Work-Life Balance: Date Night

Remember your first date with your current partner? Maybe it was a great experience that makes you wistfully smile when you think back on it. Maybe it was an epic disaster straight out of a sitcom. However it worked out, it was interesting and fun (or at least memorable enough for a second try.) With that in mind, how long has it been since you had that sort of excitement? If you’re like many of us, you can probably think of a long list of work projects that are more recent than your last date. If we’re going to keep our lives balanced, it’s important to remember the excitement of that first date and try to recapture it once in a while. And what better way than a date night? 

So what exactly is date night? It’s exactly what you want it to be. That’s the beauty of it. There are no mandatory commandments for what makes something a date night. There’s no need for dinner at a swanky restaurant, an exotic weekend getaway in the Caribbean, or an appointment at the most exclusive spa in town. You can have all of those things or none of them. The choice is yours.

While a date night can be anything you want it to be, there are a few guidelines you may want to follow. The first is to leave your electronic devices behind. That’s right, turn off your cell phone, close your laptop and let your social media contacts chill out for a little while. You’re getting away from all that and having fun with your partner. Concentrate on the other person and what you are doing together. The virtual world can wait for a little bit.

The second major guideline is that you have to dedicate yourself to making date night happen. Your schedule will always find ways to fill itself. There will always be another project to take on, another late-night meeting or another deadline that has to be met. If you want date night to work, you have to set a time and stick to it. Mark it on your calendar. Cross it off on your appointment planner. Let others know you are not to be disturbed during that time. The other person in your life is a priority. Show them by making a commitment to keep date night. 

The third and final guideline is the easiest. Have fun! It doesn’t matter what it is. It can be sitting at home together playing Pictionary as long as you’re having fun. Be sure to discuss it with your partner rather than just imposing your ideas. Brainstorm good ideas together until you come up with a great plan to make date night a success and recapture some magic!