aside so that you can make more time for family. Another great way to simplify your to-do list is by hiring out tasks, when possible. Things such as cleaning, yard work, or even furniture moving services in Charlotte can all be hired out. College Dudes Help U Move can help you with the furniture moving, if you need it. Redecorating or need to clean behind large furniture items? Call them up! If you are actually moving, they offer full-service moving services, too, so that is definitely something to consider. Ultimately, simplifying your to-do list and hiring out tasks to make things easier and less stressful for you will help you spend more time with your family.

This post is a guest post written by Alex Berger. Alex is an Atlanta-based lifestyle and travel blogger. Photos provided by Alex Berger.