Canadians are working more hours than ever. We’re sleeping less, and we’re more stressed out. We often don’t feel like we have the time to balance all the chores around the house — the cooking, the cleaning, the mowing, the shoveling, with all the things that actually give us joy — spending time with our family, self-actualizing hobbies.

Shoveling is one of those chores that all Canadians love to complain about. Sore backs and biting wind often make the chore unpleasant, and there are few people in the world who can make a 3 cm snowfall into a half foot of shovelling faster than a teenaged Albertan. As professional snow shovellers, we’re definitely the exception to the rule, but we understand why many Calgarians would rather avoid the chore.

This New Year, we suggest changing your approach to shoveling. Instead of making it a back-straining agony, choose to turn shoveling into family time. Everyone can suit up and make quick work of the snow fall — that way no one’s back aches. Or, simply stay inside, reconnect with your spouse over some hot tea, and let the Calgary snow removal experts do the heavy lifting!

Landscaping your yard together as a family can be a pretty great experience. Together, you can decide how you want your home to look and put in the long hours and effort to achieve something the whole family can take pride in. There’s something special about coming home to a house you find beautiful and that you are proud to call yours. There’s also research that suggests spending time outside and poking around in the dirty makes people happier and helps to reduce stress, anxiety, and even a person’s risk for depression.

Unfortunately, not everyone has the time to craft a beautiful yard, and maybe your family isn’t super outdoorsy. That’s okay! You know your family best! If you know they’d rather stay inside and play board games, leave the landscaping to the experts. You can still come home to a beautiful home and clock more hours with your family.

If there’s one thing all Canadians agree on, it’s that in a perfect world, family should come first. So why not make your New Year’s Resolution spending more time with those who matter most? If doing outdoor chores together isn’t something that’ll help your family reconnect and grow, spend that time doing something else with them. Whether your family likes dancing, reading, watching movies, or going swimming best, we know you’ll find a way to connect even better in 2017 than you did last year. As for the snow? Five-Star Landscaping will have your sidewalk and driveway shovelled before you even get home from work. Call us today!