Love my kids. So much. But they consume a lot of time and energy to the point that all day long, my husband and I are at their beck and call. The only alone time we seem to get nowadays is that brief window after the kids go to bed. Here are some things to do with your spouse after the kids go down (besides Netflix and, you know…”chill”) that can make that brief window fun and meaningful.

6 Things You Can Do with Your Spouse after the Kids Go Down

1. Give foot rubs

One year, my husband jokingly made a New Year’s resolution to rub my feet every single night for 365 days. Although he may have missed a few days here and there, it quickly became the very best part of my day. We’d sit on the couch together (when do you have the time to do that during the day?), he’d rub my feet, and we’d just talk. Next year, I think I’ll return the favor.

(P.S. I love this lotion. We’ve gone through many bottles of it!)

2. Check out new music

Another thing we like to do when the kids go down is check out new music together. We’ll share AirPods, check out what’s new from our favorite artists on YouTube and spend an hour or so just being “real people” again.

3. Couples stretching

How often do you take the time to stretch? If you’re like me, it’s near to never and my husband and I are good to squeeze a workout in, but terrible about stretching. But did you know how important a good stretch is? It has amazing benefits.

My husband and I recently instituted something we call Sunday Stretch. After the kids go to bed, we get out this book and go through the stretches together. There are some great couples’ stretches that are insanely relaxing and give you the physical contact you need to feel close and connected.

4. Start a book club, just you two

With the convenience of streaming services, it’s easy to get into the comfortable rut of show surfing. But if you’re looking to shake it up and increase try something meaningful together, start a book club. The only two members should be you and your spouse. Read the same book (try these Pulitzer Prize books) and then talk about it.

5. Critique movies

To be completely honest, sometimes my husband and I are so beat from a long day or week that all we want to do is lay down and watch a movie together. And that’s great! But sometimes we waste time just searching for a movie to watch.

Instead, turn movie watching into something more. Become a Siskel and Ebert. Start with a list of notable movies (like Shawshank Redemption, Forest Gump, and Schindler’s List). Create a grading system and rate each movie you watch.

6. Late night treat delivery

This has become one of our favorite things to treat ourselves. When the kids go down, we’ll order fresh cookies from a local cookie delivery business or have Uber Eats deliver a desert or appetizer from our favorite restaurant. It feels like a secret, something the kids don’t know about and you don’t have to share.

 

So spice it up! Turn dead time into quality time with a few of these things to do with your spouse that require very little effort but yield a noticeable difference in your relationship.