Does it sound like this? “What do you want to do tonight?” “I don’t know. What do you want to do?” “I don’t know… is there anything at the movies?” Then you find yourself sitting in a dark theater, not talking to each other, watching a dud of a movie you really didn’t want to see anyway.
Having a regular date night with your husband is a great way to help keep your marriage strong. But, unfortunately, if you do the same old things when you go out, you’re not getting as much from your date night as you could. Scientists at the University of New York at Stony Brook found that novelty is the key. When you inject something different into your date night, you get those romantic brain chemicals going, the ones that made dating your husband so much fun in the first place. If you want to make the next date with your husband way better, try these 5 things.
1. If you don’t do it, do it.
Break out of your mold. If you already go dancing on date night, try something else. If you’ve never hiked together, head outdoors. Even if you consider your date nights to already be adventurous, do something different.
2. No shop talk.
Don’t talk about your co-worker who’s driving you crazy. Don’t delve into problems with the kids or the washer. That will put your husband in problem-solver mode and put a damper on your date. Agree with your husband, ahead of time, which topics—like finances, in-laws, etc.—are off limits.
3. Ooo-la-la.
Pull out all of the stops on getting ready for your date night. You don’t have to dress like it’s a black tie event, but get some of that dating mindset going and add an extra punch here and there—a favorite perfume, freshly washed hair that smells good (hey, this one’s a stretch on some days!), flattering clothes instead of something that screams “comfortable.”
4. The right track.
Start your date on the right track. Give yourself time to get ready. Have things planned for the kids or give the sitter a list of ideas she can do while you’re getting ready to head out the door. And, compliment your husband and tell him you’re really looking forward to your time together.
5. Take turns.
If you always plan your date night, let your husband have a chance. If he’s the planner, you take charge. Remember point one, though. Do something different. Either way, agree ahead of time that you’ll both be good sports.
Tell us! What does a typical date night in your marriage look like?
