Making Date Night a Priority

Date Night is what makes and strengthens a relationship. In theory, Date Night sounds great. But who has the time, the money, or the childcare (if applicable)? In his book, “Eight Dates: Essential Conversations for a Lifetime of Love”, Dr John Gottman explains that date nights are always doable, even if it means you have to get creative. A date night, or whenever you plan it, is a time for you and your spouse to leave your work life and focus on each other. There always seems to be a multitude of obstacles to having consistent date nights, but there are ways to overcome those obstacles.

One of the biggest obstacles to overcome is time. Life can sometimes feel so incredibly busy that the thought of finding time for one more obligation is overwhelming. But date night isn’t just another obligation; it’s a commitment to your relationship. It can help to set aside a specific time each week and make this “appointment” a priority. Making date night a priority will make it easier to feel you can actually take the time to have one. Date night is an important time to reconnect and become more in tune with your partner.

Money is another huge obstacle to date night. We often think that in order to go on a date we have to spend money. Dates don’t have to be expensive; we don’t actually have to spend any money at all. Pack a picnic, take a hike; there are endless ways you can spend time together without breaking the bank. Spend some time with your spouse brainstorming activities you can do together that are free or low cost; you can even make your brainstorming session a date! Here are some suggestions to get you started:

·       Take a hike or a long walk together

·       Take a drive to somewhere you’ve both wanted to explore

·       Play a board game or card game together

·       Cook a new dish together

Childcare is often one of the biggest obstacles to date night for couples with young kids. Childcare does not have to be expensive of stressful. Trade childcare with other couples so that both couples can enjoy date nights. If that isn’t possible, see if a trusted family member or close friend would be willing to help you in your quest to spend time together. Children are incredibly resilient, and by showing your commitment to your relationship with your partner, you’re nurturing your children by ensuring that they will be raised by parents in a healthy and stable relationship.

For more about date night: https://www.gottman.com/blog/if-youre-too-busy-for-date-night-youre-too-busy