Did you know that seeking out and committing to more romantic relationships during the cold fall and winter months is a scientifically-backed phenomenon? This relationship-heavy period is referred to as Cuffing Season. "Cuffing season stems from a biological need to survive. Thinking back to the caveman days and Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest, men and women literally had to match up to survive the colder months," matchmaker Caitlin Bergstein reveals to Business Insider.
Another explanation is that a lack of sunlight during these months can lead to more significant anxiety and depression levels -- or even a clinical diagnosis, like seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Vice and Science Direct suggests that people seek out relationships to help combat blues and depression.
Of course, that leaves many wondering whether their relationship can be chalked up entirely to Cuffing Season or whether it has true lasting potential. If your relationship is bringing you happiness and you want it to last well into spring, there are some things you can do to up your chances of success. Keep it fresh. Keep dating. Here are a few wintertime date night ideas to get you started.
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Have a Make-Your-Own Pizza and Drinks Night
There are few things in life better than pizza and beer. Run with that. One of the best wintertime date night ideas is also one that you can tackle entirely from home. A make-your-own pizza and drinks night requires just a quick trip to the store, and that's it. For the best experience:
- Get creative. If you're more of a pepperoni and cheese person, use this as an opportunity to branch out. Make multiple pizzas. Couples who really want to go all out, put together mini pizzas to make room for more varieties. Go ahead -- make your favourite -- but consider purchasing other ingredients and getting a bit creative as well.Set up several small bowls with different ingredients. Roll out the dough, choose your sauce, and then top with your preferred ingredients. The possibilities are endless. Make meat lovers pizza, veggie lovers pizza, or see what different types of gourmet pizzas you can come up with. Try Buffalo chicken pizza, BBQ chicken pizza, pizza topped with fresh mozzarella and prosciutto, or pizza with pesto, artichokes, and olives.Look up several cocktail recipes to try. Try out whatever cocktails seem most appealing to you, or ask you're significant other to make you a "mystery cocktail" and try to guess the ingredients that went into it.
Keep it fun. The idea is to keep it light-hearted. Don't take things too seriously. If your significant other wants to create several mini pizzas, roll out their dough into the shape of a heart, or taste test several different cocktails or beer cocktails, go along with it. Play music. Dance. Have fun.
Don't forget the small details. Whether you will be making traditional cocktails or beer cocktails, many recipes require ice or shaking up ingredients in a chilled mixer. That means you need ice. If you forgot to make ice cubes ahead of time, don't fret. Run out for bagged ice cubes shortly before your date. Make sure you have any other necessary items on hand. Purchase plates and utensils, napkins, parmesan cheese, and red pepper flakes in preparation for your pizza and drinks date.
Wintertime date night ideas need not be overly complicated. Keep it simple, and stick to something everyone will enjoy with a make-your-own pizza and drinks date night.
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Go On a Road Trip to a Scenic Park
What if an idyllic date required only making sure you have a full tank of gas and an ongoing relationship with a reliable car insurance service?
Going on a road trip can be the perfect way to bond with your significant other. Ensure your car is up-to-date on its insurance, inspection, and registration, get a full tank of gas and hit the road!
Here are some tips to make sure your couples' road trip goes off without a hitch.
- Plan for the essentials. For the sake of romance, it is best not to over plan wintertime date night ideas. That being said, some preparation goes a long way. Make sure to pack the essentials. In addition to your bags, you will need sunglasses, hand sanitiser, water, a first aid kit, bug spray, sunscreen, extra chargers for your electronics, a flashlight, blanket, and some cash.Fight off hunger by packing plenty of snacks. Pack crackers, chips, pretzels, granola bars, candy bars, dried fruits, and/or nuts. If you have a more relaxed, consider bringing along hard-boiled eggs, cheese, deli meats, fruits, veggies, sausage rolls, or sandwiches.Make a rough plan -- at least enough to know where you will stop for gas or go to the bathroom in between stops if need be. Use an app, GPS, and/or physical map to get your bearings.
- Learn about each other. What road trip games did your partner play as a child or young adult? If you do not know the answer to that question, now is the perfect time to find out. Ask what games they have played to pass the time during memorable car trips, and recreate these memories by playing them together.If you exhaust those, play road trip games for couples. Play "Would You Rather?" with your significant other or ask them to play 21 Questions and keep the people, places, and things you choose relevant to your relationship.Simply pose questions to one another to keep the conversation going. Try for a combination of serious and not-so-serious problems, like "What is your favourite memory?", "If you could know when you will die, would you want to know? Why or why not?", and "If you could live in any fictional world, what would it be?"
Keep it spontaneous. Sometimes, the best wintertime date night ideas are the most spontaneous ones. If something catches your eye on the trip, pull over and explore. Ask your partner to choose a destination, guide you or put the address only in the GPS, and give you hints about where you will be going along the way.
Make romantic pit stops. Plan ahead for some romance. Make sure there are some places along the way to share a romantic walk or picnic. Order takeout from one of your favourite restaurants, or keep an eye out for safe outdoor seating.
Handcraft Valentine Cards and Gifts
For many couples, one of the main barriers to enjoying holidays like Valentine's Day is the cost -- and it's no wonder. According to CNBC, men shell out an average of $249 on their romantic partners just to celebrate Valentine's Day. Generally speaking, couples plan to spend 32% more than last year.
Stop the insanity. Instead of making Valentine's Day about elaborate gifts or spending ever-increasing amounts of money, sit down and talk about focusing on the romance instead. This may mean devoting time to grand, affectionate gestures, handmade gifts, and spending time reminiscing about -- and possibly even recreating -- some of your favourite memories as a couple so far.
Keep homemade gifts as personal and meaningful as possible. For example, order custom stamps displaying the return address of your first apartment or home together. If your significant other has an unusual and distinctive hobby, make gifts that help them celebrate that hobby -- whatever it may be. If your significant other is into rock climbing, for example, make them their own custom chalk bag. For a romantic partner who enjoys writing or journaling, decorate a plain notebook. If your partner is excited about their new soap making equipment, find, thrift, or make unique moulds for their soaps. Purchase inexpensive dried fruits, dried flowers, and dried herbs to help them spruce things up. Instead of purchasing them, grow and dry out flowers and herbs if you are so inclined.
Make your card by hand as well. Use cardstock, stencils, or craft scissors to easily make your card stand out. Include a photo or two of a special occasion for bonus points.
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Make Yummy S'mores Over A Fire
There are few things more romantic than snuggling up next to a fire. Why not make a night out of it? One of the most unique wintertime date night ideas is to spend some time cuddled up next to an outdoor fireplace or firepit. Make it even more memorable by roasting marshmallows or s'mores or even whipping up your favourite campfire treats, like a Caramel Apple Pudgy Pie. Put two slices of white bread into a sandwich press, top the bread with apple pie filling, cinnamon, and caramel syrup. Close the sandwich press, hold the media over the fire, and wait a few minutes for your perfect firepit dessert to cook through.
Spruce up plain, ol' s'mores with Reese's peanut butter cups, candy bar pieces, or fresh fruit, like banana and strawberry slices.
Whatever way you choose to go, make sure you are prepared. Look for firewood for sale well in advance, and have the firewood ready to go.
A cosy night by the fire can be incredibly cathartic during these times. For those working long shifts, like employees at a travel nursing company, relaxed and laidback wintertime date night ideas are perfect.
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Build a Fort For a Movie Night In The Living Room
Unleash your inner child. As children, just about all of us built a fort out of blankets, pillows, and whatever else we could find laying around. Make new fort-building memories, and do it with one of your favourite people: your significant other.
Plus, now you are old enough to step up your game. Go ahead and use everything at your disposal. Add living room couches, love seats, and chairs to the mix. As an adult, you should have a firmer grasp on anchoring and stabilising your fort.
Once your fort is complete, lay down several blankets and/or a sleeping pad (like the one you would use while camping), and crawl into your fort with snacks, laptops, or an iPad. Watch your favourite TV shows or movies inside the fort while curled up with your significant other.
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Spend a Day On the Slopes
Do not confine your wintertime date night ideas to the indoors. Consider your options for outdoor activities as well. For example, winter is the best time to dig through garage storage cabinets and find your trusty skiing gear. Invite your partner to join you for a day out on the slopes.
Spend your day skiing together, sip hot chocolate or mulled wine back at the lodge, and conclude the evening with a romantic dinner. Find a restaurant that is following safety guidelines or order takeout to enjoy in your room.
Chances are, the nearest ski lodge will be a bit of a drive. Follow the wintertime date night ideas related to long road trips to bond during the campaign.
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Try A New Local Restaurant
Once again, wintertime date night ideas do not need to be complicated. If you are stumped, keep it simple. Stick to tried and true date night ideas. For example, just about everyone enjoys trying out a new restaurant. Find out some of your partner's favourite types of foods, and go from there.
For example, if your significant other prefers Indian food, Italian food, or sushi, lookout for new restaurants in your area specialising in these types of foods. When you find one with good reviews, jump on it and treat your significant other to the new, local sushi restaurant, for example.
Order food to go, or look for places with distanced outdoor seating. Read Yelp, Google, and/or Tripadvisor reviews to understand how the food and service will be at a relatively new restaurant.
Do you want your relationship to last through Cuffing Season and for the foreseeable future? Go the distance by keeping the spark alive. Use the wintertime date night ideas above to mix it up and continually romance your partner.
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