How to Plan a Date Night
The stress of everyday life puts a strain on a relationship and it can be easy to take your significant other for granted. Having a date night allows you to let your hair down, have fun and spend quality time with your partner. A date night can be an occasional occurrence or something you do on a regular basis, such as every two weeks or every week.
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Instructions
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Pick a time that works for you and your partner. Look at your schedules and imagine what could pop up. If Thursday is the night your wife is on call at the hospital, that's not the right night to have a date night, as she might have to leave in the middle of the dinner.
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Discuss the plans and goals for the date night. Look at how you can incorporate the ideas and interests of both parties. Outline a basic plan, such as dinner, a play and then drinks at a downtown hot spot, but leave some room for spontaneity. Agree to keep conversation upbeat and fun. Avoid discussing financial problems or your son's problems at school. This night should be focused on your relationship and your love for each other.
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Arrange for a babysitter if you have kids. If you don't already have a regular babysitter, talk to your friends who have kids and listen to who they recommend. Meet with the babysitter ahead of time to ensure she is right for the job. Your date night could get derailed if the babysitter shows up an hour late.
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Inform your kids, the babysitter, other family members, co-workers and close friends that you and your partner are going on a date night. Ask them to only call or text you if it's an emergency. You can also choose to leave your phone at home or ignore it if you get a call, but that could mean ignoring a potential emergency call.
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Make reservations if necessary. You don't want to show up at your favorite restaurant only to find that every table is taken and there's a three-hour wait. Likewise, if you'll be doing anything with limited capacity, such as seeing a movie or going to a sporting event, buy tickets well in advance to avoid long lineup or the disappointment of the event being sold out.
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Plan your outfits. For many couples, date night is a time to put on dressier clothes. Picking these outfits ahead of time avoids last minute scrambles or headaches when you realize there's a stain on your favorite blouse or that those slacks don't fit anymore.
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Fill up the car with gas earlier in the day or the day before. A date night can start off poorly if you drive a couple blocks and then realize you're low on gas. This could make you late for your reservation. If you'll be taking public transportation, such as a subway or cab, give yourself plenty of time to catch a ride.
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References
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