The secrets of a healthy home
Most people have a morning routine to help them start the day right – exercise, read, breakfast, to-do list, etc. However, less people have an evening routine that is equally purposeful… we are tired, the traffic is bad… we go with the flow.
Red Flag! Going with the flow is fatal to the heart of a home. If family is your priority, you should know that healthy and happy families are the result of deliberate intention, determination and practices. Having a great body doesn’t just happen – you hit the gym. Having a great career doesn’t just happen – you work hard. Having a great family? It doesn’t just happen either.
The largest study ever done on family life (University of Alabama, Nick Stinnett, 1974) identified six qualities common among healthy families: 1) Commitment, 2) Appreciation and Affection, 3) Positive Communication, 4) Time Together, 5) Spiritual Well-Being, and 6) the Ability to Cope with Stress and Crises.
That’s a lot to think about. How can we translate these understanding into action?
By honoring promises to each other.
By creating family rituals.
By staying cool and keeping confidence.
Surprisingly, the simple act of having family dinner together can accomplish all these. When we make it a routine to share the work in the kitchen, to share the dishes, to share the conversations, we can’t help but build the bond of our family. We don’t need be a gourmet chef or spend hours shopping and chopping – even a frozen pizza or peanut butter sandwich will do. The key is to eat together at least 3 – 4 nights a week, without TV, and you will notice the improvement of the mental health of your family.
It may be hard initially – a study by the Columbia University researchers showed that the less often family members gather and eat together, the worse the experience is when they do. But once you follow through for a month, the routine will set in, and the benefits will follow.
And guess who get the most benefits? Surprisingly, based on Brigham Young University’s study led by Jenet Jacob, many times it is the working moms. The study found that once the time starved and stress out moms made room for a routine family dinner, they reported less stress and strain for themselves and their households. When they made it home in time for dinner with their families, they felt greater personal success as well as success in relationships with their spouses and kids. They even felt more kindly toward their workplaces.
So, let’s resolve to eat dinners at home with our families at least 3 – 4 nights a week, without TV or blackberry, and just listen and talk for that hour. Try it for a month and I promise that you will have a healthier home in no time.