Date Night Inspiration

Candle and wedding rings

I don’t know about you, but the combination of a global pandemic, raising multiple toddlers and the constant geographical relocation required by Military life has resulted in most of our couple nights out, becoming date nights in. Admittedly date nights have been on the back-burner for a while as we navigated some really huge transitions (new babies and new military postings) , but we’re back and better than ever and ready to prioritise our relationship! I’m always looking for a little inspo when it comes to night-in ideas for couples, so here are our top ten go-to date night ideas, maybe as you read through you’ll file away a couple of new ones for yourself. Don’t forget to leave your best ideas in the comments below so we can draw a little inspiration from each other! 

1. Screen & Snuggles

Hubby & I vary somewhat in our ideal of the perfect film or show - but we do both really enjoy media that inspires in-depth conversation. If our go to couple activity for the night is a cuddle and a show/movie, we'll choose one that addresses global issues or a cause that’s close to our heart and enjoy not just the show, but the conversations that ensue throughout our time together. We'll discuss morals, ethics, religion, medical & technological advancement, global finances etc. And usually find out some things we have in common and some areas where we need to agree to disagree, but hey - the talk is never boring!

2. The couple who reads together…

This one is a throwback to the very beginning of our relationship: choosing a great book and each taking turns reading it to the other. Sometimes we choose a work of fiction, get transported into the story and imagine a whole world for ourselves - other times we’ll read a handbook on streamlining finances or organising some other aspect of our lives and work through the exercises included after, or just have a great conversation on what we learned. 

3. Cook it up! 

We really enjoy cooking together (and of course eating afterwards!) Often times we'll pop on our favourite music and make a dinner for the two of us; one of those recipes we KNOW our kids won't touch but we've been craving for a while and then just let the conversation roll while we enjoy some wine and cook at our own pace without a choir of little people singing: "what's for dinner?, I'm hungryyy!!" Behind us. 

Lego star wars ship

4. Lego collectibles

This is a more recent addition to the date night rotation, but hubby has taken up collecting lego models (I have my eye on a few I’d quite like to invest in myself). We both really enjoy putting lego together, so every now and then we’ll make a hot chocolate and break out the latest model that needs some work and get to it together.  

1000 piece jigsaw puzzles

5. Games/Gaming galore

Okay, okay … I don’t pretend to be an avid gamer and hubby is not one for board games (more my speed ;) ) so once in a blue moon we’ll compromise; he’ll have a board game night with me and on the next date night, I'll play Xbox with him.

6. Date to your door…

Why not try a subscription box? Granted there isn’t much of a market in Australia for subscription date boxes (anyone looking for a small business start up?), but there are one or two. We’ve only just given them a go this year, but if you’re feeling short of time, energy and creativity - why not let someone else do the planning and deliver everything you need to your door? 

vintage World globe

7. Level up

Learn a new skill together. We’ve been delayed by Christmas and the long distance separation that comes with multiple military training courses and field exercieses, but hubby and I plan to make use of one of the many readily available language learning apps, to take an online course and learn a new language together in the New Year. 

8. Join forces

Take up a joint hobby. Through decorating and re-decorating numerous rental homes through the years and preparing for events such as our children’s birthdays; hubby and I have discovered quite by accident that we both enjoy hobbies like DIY home projects and cake decorating. Hubby also aspires to become a masterchef of Asian cuisine. Together we love experimenting to see what we can create for our home, or our dinner table.

9. Conversation starters

We’ve owned numerous books over the years which were literally filled with one line questions or topics for inspiring couple conversation and have loved where they’ve taken us and the topics we’ve discussed that we may never have thought to ourselves. There are multiple online companies which sell card sets, books or adventure activity type sets which all intend to bring couples closer through shared conversations.

Journal with the inscription; go on an adventure

10. Dream your future

A go to date night for us when we’re looking for a little inspiration for the next season in our life is spending time dreaming together. We’ll get out paper and pen and jot down our pursuits & hopes for family, career and lifestyle over the immediate future and larger plans for the extended future. We also discuss our most outlandish dreams! Goals that may be presently out of reach, but five or ten years from now … who knows?  

I hope even a couple of these were helpful to you. I am always looking for new date night inspiration, so share your go to activities in the comments below; I would love to hear about your faves! 

Jessi xo