According to a new Care.com poll, 37% of parents said that their last date night was so long ago…they don't even remember when it happened. In fact, Care.com also found that nearly half of parents said they took less than three date nights in 2014 (15% took zero – now that's just sad!).
Katie Bugbee, senior managing editor of Care.com (and mom of three) offers the following tips on making date nights a priority even when free time is in short supply.
How do you make date night a priority and why should you?
– According to a Care.com poll, more than 1 in 3 parents said that their last date night was so long ago…they don’t even remember when it happened. In fact, we also found that nearly half of parents said they took less than three date nights in 2014…and 15% actually didn’t take any date nights at all.
– So if running an errand together was the closest thing to a date night you’ve had in a while, then it’s time to bring back date night.
– Just like you schedule your kid’s soccer practice and play dates, it’s important to schedule (and prioritize!) a date night to reconnect with your partner. By physically entering it into your calendar, it’s more likely to happen too!
– So start by having the conversation. Sit down and say, we need this. I need this. I think it can make us an even stronger couple to get out of the house without the distraction of laundry.. And Shark Tank!
Why aren’t all date nights created equal?
– According to recent studies on the longevity of romantic love, couples need to do something novel to keep things spicy.
– So instead of the typical dinner and a movie, think about going art gallery hopping and guessing what that abstract really means. Or take advantage of all the New Year gym deals and get creative with a cardio class…after all, someone’s bound to be sore the next day and that’s a great excuse for a massage.
– Of course, if you haven’t gone out in a while, start with a restaurant you are dying to try. And then work your way up to double dates and more unique outings.
What are some quickie date night ideas?
– Some alone time is better than never having any alone time! So if you need to rush back home to your little ones, there are a bunch of different ways to have a “quickie date night”.
– Consider making just a date night dessert run to your local cupcake shop to satisfy your sweet tooth and to have some quality one-on-one time. It’s the perfect way to cap night.
– We get it – you want to rush home after work to your kids. But sometimes, it’s important to take a moment to spend some time with your partner before getting back to the chaos of little ones. After work, consider doing a “happy hour” (or even “happy half hour”) at a local wine bar to catch up on the day. Bonus – you get to spend some QT on the commute home.
– After the kids are tucked in bed, resist plopping on the couch and watching TV! Instead, open a bottle of wine and catch up on the day’s highlights now that there’s some quiet in the house. You can even try your hand at a puzzle as a soothing activity before bed.
– Another great idea is to hit the road. Whether it’s a walk around the neighborhood, visiting a local park or hiking a trail, being outdoors can have a refreshing impact on your relationship. Bonus? You burn calories too!
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