Experts Say These Kinds Of Dates Are Best For Beating The Winter Blues

When you think of winter, you probably imagine curling up under a blanket, hot chocolate in hand, a shamelessly cheesy movie playing on your TV, and the snow peacefully falling outside. Right? Thought so.

While that whole scene is nice and all, it makes for a repetitive and expected date night. Especially during cuffing season—when the craving for stability is typically at a high—falling into a classic rut during the colder months is easier than ever.

But, this season actually births an entirely new genre of fun dates to experiment with. "During the winter, there’s more accouterment, there’s more gear, more stuff to do, more interesting ways to find out if you are compatible," says Maryanne Comaroto, PhD and founder of Queen of Jungle. Lean into the season to increase emotional intimacy with your S.O. and even put your relationship to the test. "When we do things together in relationships, we’re happy, we’re healthier," Comaroto adds.

If your relationship is fresh, Comaroto advises stepping away from the electronics and focusing on activities you can do side by side, such as hiking, ice skating, or working out. And if you've been in a relationship for a while, Comaroto recommends breaking out of the cycle. Vow to do something you've never done together before.

Mixing things up and breaking routine every now and then can bring new excitement to a relationship. "...Just like we have and enjoy our favorite ice cream flavors, our brains like novelty so that we don’t get bored with the predictability or what might feel like the mechanics or 'stuckness' of the same old same old," says Megan Fleming, PhD, clinical psychologist.

As for the approach, Fleming recommends trying a new activity more than once. "When it comes to trying new things, my suggestion is to try, try, again because the first time we do anything new, we are [spectating]. Observing what we are thinking and feeling and imagining what our partner is thinking and feeling versus being in the moment," she says. "Trying several times allows you the time to relax into something to see if it’s a new favorite."

Wherever your relationship is at, take advantage of winter’s amazing date opportunities with this expert-approved guide. Feel closer (both literally and figuratively) than ever to your special someone this season.