|
The last thing you want is for date night to become a chore, or a dull 'not a dinner-and-a-movie again' routine," says Lisa Sussman, author of new book, 'Great Dates'. “Even those who are swoony in love need a kick in the pants now and then to liven up things romantically. Candlelit dinners and sultry music are only going to get you so far."
The average person is said to date between three and four people before we meet 'the one', and take a further twelve months of romancing to decide if they are really right for us, according to Lycos research. That's a lot of romantic rendezvous to rack up in one lifetime, so it's important to make our dating routines a little different or risk slyly watching the clock craving hometime.
COUPLEDOM CAPERS
The dating game isn't exclusively for those in the 'young, free and single' club. Even if you've clocked up 20 years together, dating as a couple can remind each of you just why you fell head over heels. Sussman says, "Having regularly scheduled date nights with the man in your life can keep you close and connected for years to come. It's not about having the fanciest date or the most expensive or elaborate one. Date nights work their magic simply by giving you a chance to catch up with each other and shut out the noise of your busy lives."
Take David and Victoria Beckham, or Guy Ritchie and Madonna. They may have been happily married for years but that doesn't stop them stepping out (minus the kids) for a romantic date - even if they they do have a crowd of paparazzi for company. "You've got to remind yourselves of why you fell in love and how much you still enjoy spending time together," Sussman advises.
TIME FOR TWO
Don't become one of those awkward couples at a restaurant whose conversation largely consists of 'pass the salt please, dear'. Sussman says, "It doesn't take much to pack a little lovey-doveyness into your night out. Mixing things up is what keeps your date feeling interesting and new."
She lists these date suggestions for the romantically challenged:
>> Head to a restaurant that has a dance floor. Even if the only music you know how to dance to is the Bunny Hop, you can still wrap your arms around each other and sway to the beat.
>> Go to the library or bookstore and pick out a book of romantic poetry to read to each other while cuddling up together.
>> Slink your way into a jazz club. The smoky air practically oozes intimacy.
>> Make a finger-foods-only dinner and feed each other.
>> Act like kids again in your own private space. For an hour or two, you can rent an ice rink, bowling alley or swimming pool.
>> If you live near a scenic view, turn it into a background location to watch the sunset or in the romantic moonlight.
>> Take dance lessons together. Even if you end up treading on each other's toes, you'll be forced to pay attention to how your bodies move together.
CHEAP DATE
A packet of crisps and half a cider is never going to woo a lady, even though it's easy on the pocket. The average date now costs $200, according to research from American Express. Men tend to lighten their wallets picking up the tab for drinks and meals, while women spend money on looking their best, the study found.
But dating doesn't have to upset the bank manager, according to Sussman. "Romance does not have to cost a lot of money," she insists. "For instance, it's mood, not food, that sets the romantic scene. If going out to an expensive restaurant isn't an option, you can easily transform dinner from your local fast food spot into a fancy eating experience."
Ban the takeaway tubs and make an effort to transform a routine food fest into a romantic feast. Sussman says: "Set out a tablecloth, a vase with flowers, your nicest dishes and cutlery. Pour your drinks into wineglasses and unwrap your food onto your dishes. Bon appetit."
Or why not set up a date jar?
Put all those spare pennies and pounds in a kitty and treat yourselves to a special night out at the end of each month.
FIRST DATE FEELING
If your love life is feeling a little lacklustre, hit the dating scene - with your partner, of course. Even with a stressful job and screaming kids to juggle, making time for each other can revive a flagging romance. "You may feel too tired to keep your date - keep it anyway," Sussman says. "What you do isn't as important as that you do it together.
"Ultimately 'dating' is really just a catch-all word for connecting, communicating, co-operating, communing and all the other good stuff that defines a good relationship." You may not be able to recreate those first-date jitters but continuing to enjoy the dating game can inject some passion into a placid relationship. Sussman says, "No matter what happens between you, you can always rely on your dates to bring you back to the beginning of your relationship and forward into the future."
www.7days.ae/showstory.php?id=53369
| 
