Making it All Quality Time

Why Quality Time Matters: 10 Advantages

Why is family important, and what is the meaning of quality time? It isn’t about the quantity of time you spend with others. What matters is that you care enough to take the time and how you spend that time with them. Quality family time can offer these and other priceless advantages: 

1. Builds durable individual and family bonds
2. Develops trust by sharing needs, hopes, dreams, and struggles
3. Provides strong role models for your family and others
4. Demonstrates mutual affection, appreciation, and care
5. Creates memories and traditions that maintain connections for years
6. Fosters extended family relationships and community
7. Reduces stress, anxiety, and loneliness
8. Lightens burdens and shares responsibilities
9. Adds a sense of security
10. Helps kids build confidence, get better grades, and make smart choices

Science-Supported Quality Time Goals for Christians

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) describes work-life balance as attaining a reasonable level of control over occupational and family life. It’s the ability to maintain stability in your work and personal life while managing: 

• Self
• Time
• Stress
• Change
• Technology
• Leisure

Achieving work-life balance can be challenging during times of change and stress. Christian counselors have had success with cognitive (thought-based) approaches such as Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). It’s based on the premise that we make problems worse by the way we interpret events. Emotions can stem from our beliefs, evaluations, and reactions to situations. In other words, you feel the way you think.

Effective therapies¹ can involve identifying and replacing or reframing irrational beliefs. For example: 

• I don’t need everyone’s approval be worthwhile in the eyes of God.
• I can succeed even if I don’t perform every task to perfection.
• I can try, and if I don’t succeed, I’ll learn and resolve to do better next time.

Other effective, evidence-based cognitive therapies can include:

• Exposure to positive, faith-based imagery
• Relaxation training
• Review of Scriptures that dispute dysfunctional views of work and family life

Quality time with God: Leave room for the Spirit!

Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be given to you as well. 

–Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

When phones ring, babies cry, customers complain, bosses demand, plans change, schedules conflict, and messages multiply exponentially, it’s tempting to react in decidedly unvirtuous ways! Instead, take a deep breath, say a prayer, do what you can, and move on.

You’re never alone. Ask for help, and delegate or redirect your goals as needed. God will guide you. He understands our human limitations. He doesn’t expect anyone to do it all, know it all, or have it all. In addition to quality time with others, spend quality time with Him. Call on Him in times of trouble, and He will rescue you (Psalm 50:15).

¹ Editor's note: psychiatric counseling is ineligible for sharing per the CHM Guidelines. Members have access to HealthiestYou, which provides mental health services at fair marketing pricing to the member.