Relationship Tip of the Week: Take a Tip from the President

[Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist]

Much ado has been made about President Obama’s date nights with his wife, Michelle. Yet President Obama is modeling a ritual that all couples would do well to incorporate into their relationship. I recommend weekly date nights to all my clients as a way to make space for true intimacy, to connect on a stress-free level away from kids and work, and perhaps most importantly, to keep the fires burning.

Do you only get dressed up for your husband when an event calls for it? Have you stopped planning the fun evenings you planned in the early days of your relationship? Date night is about making the same effort you made when you were falling in love to connect with each other, and making the effort consistently. It may seem like it takes more effort now than it did then. But believe me, your efforts will pay off. There are times in every relationship when partners need to be reminded why they fell in love, and date nights help to keep that memory fresh.

Not everyone can jet-set to New York to see a Broadway play on date night, but do make an effort to add variety to your dates. Do more than the traditional dinner and a movie; incorporate activities where you will truly connect and add elements of surprise. Whatever you do, take a tip from the President and designate one night a week “date night." This President is showing us that he knows how to run more than just a country, he is giving us a model of how to sustain love. In matters of love, this is definitely a leader to follow.

[Diana Daffner]

Scheduling weekly date nights is indeed so important. It puts our most-important relationship onto our agenda. In my new book on tantric sex, I even encourage a DAILY time together - if only for ten minutes a day!

[Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist]

For ideas for a fun evening out, read the article "Fun Ideas for A Couples Evening Out."