Date Nights - Part 1

Make Time for Date Night

2020 has been a weird year so far. Many of your routines, plans, and even concept of time may have gone out the window. But I am still going to encourage you to make time to spend together, with intention, even if a “date” doesn’t look the way it used to. What do you consider a date? It’s probably more than just time spent together in the same room. Make some agreements with your partner around date time. For example, maybe phones and distractions are put aside. Or maybe you agree that some conversation topics (work, the pandemic, or finances) are off-limits. Set the intention to invest your time in turning toward each other and enjoying each other’s presence, and plan for what that means to you if you can’t physically be together or go out to your favorite date spots right now.

24 Dates You Can Try At Home

Shelter-in-place sure can take the sizzle out of your relationship. Whether you’re at home under the same roof (has your partner always eaten cereal that way?) or dating from a distance (“u up? cool just checking”) I urge you not to forget about date night! Making plans to share time together, and being intentional about it, has always mattered but could be relationship-saving in unprecedented times.

Try one (or all) of these date ideas that you can do at home together, or from a distance.

1. Play a board game. If you’re apart, play a game online using playingcards.io or houseparty.com.

2. Play strip-tease poker with the loser having to give a massage to the winner. If you are apart, you can be quite creative around this online.

3. Learn a new language together using Duolingo.

4. Dress up for date night, or dress in a costume.

5. Watch each other’s favorite movie. If you’re apart, try hosting a Netflix Party.

6. Get crafty! Make a scrapbook of all your favorite memories together.

7. Host Happy Hour with craft cocktails or cocktails. If you’re apart, cheers over FaceTime or Zoom.

8. Attend a virtual concert together.

9. Bake or cook a new meal together. If you’re apart, try making the same meal and share your taste test over FaceTime or Zoom.

10. Create line drawings of each other—don’t look at the paper or lift the pen.

11. Dance to your favorite music. If you’re apart, make each other a virtual “mixtape” to listen to.

12. Choose a song and rewrite the lyrics to it. Perform it for each other if you’re feeling brave.

13. Play one of many sexy adult games that one can buy online.

14. Teach each other about something you love.

15. Write each other love letters.

16. Watch an insightful documentary and learn something new!

17. Read Eight Dates (John & Julie Gottman) together. Already read Eight Dates? Revisit a date from your favorite chapter.

18. Listen to each other’s favorite album.

19. Have a cook-off “Chopped” style with the same ingredients.

20. Put on a fashion show. Don’t forget the runway music. If you’re apart, play the role of fashion photographer and send each other photos of your stylish looks.

21. Build a fort in the lounge or spare room.

22. Karaoke night—stream karaoke videos on YouTube and sing along.

23. Play Pictionary or charades.

24. Go to the “spa.” Light some candles, put on facials, maybe even give each other a massage.

Have more date ideas? I’d love to hear them. Share your at-home date ideas with me.