We know it’s healthy to have separate friendships after you’re married. Spending time with your own friends, away from your partner, helps you maintain a balance of “I” versus “we” and nurture your own identity. That being said, there are some unique benefits to having “couple friends,” too. Here are four big ones:
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Dates are harder to make happen than we’d like to admit. There’s the challenge of prioritizing it enough to get it on the calendar, and then actually figuring out all the details and logistics, like finding a sitter.
Another challenge is deciding what to actually do! If you’ve been with your partner for any length of time, you know that dates can easily feel redundant and routine. You make the time to connect, but what if that connection time just feels like a rinse-and-repeat from the week prior? How can you spice up those dates you work so hard incorporate in your marriage?
Do something different! That’s the easiest way to make dates feel like something special and exciting. But we get it – thinking of date ideas is like adding one more task to that list of things you have to do to make it happen. Good news! We’ve got 25 date ideas for you – conveniently categorized into five different types to try!
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Let’s call it what it is, life is tough right now. We’re still trying to learn our new normal, adjust to working from home, figure out virtual visits, and experiencing a lot of change to our daily routine. On top of all of that, we are trying to keep our relationships steady and maybe spending more time in our pajamas together.
I have to say, I am personally spending a large amount of time with my partner during the pandemic. It’s hard to get together with friends or see family, outside of virtual visits. Since nothing is open, we have been enjoying more movie nights or making dinner together.
With that being said, we are spending so much time together that I cannot lie, he is getting under my skin!
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A regular date night always sounds like a great idea, doesn’t it? In theory, it seems easy enough to follow through on. But while some couples are great at making it a priority, others struggle to make it happen. There are just too many things that can get in the way (and that was even before this whole pandemic thing). Maybe it’s your season of life, or your jobs, or your finances. You’ll always be able to come up with reasons why a date night just isn’t in the cards this month.
But here’s the only reason you need for why it should be: your relationship is worth it.
Your relationship deserves, and benefits from, intentional time together. And we want to help make it easier for you. Here are 5 tips for making date night a reality.
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Assertiveness and active listening. Zzzzzzzzz.
We know. These words don’t exactly sound very exciting, which is unfortunate because they are so important! At Prepare/Enrich, we consider them foundational skills – what all other skills are built on. Without assertiveness and active listening, working through conflict becomes impossible, talking about money is an exercise in frustration, and growing as a couple is, frankly, unlikely.
Having trouble remembering what an assertive statement is or what active listening sounds like? Here’s a quick refresh:
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