Quality time is an expression referring to how an individual
proactively
Proactivity or proactive behavior refers to self-initiated behavior that endeavours to solve a problem before it has occurred. Proactive behavior involves acting in advance of a future situation, rather than reacting. It refers to taking control o ...
interacts with another while they are together, regardless of the duration.
Overview
Sometimes abbreviated QT, it is an informal reference to time spent with close family,
partners
Partner, Partners, The Partner, or, The Partners may refer to:
Books
* ''The Partner'' (Grisham novel), by John Grisham, 1997
* ''The Partner'' (Jenaro Prieto novel), 1928
* ''The Partners'' (book), a 1983 book by James B. Stewart
* ''Partner'' (m ...
or
friends that is in some way important, special, productive or profitable to one or everyone involved. It is time that is set aside for paying full and undivided attention to the person or matter at hand. It may also refer to time spent performing some favorite activity.
Relationship counselor
Gary Chapman suggests that quality time is one of
five "languages" which are used (more or less, preferentially, by a given individual) to express love and articulate their feelings and emotions.
History
Its use as a noun expression ("quality time") began in the 1970s. One of the earliest records of this phrase in print was in the
Annapolis
Annapolis ( ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Maryland and the county seat of, and only incorporated city in, Anne Arundel County. Situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east o ...
newspaper ''
The Capital'', January 1973, in the article "How To Be Liberated":
''
The Time Bind
''The Time Bind'' is a book by sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild in 1997, ''The Time Bind: When Work Becomes Home and Home Becomes Work''. The book refers to the blurring distinction between work and home social environments.
Hochschild foun ...
'', a 1997 book,
Google Print
/ref> was mentioned in Newsweek's multi-page feature about ''Quality Time''.[ The same issue of ''Newsweek'' had a full page review][ which had as a major point flaws in most people's "ability to separate faulty perception of time use from reality."][
]
See also
* Double burden
* Gemütlichkeit
''Gemütlichkeit'' () is a German-language word used to convey the idea of a state or feeling of warmth, friendliness, and good cheer. Other qualities encompassed by the term include cosiness, peace of mind, and a sense of belonging and well ...
* Kids' club
A kids’ club, children's club or mini club is a childcare facility (daycare), which includes a fully staffed mini playground or complete village specially designed for children; is usually offered by private companies, health and fitness clubs ...
* Work–family balance in the United States Work–family balance in the United States refers to the specific issues that arise when men and women in the United States attempt to balance their occupational lives with their family lives. This differs from work–life balance in the United Stat ...
* Work–family conflict
* Work–life balance
Work may refer to:
* Work (human activity), intentional activity people perform to support themselves, others, or the community
** Manual labour, physical work done by humans
** House work, housework, or homemaking
** Working animal, an animal tr ...
References
External links
The Idioms
{{DEFAULTSORT:Quality Time
Family
Interpersonal relationships
Personal life
Sociological terminology
1970s neologisms