Stop Giving Your Marriage Leftover Time: The International Date Night Guide to Lifestyle Design
It is so easy to meticulously plan our content, our kids, and our meals. Yet our marriage often gets the leftover time. Between raising our toddler and our sweet newborn, Aaron and I know exactly how quickly date nights can slip away. We put so much energy into building our brand and managing our household. But dating your spouse should not be the last thing on your to-do list. A strong relationship is the absolute best foundation we can give our kids. It is time to bring intentionality back to our marriage.
The 2-2-2 Scheduling Method Refresher
If you caught volume two on Instagram, you already know about one of our favorite ways to prioritize each other. The 2-2-2 scheduling hack is a total game-changer for busy couples.
- Every 2 Weeks: A dedicated evening out or a strict no-phone night in.
- Every 2 Months: A weekend away or a full day adventure without the kids.
- Every 2 Years: A week-long trip.
The secret is to put these in the calendar at the start of the year. Treat them as immovable pillars. This takes all the decision fatigue out of romance and ensures your relationship always has a reserved spot on the calendar.
Embracing Our Current Season
Right now, in our current season of life with a toddler and a newborn, our reality looks a little different. Our absolute favorite date night consists of putting our phones completely away and watching one episode of a show we really love. We grab my favorite snacks and drinks, watch the show, and just chat. When you have little ones, sometimes that is all the time you have. But putting our phones away and focusing solely on each other makes all the difference in the world.
Elevating the Classics
When Aaron and I first got married back in 2016, we liked our standard dates and weekend plans. We all know and love the classic dates. The classic movie night, the classic dinner out, and the classic weekend cafe run. But as you spend more and more years together, those standard dates can start to feel a little routine.
The secret to keeping the spark alive is finding simple ways to elevate them!
- You can upgrade a standard movie night by setting up a cozy outdoor projector.
- You can elevate a basic dinner date by dressing up and cooking a completely new recipe together.
- You can even turn a typical morning cafe run into a slow weekend stroll through a beautiful botanical garden with a warm herbal tea in hand.
As the years go by, we are always looking for fresh ways to break out of our comfort zone. That desire to keep elevating our time together naturally led us to one of our absolute favorite concepts yet.
What is an International Date Night?
An International Date Night is a dedicated way to explore the world together and keep things fresh. You can explore a new global cuisine right here in the Portland food scene or create an immersive experience right in your own living room. Having a specific theme completely prevents the dreaded conversation of figuring out what to do.
How to Execute the Calendar
Here is how to make this happen without adding stress to your plate.
- Choose Your Destinations: Pick twelve countries or regions at the start of the year and assign one to each month.
- Divide and Conquer: Take turns planning. You can take the odd months and your spouse can take the even months so the mental load is perfectly shared.
- Secure the Time: Book the babysitter months in advance for your nights out.
But let's be real, sometimes babysitters are just not able to be secured. If that happens, it is perfectly okay to pivot! Order some delicious takeout, stream some appropriate thematic music, and guard your evening fiercely after the kids are asleep.
Three Starter Itineraries
Need some inspiration to get started? Here are three fun ideas to try.
A Taste of Italy
Plan an interactive cooking night at home. Grab some fresh ingredients and try making pasta from scratch. You can whip up a delicious and totally peanut-free pesto to keep the kitchen safe and stress-free.
A Parisian Morning
Turn this into a weekend day date. Visit a local French bakery for fresh pastries. Grab a warm herbal tea to skip the coffee jitters and enjoy a peaceful stroll through a beautiful local garden together.
A Mexican Fiesta
Bring the resort vibe right to your patio. Make fresh guacamole, mix up some fun mocktails, and listen to a curated playlist while dreaming about your next big trip.
Prioritizing your spouse is not just about romance. It is a core part of intentional living. It is about creating the life you actually want to live.
Let me know on IG @theams_haveit which country you want to visit first for your own date night!
