How A Date-Night Routine Can Add Fun And Connection In A Long-Term Relationship

When you’ve been in a long-term relationship for a while, the love can get a little stagnant, boring, or even die. I was always worried about this before I met and married my soulmate, so even before I said “I do” I started studying things every couple should do to keep relationships healthy. One of the most important things I’ve discovered – and read over and over about – is keeping up a date night.

I wasn’t so sure about this concept at first, but as I’ve lived in my own wedded bliss for seven years and watched and learned from other couples, this is one of the most powerful things you can do to keep the romance alive.

While it might seem obvious, sometimes we need the reminder: date nights are important for long-term relationships because we need connection and intimacy with each other. I can’t recount the number of couples I know who have broken up or struggled because they no longer felt like they knew each other.

When you get together, intentionally, on the regular, you remain in communion with each other, sharing your life together, even in hour-long segments here or there. This gives that much needed boost of connection in a natural, easy setting that isn’t as contrived as trying to ask each other over text what’s been going on.

One of the worst things I hear from my friends in the dating world is that they don’t share any of the same hobbies or favorite activities with their partners. This almost always results in couples breaking up, whether they’ve been together for a few weeks or several years. Why? Because shared interests are one of the best ways to deepen your friendship with your partner. In fact, according to Psychology Today, one of the top reasons couples break up is “different interests.”

If you have a healthy relationship, you might not see the value in talking about your relationship. When we talk about your relationship, it helps to relieve pressures, stresses, concerns and questions either of you have about what’s going on in each other’s life and helps to develop your mutual interests.

It also helps you know how the other is feeling about the relationship and any problems you might be facing.

My husband, for example, has several chronic illnesses, which means I’m the primary earner in the family. Sometimes, this is exceedingly stressful and I just need him to know how it’s impacting our relationship. Our date nights often become the platform for these chats while building positive bonds through the enjoyment on our dates.

While it might not be your primary purpose in keeping a date night, dates with your partner do help boost your mood and deepen your overall feelings of positivity in life. According to Psychology Today, a 5 to 1 ratio of positive interactions to negative can help you maintain a positive perspective in life and your relationship. So, these happy times spent together help to create those five experiences that keep your love life happy and your overall relationship glowing.