If you are married, I’m sure you can look back and remember the “honeymoon” stage. You and your significant other were going out on frequent dates. Everything was fresh and new and you set aside time for each other. No matter if you have been married for 10 months or 10 years, it is important to keep dating your spouse. We all have so much going on each and every day and those 24 hours fly by. It can be difficult to slow ourselves down and really focus on our family, especially our spouses. If you have children, it’s likely your spouse is now your second priority. My husband and I agree this is how it is in our house…and that is okay! We still take time to prioritize our marriage as often as we can. No, this did not come easy. And yes, we have to actually mark it on the family calendar. Here are five tips to encourage you to continue to date your spouse.
- Mark it on the calendar! This is so important. I find if my husband and I just talk about a date night, it never actually happens. We would pick a night and found life would get in the way. We would just keep pushing it back until we realized months had passed. Now we add our date nights to the family calendar and do not miss it or reschedule (unless some unforeseen circumstance arises obviously).
- Dress up! I’m not saying you need to pull out a formal gown and heels, but put on something you feel confident and comfortable in. Do your hair and makeup (if you wear it). This year especially, I find if I simply straighten my hair and throw on a little mascara, I feel a million times better. If you are running short on time, you can check out my five minute makeup routine here.
- Alternate who picks the date night idea! If you are always choosing what to do or where to go, your spouse may lose interest in date night. And same goes for if your spouse is always choosing. If you are taking turns, each of you gets to do what you want and the other person will find joy in knowing they are partaking in an activity you enjoy. I find that if my husband and I alternate choosing what we do, we end up learning a lot about the other person as well as ourselves.
- Try something new! Covid 19 has definitely limited the options for date night as a lot of restaurants and entertainment venues are closed. Get creative with your date night ideas. Search for short, scenic hiking trails near you and have a picnic. Have an at home movie night where you get a bunch of blankets/pillows, pop movie theater type popcorn (add link for popper and containers) and get some sweet treats. You can check around your area for outside movie night options as well. Take a cooking class together (or any type of specialty class you are interested in). If that is limited or not available due to Covid 19, you could always try one of the dinner delivery services or simply try a new recipe together.
- Make your spouse your first priority! This time really is sacred as I’m assuming a lot of you are not going out on date nights as frequently as you would like. Focus your attention on your spouse. Put your phone away. Or better yet, shut it off. There have been so many times where I see couples out together and they both sit on their phones the whole time. That is NOT a date! Talk to each other, discuss your future plans or tell funny stories about your kids (that somehow always seems to be the topic discussed when my husband and I go out). Enjoy each other’s company and learn from one another.
By utilizing these five tips, you will continue to date your spouse regularly and grow together as a couple. These dates nights are imperative to a healthy and happy relationship. There have been times we laugh and talk about random, silly things and times where we have had some serious and marriage altering conversations. Spending this much needed quality time with your spouse allows more opportunity for communication and appreciation for one another.
Happy dating!