18 At-Home Date Ideas

I believe I've written about this before but I can't find it. But it seems like a great topic to write about now since we're still stuck at home for the most part.

Today's blog post is based on an article from The Art of Manliness:

Every relationship expert will tell you that one of the keys to keeping the spark alive in a long-term relationship is continuing to court your significant other, even after you get hitched. They’ll tell you to set aside a regular date night to reconnect and revive your feelings of romance and love. 

Pretty much every couple sees the wisdom of this advice on the face of it. But the execution can sometimes be easier said than done — especially when kids come into the picture. Maybe things are crazy busy for you right now, and it’s hard to fit a full night out on the schedule. Or you’re on a tight budget, and ponying up $100+ for dinner, a movie, and a babysitter just isn’t feasible. Or you’ve got a newborn in the house, and you’re just not ready to have someone watch her while you go out.

Or you're stuck at home during a global pandemic!

Rather than feeling like your hands are tied by these obstacles and that you can’t make date night happen at all, consider an alternative: the “at-home date.” 

The concept of the at-home date is simple: if you can’t go out on the town, get creative and adaptable and come up with a fun, one-on-one activity you can do with your significant other without having to leave the house. If you have kids, your date starts once they go to bed. 

Stay-in dates don’t require a lot of time or money to execute, but they can make a big impact in rekindling feelings of romance and helping you re-connect with your wife or girlfriend.

Things like watching a movie and engaging in a little chaka-chaka are of course easy go-to activities once the kids hit the hay, but you also want to get creative from time to time in coming up with new things to do. 

So below we offer 18 ideas for enjoyable, easy-to-plan, inexpensive at-home dates you can try with your lady love. The next time you can’t get a sitter, or afford a night out, instead of throwing the idea of date night entirely out the window, stay in and have a fun and romantic evening anyway.

These are things you can do even after things get back to "normal":

 1. Play a Board/Card Game
 2. Eat Take-Out By Candlelight
 3. Make Dinner or Dessert Together
 4. Paint With Watercolors
 5. Create an At-Home “Bookstore”
 6. Ask Each Other Questions
 7. Play Indoor Mini Golf/Croquet
 8. Do a Puzzle Together
 9. Have a Backyard Picnic
10. Read Aloud From Books
11. Make a Craft Together
12. Watch a Movie Outside
13. Fireplace Weenie/Marshmallow Roast
14. Have a Tasting Party
15. Have a Vinyl Listening Party
16. Take a Bubble Bath
17. Create a Bucket/Travel/Microadventure List
18. Listen to a Spooky Old-time Radio Show

Number 7 is timely since May is Golf Month and number 14 is timely since Saturday is World Whisky Day!

What activities would you add to this list? Post your comments below.

Interesting days

Today - Eat What You Want Day, Accounting Day, World Ego Awareness Day and Twilight Zone Day

Tomorrow - Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, Poem on Your Pillow Day, Odometer Day, Nutty Fudge Day and Limerick Day

Week long celebrations:

May 6 - May 12: Nurse’s Week

Next Monday - No Dirty Dishes Day, Museum Day and Visit Your Relatives Day

June 11 - Yarn Bombing Day, Jerky Day, Farm Workers Day, Corn On The Cob Day and German Chocolate Cake Day

Week long celebrations:

Jun 8 - Jun 14: Love your Burial Ground Week