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Family foundations -

Quality time helps to strengthen the foundations of the family and a young person's life.

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Shared interests -

It builds on shared interests as well as creating opportunities to have fun and laugh together.

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Friendship -

Spending quality time together is a great way to build and maintain friendships with others.

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Rituals -

Family rituals are important, and are very wide-ranging in their nature. These can be as simple as sharing breakfast together.

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Come together in the kitchen -

Getting together to cook favorite meals, or to experiment with new recipe ideas, is a hugely rewarding family experience.

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Eating together -

In fact, the family activity with the greatest positive impact on children is sitting down together to dinner each evening. And keep it simple! Preparing basic but nutritious meals frees up some time in the evening for togetherness, and it avoids long spells washing up.

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Family interaction -

It's not about the amount of time you spend together, but instead the quality of your interactions that count.

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Communicating together -

Make family sit-downs more personal by turning off the television and computer and playing a board game together.

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Quality time with your children -

Kids are always a good excuse to seek quality time, and making a meaningful connection with your children is important. Be sure to play with your child, even if it is just for a few minutes.

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Reading -

Picking and reading a short book before bed time is a great way to stay connected. It's also educative, and naturally induces sleepiness.

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Bridge the generation gap -

Taking care of children is always rewarding, but can often be exhaustive. Pass the baton to the grandparents now and again by planning special get-togethers with the older generation.

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Walk down memory lane -

If you're a couple, you can find your own ways to enjoy quality time together. Can you recall when and where you first met? If so, why not revisit your first date together. Can you remember what the other was wearing? Who spoke the opening line? Take a walk down memory lane and relive that special moment.

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Working in tandem -

For couples, quality time can be spent in so many different ways. Try and arrange an activity that's new and a bit different. Hey, why not rent a tandem and go for a ride?

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Wine and dine -

Or how about trying that new restaurant in town? Experiment with the menu over a glass of your favorite wine.

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A fitting relationship -

Exercising together is always good fun, whether casually at home or in an organized gym environment. Either way, working out in pairs is enjoyable, and the results can be amazing!

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Get away together -

And what about that great standby: the vacation. Long holidays together are fine. But the occasional weekend getaway can be equally rewarding. Pick a destination you both want to see, and hit the gas running.

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We two are one -

For two people, all these experiences help to create closeness and exclusivity in couple relationships. But what about spending quality time in solitude?

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Understanding love language -

Enjoying quality time together depends on a number of things, one of which is about maintaining eye contact. It tells your partner that they have your full attention, which will make them feel loved, cherished, and understood.

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Active listening -

Paying attention to your partner may sound a tad obvious. But by actively listening to them during conversation, you can both enhance the quality time spent in each other's company.

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Focus on the person in front of you -

Active listening skills include focusing on what the other is saying, perhaps by leaning in slightly, or affirming what they are saying. Remember, quality time partners are more interested in feeling understood. They are invariably seeking empathy and compassion rather than a solution to any problems they may be experiencing.

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Beware of the cell phone -

A quick note of caution. It's fine to check your notifications occasionally while you're together. But making a habit of checking your cell phone will come across as an expression of disinterest.

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Being with your buddies -

Enjoy social moments together with your best and most trusted friends. Or reconnect with old buddies for a special occasion.

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Quality me time -

It may not seem so, but spending quality time alone is essential to your well-being.

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Solitude -

Enjoying moments of solitude allow you to reconnect with yourself.

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Inner thoughts and feelings -

Being on your own serves as time where you can listen to your own thoughts and feelings. 

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Clear away stress -

Spending a few hours of quality time a week in your own company can help clear your mind of any stress and anxiety.

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Calm environment -

Furthermore, embracing solitude can help you achieve a state of calmness otherwise impossible when surrounded by people.

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Finding yourself -

Dreams, goals, and ambitions are often uncovered in moments of solitude, when the mindset is unsullied by the distractions and expectations of others.

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Community interaction -

There are many other ways of spending quality time. For example, giving up a few hours to help in the community can be hugely rewarding. Volunteering for a good cause— assisting at a food bank, for example—is quality time in itself, where you're interacting with like-minded individuals for a common goal.

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Self-improvement -

And achieving quality time can be met through self-improvement. Learning a new language or practicing a skill works wonders for confidence and self-esteem. Activities like these also build on necessary social skills.

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Peak experiences -

And don't forget: affording yourself some quality time can bring with it unexpected rewards. Finding time to pursue experiences that are unusual, thrilling, moving, or meaningful can guide you in a direction you never thought existed, anything from assisting in an animal shelter to summiting a mountain. 

Sources (Psychology Today) (Care for the Family) (Psychreg)

See also: The best mountains for climbing beginners

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