We all know that it happens — life gets busy.
Between school drop-off and pick-up, church and Sunday school, weeknight board meetings, and driving to practices, it’s exhausting to be on the go so often.
It’s very easy to shift your relationship and regular date nights to the back burner.
Sometimes it feels like just one more thing to check off the list.
And staying home is just simpler.
But don’t give in to the apathy — your relationship is precious. Make the effort to keep it healthy and thriving.
Is it time for a change of pace and some new date night ideas? Gather some of our best suggestions below and jumpstart date night again.
1: Visit a town you’ve never been to before.
Release your inner wanderlust and look for a random town that you’ve never visited.
We rely too much on our phones already — don’t use Yelp or any other websites or apps to give you suggestions or recommendations.
Just go, with no expectations or goals, other than exploring. You don’t need directions.
Look for a park or nature preserve to take a walk. Duck into a local small business and browse. Find a restaurant that looks good and go in.
The whole point is to try things you haven’t tried before. And, when you do it together, it creates great memories and sparks conversation.
2: Plan a vacation.
Important to note: You must still leave the house for this date. Go out to a coffee shop, to dinner, or somewhere for dessert.
It doesn’t have to be big or fancy (or maybe it is!), but plan a getaway together.
Whether you choose a weekend away in a resort town, or a week as a family in a warm-weather destination, just the act of planning gives you something to look forward to.
And after all the cancelled plans during the pandemic, it’s nice to dream about traveling again.
3: Go to an arcade.
Listen, Chuck E. Cheese is not just for kids.
You can even search out go-karts or laser tag.
Whether you love skeeball, Pac-Man, or ax throwing, arcades can be a lot of fun when it’s just the two of you.
Go head-to-head in that racing game.
Forget about what the kids like. Play the games that YOU want to play.
Letting your inner child come out is healthy and will definitely get you both laughing.
4: Go root for your alma mater.
If you live nearby your high school, college, or university, head back to campus to cheer on one of the sports teams.
Get some popcorn or a treat from the concession stand. Maybe they make great hot chocolate. Or a killer hot dog.
You don’t have to know anyone who plays.
It’s just fun to remember what it felt like to be that age.
Take a walk down memory lane and tell your spouse some stories about your time there.
It’s a great way for you to grow closer and learn more about each other.
5: Arrange a scavenger hunt.
Let your creative half take the lead on this date idea.
Whether you recreate your first-date experience or send your spouse around your city to some local hot spots, a hunt is fun for both the creator and the recipient.
Getting sneaky with the clues is always a fun time.
And puzzling out the answers is a great challenge that will get both of you giggling.
Whatever date idea you choose, spicing things up with something new will help invigorate your relationship and draw you closer together.