You work, he works. Come end of day, you’re both exhausted; come weekends, there’s always so much to check off the to-do list. How do you find some quality “us” time in the mix of it all? Bring the fun and romance without the cloying try-hard: Play hookie from your job. (OK, OK: You can also play by the rules, and book it off officially.) Point is, if you work and he works, work a little less once in a while, and work a little harder on yourselves as a couple. Here are four suggestions for making your un-workday count.
Book It in Your Calendars
Pre-schedule a date that works for both of you. If this is by the book, you won’t have to hide what you guys are doing, and you’ll actually be able to enjoy your time together as opposed to being distracted by work phone calls and emails. If it’s hookie, well, you’re on your own — but together. Basically, having a set date will make sure that neither of you disappoints the other with an eleventh-hour “Whoops, I forgot that I was supposed to…” It will also give you both time to pre-plan and look forward to the big day. You’ve gotta love the butterflies that come along with anticipation.
Be Open-Minded
Instead of doing something typical, use this day to do something fun/offbeat. Go on a mini road trip: hit the cottage, or a casino, or an amusement park. The who/what/where/why/when/how options are endless. Just ask yourself what you really want to do, and make it happen. My fave date (with an ex) involved me waking up one morning saying I wanted to ride a Ferris wheel and see fireworks, and him Googling a solution. Magic.
Boozy Brunch
Drinking during the day during the workweek: yeah, kind of risqué and likely isn’t the norm. So, do it. Find a spot that serves a weekday brunch and order a bottle of something pricey, or indulge in a few Mimosas or Caesars. You’ll need to walk back home after this date, so stroll down the street arm in arm and hit some stores. Knowing you’re both under the influence in the daytime is like a little secret between the two of you, and with it comes a feeling of playfulness.
Just Be
There’s something intimate about silence. Perhaps it’s being aware of the fact that you feel such comfort with one another that you don’t need to speak. Why not make a cameo at a café clad with books or a newspaper? Be in one another’s company with no place to go and nowhere to be, and enjoy being in the moment without trying to make conversation, without complaining, without any intention other than just to take in the comfort of silence. (No, you don’t have to drink to have fun. Simply, it’s fun breaking the rules sometimes. Do whatever you’re comfortable with, and make fun the only priority.)
