Relationship experts reveal the ideal frequency of dates for a strong marriage. Not to mention, with marriage comes more responsibility—especially with kids thrown into the mix—so finding the time to deepen your connection becomes even more challenging.
The best way to keep the spark alive and prevent complacency in your marriage? Blocking off time in your calendar for regular date nights is essential for a stronger marriage. To help you get into a rhythm, we asked the experts how often married couples should plan date nights. These relationship professionals also shared the best tips to seamlessly schedule these dates and how to maximize your date nights.
Meet the Expert. As a general rule of thumb, one date night per week is sufficient for married couples, according to McKinney. But, there are several factors that affect how frequently you and your partner schedule these dates. Below are three components that influence this number. For one, every person has different needs and lifestyles. Some couples might enjoy having their independence during the work week and find satisfaction in a weekly Friday night dinner date.
Other couples may crave more intimacy, so they could decide to pencil in three date nights every week. Depending on different personality styles, sometimes one partner may desire more quality time, while the other might need more alone time. To dodge a disagreement and avoid any pent-up resentment from undermining your relationship, make sure to vocalize your needs during an open conversation with your partner.
Instead of trying to hit a certain quota, it's more important to make sure that your date nights blend seamlessly into your schedule. Focusing on the outcome rather than the experience of spending time with your partner will end up being counterproductive.
