Married Couples Need Dates Too! How Often To Plan A Night Out With Your Boo

Marriage is meant to be the union between two people who love each other. In the early days of meeting your partner and getting to know them more, perhaps dates were a more common occurrence that you would both make time for. Whilst this is all exciting in the beginning, after you've said your vows at the aisle and enter into marriage, unfortunately the frequency of date nights tend to decline. This is of course understandable. After all, with marriage comes new responsibilities and more serious things are prioritized ahead of date night, like having kids for example.

This influx of responsibilities after marriage can leave less time for you and your spouse to plan for date nights. However, even in the midst of all the new duties that arise with marriage, it's still important to spend quality time with your partner and show that you appreciate each other. Date nights are a great opportunity to do this, and will allow you to remember the reason why you married in the first place. Date nights can range from the most creative date night out to the simplest stay-at-home date. So, how often should married couples have date night?

Of course, there is no set time in stone of when you have to go on dates with your partner as every relationship is different. However, at the crux of it all, it is important to take time out to plan for a date night regularly. 

Therapist K'Hara McKinney suggested to Brides one date a week. Meanwhile, according to Elite Daily, life coach Nina Rubin says that once a month is also fine. Supporting the latter point, there was a study carried out by Harry Benson from the Marriage Foundation and Steve McKay from the University of Lincoln. According to The Knot, the study revealed that married couples who went on a date night once a month were more likely to stay together, compared to other groups like those who went out once a week and even those who went out less than once a month or hardly ever.

With all of these references, it seems like having a date night for no less than once a month may be a good start. You and your spouse should tailor the type of dates you want to have to whatever works best for the both of you. 

The main takeaway is to not neglect date nights completely after marriage. As difficult as it may be to find time, the investment in dates can prove to have long-lasting results, as the aforementioned study indicates. They are a good way to reconnect with your partner, away from the busyness of life. They're also great for the both of you to just focus on each other. You can catch up and enjoy each other's company without distractions, which can often happen after marriage. So, book a babysitter or call up a friend or family member to take care of the kids at least once a month so you can really enjoy date night.