The Nest

Friday, October 26, 2007 2:54 PM

How can I get my spouse listen to me?

Start by turning off the TV, the computer, the video games. You get the idea. We are very familiar with this problem and have learned that many of us really can’t do two things at once (as in listen and type). We might think we can, but in the end, one of the tasks gets gypped.

The next time you have something important to talk about, say something like “I need your full attention for this, do you mind if I turn off the (insert annoying thing here)?” It sounds a little childish, but getting rid of distractions makes you the prime focus. Other tips for getting full attention? Create eye contact while you’re talking and hold hands or have contact in some way.