From YA Weekly
4 Simple Ways to Continue Dating Your Spouse
Dating doesn’t end with marriage!
Getting married is often seen as the gateway between the stressful dating period of life and a well-earned escape from that looming obligation. But dating can be fun, and it doesn’t have to end after the honeymoon!
Going on regular dates with your spouse can help you maintain your connection, cultivate love, and have fun together. Spending quality time together can help you and your spouse step away from the stresses and obligations of everyday life and focus on each other and your relationship.
President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) said of marriage, “There must be continued courting and expressions of affection, kindness, and consideration to keep love alive and growing.”
But when you have long workdays, time-consuming school assignments, or children, it can feel impossible to find alone time with your spouse, let alone plan a date night.
Don’t give up just yet! As you give intentional time to your marriage, you will find yourself better equipped to tackle the daily tasks of life. Here are a few tips to help you continue connecting with your spouse.
1. Schedule a Regular Time
Designate a regular time to spend alone time together, away from to-do lists or other responsibilities. This may be once a week, every other week, or even the last day of every month. Plan how often you can make this happen according to your circumstances.
Most importantly, stick with it! President Russell M. Nelson said: “If marriage is a prime relationship in life, it deserves prime time! Yet less important appointments are often given priority, leaving only leftover moments for listening to precious partners.”
2. Make It Simple
Your dates with your spouse do not have be extravagant. Finances, children, or time may not always allow for a fancy dinner out or a weekend getaway.
Be creative and keep it simple while still being intentional. A date can be playing a card game after the kids are in bed, trying a new recipe, going for a walk in the park, or writing letters to each other. If there is a temple nearby, it could even be setting aside time to attend together.
Life isn’t a romance movie, so don’t feel like every date has to be movie-worthy. Spending time together doing something you love is what’s most important.
3. Establish Marriage Habits
Dating your spouse doesn’t begin as soon as the clock strikes the time you’ve set aside. It can be continuous.
Establishing habits within your marriage can increase your connection and closeness throughout the week, making those date nights even more fulfilling. These can be as simple as a hug or a kiss at every goodbye or greeting.
Getting into a habit of spiritual practices is especially important in sustaining and enriching your marriage relationship. Pray as a couple, attend the temple together, and study the scriptures with one another. Share your spiritual insights and impressions with each other often.
Elder L. Whitney Clayton, former member of the Seventy, taught: “Faith is the foundation of every virtue that strengthens marriage. Strengthening faith strengthens marriage. Faith grows as we keep the commandments, and so do the harmony and joy in marriage.”
Establishing habits and patterns of intentional emotional, physical, and spiritual connection will deepen your eternal relationship.
4. Be Intentional
Spending time alone with your spouse is crucial. Take advantage of your time alone to focus on one another and remember why you love each other. Put phones and other distractions away and simply enjoy one another’s company—even small moments can be meaningful.
Elder Clayton also taught, “Marriage is a gift from God to us; the quality of our marriages is a gift from us to Him.”
As you make the effort to appreciate the gift of marriage and strengthen your relationship with your spouse, you will be able to keep moving forward with hope, faith, and lasting love.