Should couples still plan date nights?

[OfMiceandMen]

Supposedly, date night can strengthen your bond, increase intimacy, and improve your communication skills. It's also essential for keeping your relationship strong and healthy.

If so, what do you typically do on a date night? If not, why not?

How frequent - weekly, monthly, every other day...

Hell yeah, we go out often to keep things fresh...

Hell naw, it's a waste of time at this point in the relationship...

[Ozanne]

Dating is a funny word to me. I associate it with the 1950s when a guy would ask a girl out on a "date", and then there's this expected protocol of showing up to the door with flowers, and bring the girl home by 9pm. I think more like "playing the field" is more like what people are actually doing, rather than "date".

I would just say it's important that you do things together such as go to dinner or go to the movies. It was done before you became a couple because usually that was how you saw each other since you didn't live together yet. After living together or after marriage, when you see each other in the raw every day, that's when things begin to go dry because there really isn't the tickle-in-your-tummy feeling of when you can't wait to see the person again.

So yes, of course you need to have your moments when you can dress up and look your best, go somewhere and do things that get you connecting again. If not, the time you spend together is going to be boring and you'll end up resenting your partner for not being the person they were when you met because you've both lazed into a lukewarm comfortable lifestyle together that has no pizzazz.

[OfMiceandMen]

So it's important from the standpoint of keeping the flame lit in the relationship and not succumb to the day to day life that tends to take over.

[msmissydc]

Planning actually not that often but we do it from time to time, often spontaneous though. It mostly happends when I travel with him when he travels for work and decide to go out in the evening when work is finished. Other than that we often go out for in a bar, sometimes friends join which doent make it a date and sometimes we stay allone which could technically count. Although sometimes just a couples joins which could make it count as a doubledate?
But jokes aside planning rarely but often when we travel.

[OfMiceandMen]

Sounds like some good quality time spent together. I often travel for work and take my girlfriend with me. It's a nice little getaway together.

[Miristheiss]

Of course.

Couples should KEEP doing what they did throughout the early dating process. You keep courting each other, still go out, dress up and look and smell nice for each other, stay fit and look their best for the other and never hit that point where you say to yourself "ok I landed them, I got a commitment, they are mine now I don't have to try anymore, I can watch TV everyday now and let myself go".

That is one reason there are so many divorces.

[OfMiceandMen]

Exactly, both have to make an effort.

[JackCarter]

Why the hell not?
At least once a week.. more the better

[OfMiceandMen]

That's what I say. Doesn't have to be out to dinner it can be simpler than that.

[JackCarter]

Agree!
Even just watching a movie together can count as one..!
Maybe surprise her with a sandwich during interval lol

[JackCarter]

Thanks for MHO

[OfMiceandMen]

No prob.

[exitseven]

We don't really go out much anymore. One more thing that Covid has messed up. We really should do it more. My wife has a whole pile of restaurant gift cards that she had since before Covid. We need to go through them and see how many of these places are still in business.

[OfMiceandMen]

Good idea regarding the gift cards, maybe do some takeout rather than sit-in if it's possible. Certainly, COVID is still an issue I would wait a month or two. It seems to peak when all the kids return to school (this time of year).

[exitseven]

Covid stopped being an issue after c I got the second vaccine shot.

[jshm2]

You mean "go out and eat," sunny.

You're talking like "dates" are the only reason restaurants exist.

[OfMiceandMen]

No, a date can be a simple as grabbing a coffee together and heading to the first place you walked with her, or perhaps some other special place the two of you have. It doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg each time.

[sheikalana]

Absolutely! You should never stop dating your partner even after being married you should still go on dates every month.

[OfMiceandMen]

We can't forget what its like to actually spend time with one another, I think some couples get so busy they tend to let the date nights slip.

[Nikki1989]

We still go out on romantic dates after 8 years of being together.

[OfMiceandMen]

Very nice, on a weekly basis?

[worldscolide]

My grandfather gave me a good bit of advice, never stop dating your wife. It has served me well. Date nights are super important.

[OfMiceandMen]

Agreed.

[pethouse]

I’m not in a relationship but I definitely do think dates, trips, and fun little get togethers should be a must

[OfMiceandMen]

I do to. Doesn't have to be anything big, it can be as small as walking in the park together or going on a trip. Just time alone to reconnect because other parts of our lives get busy sometimes.

[BigDog1989]

My parents still go out, they've been married 30+ and are almost in their 70's

[OfMiceandMen]

Awesome, so you see firsthand how important it is.

[BigDog1989]

VERY

[genericname85]

if you wanna have a long term healthy and stable relationship, this is mandatory.

[shades777]

you can do what you want, should makes it sound like "you have to do" it, you don't have to do anything

[DeeDeeDeVour]

We just go on dates spontaneously.

[OfMiceandMen]

I tend to be a bit of a planner, but sometimes spontaneous is a nice switch.

[RedInnocent68]

Absolutely essential! Always surprised when I hear couples don’t. I mean, you’re with that person for a reason. You like them, don’t you?

[whistlingwh0res]

No they can go to orgy together

[OfMiceandMen]

Date night and orgy night combined?

[whistlingwh0res]

yes all one package

[JosyJosy]

Yep life can get busy. Schedule away.

[Jkgordon]

You don’t want a boring relationship

[Jazzy54]

Absolutely!

[elizamichale1]

Yes of course

[LavLavLuv]

Yes...