When you think back on the history and health of your marriage and relationship, it’s easy to see that for many couples, the most exciting period is when you initially start dating. From completing all the ‘firsts’ of a new relationship together, like your first dinner out, first dance, and first kiss, to the excitement of learning more about someone you’re truly interested in, this period of time is both invigorating and terrifying at the same time.
As couples spend more time together and move past this initial ‘honeymoon’ phase, this initial feeling of excitement and the thrill of romance can soon fade away. As life catches up and daily responsibilities grow, many couples will tend to fall into a routine and become bored or unsatisfied in their relationship. Once you fall into this trap, it can be easy to feel defeated and overwhelmed, like your marriage has hit a rut that it cannot possibly recover from.
However, there is one easy method to combat this shift in perspective from the start – the idea that you should never stop dating your spouse! Whether you’ve been together for two months, two years, or twenty years, it’s important to remember the feelings that you had early on in your relationship: the excitement, the passion, the romance. By continuing to ‘date’ your significant other, even through and beyond marriage, you can help to tend the fire, keeping your relationship passionate and rewarding for both you and your spouse.
If you’re interested in giving this idea a try and looking for some fun date-night inspiration, we’re happy to help. We’ve put together a quick list of exciting and entertaining date-night ideas to help you rekindle your relationship in a fun and playful way. Keep reading to discover new experiences for you and your partner to try,
Date-Night Idea #1: Get Away for the Night
Oftentimes, a change of scenery is all that it takes to reset the mood and give couples the space that they need to rekindle their relationship. If you’re looking for something to really kickstart reinvigorating your marriage, book a night at a local hotel and go all-in on the bells and whistles. Order room service, enjoy the amenities, and spend some quality one-on-one time together in a cozy place that’s just far enough away from home.
Date-Night Idea #2: Take a Stay-Cation
The hustle and bustle of our day-to-day lives can detract from our ability to spend quality time together as a couple. With so much to do, it can be difficult to get away on a true vacation. Instead of spending time and money that you don’t have to go somewhere new, you can always take a stay-cation at home! Remove all distractions, like work or social outings, order your favorite foods, and send the kids to a friend’s house for the evening. Settle in and enjoy spending time together doing the best thing of all – absolutely nothing.
Date-Night Idea #3: Learn Something New Together
While school may be the last thing on your mind, learning something new with your significant other is a great way to rebuild a relationship in a healthy way. While challenging and sometimes frustrating, taking the plunge and learning something new can put you both in an uncomfortable situation that can
Date-Night Idea #4: Get Cooking
Another fun date-night idea that will have you working (and eating!) together is to cook an amazing meal. You can do so at home by downloading a new recipe and sourcing the necessary ingredients or you can always opt for an online ZOOM cooking class or an in-person class at your local college. No matter how you do it, cooking something delicious together is a great way to rekindle the fire in your relationship.
Date-Night Idea #5: Catch a Drive-In Flick
If you’re lucky enough to live close to a retro drive-in movie theater, this date-night idea is for you. Relive the good days and inspire new ones to come with your significant other by popping into your local drive-in theater for a fun, low-maintenance date night out. You can bring your own snacks and cuddle up in the front seat while you kick back and watch a movie together.
Date-Night Idea #6: Dance the Night Away
When was the last time that you took your partner out to dance? Whether you have two left feet or are a natural athlete, heading out for a night of dancing the night away can be a fun and rewarding date-night experience. And if you’re feeling a little self-conscious, you can always opt for an introductory dance class to learn the steps with your significant other!
Date-Night Idea #7: Go for Some Thrills
For any adrenaline-loving couples or those who are looking for something super exciting to spice things up, going for some thrills at your local amusement park is a great date-night idea. Try out a new roller coaster, get soaked on a river rapids ride, or just walk around and enjoy each other’s company for an exciting and fun day of adventure with your partner.
Date-Night Idea #8: Work Up a Sweat
This isn’t quite what you think – we’re talking about getting active with your partner! From taking a hike in the local park to attending a brand new workout class at your local gym to taking a bike ride down to the beach, doing something fun and physical can help you both work up a sweat and experience something new in a low pressure environment with plenty of exercise-induced endorphins to go along with it.
Date-Night Idea #9: Make a Great Escape
Another great date-night idea to rekindle your relationship is to take on the challenge of an escape room. These trendy experiences involve being ‘locked’ in a room and working through a variety of puzzles in order to escape. If you attend an escape room with your partner, you’ll have a fun time while also learning how to work together better in order to solve a variety of puzzles and overcome an abundance of silly obstacles.
Date-Night Idea #10: Give Back to the Community
While volunteer work may not seem like a traditional date-night idea, giving back to the community through acts of service can truly be rewarding and bring couples closer together. Take a look at organizations in need around you and find one that aligns with your values as a couple and interests. Love animals? Volunteer for a shift walking shelter dogs or playing with kittens at your local rescue. Interested in helping the elderly? Volunteer to read books to bed-bound patients at local hospice organizations.
Keep the Spark Alive: Make Time for Each Other
No matter where you and your partner are in your relationship journey, it’s important to never forget to keep dating them along the way. Whether you’ve been together for two years or twenty years, keeping things fun and showing appreciation for who they are is a great way to keep your marriage involved and keep things interesting. From fun nights out doing new activities together to simple stay-cations without the kids, there are plenty of ways to spend quality one-on-one time with your spouse and remember why you fell in love to begin with.
If you’ve tried your absolute best and still feel like your relationship is stalling, you may be in need of some extra assistance to reinvigorate your marriage. At the Marriage Restoration Project, we’re happy to help you get started on the path to success. Contact us to speak to one of our licensed marriage counselors, and we’ll be happy to help you take the first step (and all the following steps) to rekindle your relationship in the long term.
