Everyone wants to live in a happy family, but that’s often easier said than done.
There are many reasons why there could be discord and strife in your family. Experts say there are some secrets to preserving the happiness and enjoying a fulfilling home life.
Whether you just want to improve an already happy home or your family needs some help returning to happiness, these tips and tricks are ones that you can incorporate into your routine.
The chances are that with some time and effort, each member of your family will find themselves feeling more content and happier at home.
Of course, if you still struggle, it makes sense to seek out a family counselor who can offer additional help. In the meantime, try these ideas to create the happy home you crave.
Of course, you should be helping each other out, but research shows that giving back to people outside your family can improve the happiness inside your home.
The trick is to do acts of service together. This increases good feelings and gives you a unique way to bond with your family.
Helping others also unites your family in a common purpose.
There are plenty of ways you can do this. Try serving meals to the homeless, hosting a food or clothing drive, participate in a 5K run for a charity or other cause, or donate items to those in need.
It doesn’t matter too much what you do as long as you participate as a family.
One other important thing to note is that kids should feel like they are doing some of the work.
It’s not enough just to bring them along – let them dish out meals, gather clothes for a local family in need or ask friends and neighbors to donate food to their cause.
As you work together, you create a bond that connects you, and you all feel better about your efforts, which will make everyone in the house happier.
Research shows that believing in a higher power is beneficial for families because it gives them a common way of life to adhere to.
Experts say that no single religion or idea is the right one, but parents should simply teach their children about their beliefs and help them learn values and morals to make a part of their life.
Teaching children that there is a higher power out there, that watches out for them and to whom they can talk to when in need, creates a feeling of safety and contentment that makes anyone happier.
If your family is struggling with happiness, consider going to church or to a temple and see if you can find something to bring you back together.
Again, no single idea is the magical one – you’ll have to find one that speaks to you and your family before this will work, but the time and effort will be worth it in the end.
For most families, traditions tend to grow and evolve on their own.
Traditions serve a great purpose for busy families by giving each member something they can rely on. It’s an opportunity to set a time and a place for everyone to come back together.
At the same time, these traditions help your family create happy memories that you can turn to in times of trouble or unhappiness.
If you don’t have any family traditions, it’s pretty easy to create some.
You can decide to have a family game night on Fridays or attend a local sports game on Saturday mornings.
It can be arranged for the family to go away together every summer to the same place, or you can sleep in on Sunday mornings and then make pancakes together for breakfast.
The idea is to have an event you can all expect to take place, this is a built-in way for you to connect when life is busy and you don’t see each other often.
It’s natural for family members to argue and disagree from time to time, especially among siblings still living at home.
While you can’t entirely avoid this from happening, you can make an effort to create a peaceful home to lessen the strife.
If you have an expectation of kindness and thoughtfulness in your home, it will become more of a habit to work things through without a fight, rather than getting into an argument about who is right and who is wrong.
Parents that teach their children to use kind and calm words, even when they’re angry, give them the ability them the ability to sustain a peaceful environment that is happy and conflict-free.
Modeling these behaviors is the single best way to show children how to practice them.
In this day and age, there are plenty of issues which cause us to worry. For example, the economy, the state of the government and the high cost of living are several things that contribute to worry within families.
Maybe you have a sick relative or are facing a job loss, divorce or big move.
While it’s natural to worry in these situations, experts say that trying to find a break from the concern will create a happier family.
Why? Because stress interferes with emotions, increasing the chances of arguments and fights. It also makes people too tired to enjoy family time when it occurs.
To combat this, try to set aside time each day or week to spend with your family doing something you all enjoy.
Make it a rule to not talk about what’s worrying you and to leave electronic devices turned off so you can all focus on each other.
Knowing that you are there for each other can go a long way towards reducing worry and keeping happiness in your home.
If mental wellness is an issue, be sure you see a professional who can help you work out problems that are getting in the way of your personal and familial happiness.
A happy family isn’t out of reach, but it’s going to take some effort from everyone to get where you want to be.
Each member of the family needs to commit to making changes for the good of everyone in the home.
With some dedication and hard work, you will find that you are less stressed out, able to enjoy downtime and spread your cheer to others around you.
If bigger issues are at play, a family therapist can help you work through them together so that you can find a common ground and keep your family together, rather than letting your unhappiness tear you apart.
It won’t necessarily be easy and it may not happen overnight, but it will always be worth the effort. Don’t wait – get started right now!
