November 2025 - Magazine - Page 151
November 2025
about and set a general structure. This doesn9t mean it has to be uptight
or follow a strict agenda. Instead it allows you to make the most of your
time. For example, if you9re meeting on a weekly basis, you might devote
each week to a particular topic 3 maybe the budget one week, meal
planning the next, followed up by aligning on the family calendar 3 including date nights! Or if you9re only meeting every other week or monthly, you might cover multiple topics 3 jot them down if you need to. This bit
of planning ahead can help prevent your discussion from going off the
rails and ensures you cover what you wanted to.
3. Practice good communication.
Even though you might not be sharing deep feelings or working through
relationship issues, good communication skills are still imperative! Actively
listen to understand each other, and hear each other out even if you disagree. After all, if you9re not truly listening and fully engaged during this
time, it sort of defeats the purpose of the meeting. On the flip side, make
sure you9re being assertive, too. Give each other space to voice needs
and opinions freely.
4. Take notes outside the meeting.
Throughout the week, you9ll likely have thoughts, ideas, and topics come
to mind that would be good to discuss in the next meeting. Create a
shared space where you can both put those things 3 maybe a whiteboard in the kitchen or a shared note in your phones. Not only does this
help keep your mental space uncluttered, but it also allows you to think
about things ahead of time, and essentially hit the ground running when
the meeting starts.
5. Add some fun.
Sure, the stuff you9re aligning on maybe isn9t all that exciting (although
some people really do love budgets and meal planning). Take the liberty
of adding some fun and silliness. You could end each meeting by sharing
the funniest meme you saw that week, or unveil that weekend9s movie
pick. Give yourselves permission to gush over the kids or watch that cute
video of them again.
Does having a regular marriage meeting mean you don9t have to put effort into communicating outside of it? Of course not. But what it does offer
is a standing, designated time to get aligned on the many aspects of your
daily lives. There9s a lot to manage when it comes to a keeping your
household running smoothly. Taking this proactive approach means you
can devote less energy to uncrossing wires, and more to the things you
actually want to be doing.
