Over 100 Questions to Ask a Girl You Have a Crush On
Okay, so you have a crush. Awesome. Now, what questions to ask a girl to encourage her to like you back? Breaking the ice can be tough but when you ask a girl fun questions, you can start to bridge the gap between like and love. Interesting questions can be great conversation starters whether you’re chatting online or on your first date. (Even a well timed silly question can really get the conversation flowing.) As your relationship progresses, you can move from fun questions to deep questions and learn all sorts of interesting answers about each other. RELATED: How To Handle Emotional Cheating In A RelationshipRead on for some great ideas of questions to ask a girl you like. Questions to Ask a Girl (Photo by Mitch Walker on Unsplash)Below are over 100 questions to ask a girl you have a crush on to get the ball rolling on your relationship. Start with some fun questions and then move on to deeper questions as you get to know each other better. Flirty questionsWhat’s the worst pickup line someone has ever used on you?Do you believe in love at first sight?What would your best friend think about me?What is your ideal boyfriend like?RELATED: How to End a Relationship: A 5-Step Guide to Breaking up and Letting GoWhat’s the hottest thing a guy can do or say?What’s your favorite thing for a guy to wear?What do you think is the sexiest thing about you?What’s your biggest turn on?What’s your biggest turn off?Hobbies and fun questionsWhat do you like to do for fun?What’s your best skill?What hobby or skill would you like to learn or get better at?What hobby have you tried that you totally suck at?Do you prefer to do things outdoors or indoors?Do you like to do hobbies with other people or by yourself?Have you ever tried a new hobby or activity for an ex-boyfriend?How much time do you typically devote to hobbies and leisure time?What TV show are you binging right now?What’s your idea of a perfect day?What hobby have you tried that you hated and will never do again?Do you like sporty hobbies or crafty hobbies?Favorite things questionsWhat’s your favorite dish to cook (or eat)?What’s your favorite memory?What is your favorite movie?What’s your favorite song?What’s your favorite place to travel to?What’s your favorite place that you’ve lived?RELATED: 7 Deep Questions Every Woman Must Ask Her Romantic Partner – And What The Answers MeanWhat’s your favorite book?What’s your favorite color?Who is your favorite person?Who is your favorite fictional character?What’s your favorite candy?What’s your favorite sport?Who’s your favorite Disney princess?What’s your favorite smell or scent?What’s your favorite holiday?What’s your favorite season?Silly or random questions(Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash)If you could have a super power what would it be?What’s the silliest joke you’ve ever heard?What’s the best practical joke you’ve ever pulled on someone?If you could pick any animal to have for a pet what would it be?Do you read your horoscope or believe in astrology?Have you ever gone to a psychic?What would you like to be reincarnated as?Would you rather questionsWould you rather stay up all night playing video games or watching movies?Would you rather go out on Friday nights or stay in?Would you rather have a ton of acquaintances or one super close best friend?Would you rather lose your sense of hearing or your sense of smell?RELATED: 5 Ways to Know You’ve Found the Right Partner — and 5 Things to Do If You Haven’tWould you rather be able to fly or be able to breathe underwater?Would you rather retire early or work only four days a week?Would you rather be able to go back in time or see the future?Would you rather eat cake or pie?Relationships questionsWhat are your top relationship goals?What are you looking for in a romantic partner?Do you believe that two people can stay together for the rest of their lives?What’s the worst thing that’s happened to you in a relationship?Do you believe in soul mates?Have you ever been in love?Have you ever said “I love you” to someone?What are your relationships with your exes like?Why do you think your past relationships never worked out?Family questions(Photo by Jarritos Mexican Soda on Unsplash)How would you describe your family?How important is family in your life?Does your family have a nickname for you?What’s your most interesting story about your family?What are your relationships with your parents like?If you have siblings, what are your relationships with them like?What do you love most about your family?What annoys you most about your family?What is your favorite family tradition?Who is your favorite person in your family?Who’s the weirdest person in your family?Who do you turn to in your family for advice?How does your family celebrate holidays and milestones?Are you interested in having kids someday?What are your top three goals for your future family?Work and career questionsWhat do you like about your current job?What’s the most frustrating part about your current job?Where do you see your career in five years?What would your dream job be?What do you think is a healthy work life balance?If you didn’t have to work what would you do instead?Have you ever pulled an all nighter for work?What would your younger self think about your job?RELATED: The 5 Love Languages, How Do You Speak Them – And Which One Is Right for You?What do your parents think about the career path you’ve chosen?Do you ever wish you went into a different industry or down another career path?Would you ever go back to school or change careers?If you could start your own company what would it be?Childhood questions(Photo by Wiktor Karkocha on Unsplash)What was your most embarrassing moment from when you were a kid?Who was your celebrity crush growing up?What’s the weirdest thing you used to do as a kid?What’s your first memory?What kinds of things did you like to do when you were a kid?How has your personality changed or evolved since you were younger?What advice would you give to your younger self?What was your favorite cartoon as a kid?Did you have a favorite stuffed animal?Are you still close with any of your childhood friends?What was your favorite year of school growing up?Who was your favorite teacher?Have you ever broken a bone?Friendship questionsWhat role do your friends play in your life?Who do you usually hang out with?What would your friends say your best quality is?How did you meet your best friend?What defines a good friend in your opinion?Have you ever broken up with a friend?What’s the biggest fight you’ve ever had with a friend?What would you tell your friends about me so far?What’s the most annoying thing a friend can do?When have your friends helped you get through rough times?What is your role in your friend group?Deep and personal questions What’s the biggest lesson life has taught you so far?What has been the happiest moment in your life so far?What has been the hardest moment in your life so far?If you could bring someone back from the dead, who would it be?Who is the most important person in your entire life right now?What’s your biggest regret?What’s your biggest fear?What do you love most about yourself?What are you most insecure about?What do you worry about?If you had one day left to live, what would you do?If you could choose how you die, what would you pick?Ask a Girl the Right Questions(Photo by DocuSign on Unsplash)When it comes to determining what questions to ask a girl, always go with your gut. Great conversation comes from being an active listener and really tuning into the person you’re talking to. Remember that interesting conversation ultimately comes from your engagement. When you speak from the heart, you’ll be on the right track. (Now you know what questions to ask a girl, take a look at these questions to ask a guy for more conversation inspiration.)KEEP READING:Why Handling Reactivity Is Essential For Healthy Romance
Weight Loss Motivation Tips to Keep Your Lifestyle Goals on Track
Making a lifestyle change is hard work. You often need to override your current habits, get out of your comfort zone and develop new routines. Finding the motivation you need to achieve success isn’t easy. And staying motivated over the long term to hit your goal weight can be just as tough.When it comes to weight loss, so many factors are at play when it comes to sustaining motivation as well as weight loss maintenance. You may be cutting calories, adopting healthy eating, starting an exercise routine and dealing with comments from family members or friends about your new choices, not to mention dealing with everything else in your life. But how to get motivated to lose weight and to keep it off, you may need to adopt new ways of thinking and healthy food intake habits to keep you on track. Here’s what you should know about the (perfectly normal!) struggles many people have when it comes to losing weight, as well as some tested tips for regaining your focus. You can do this! Losing weight: Common strugglesWhether you’re starting an official program or navigating this journey on your own, you may find yourself having a hard time keeping up with your newfound weight loss goal. There are a few reasons you might struggle, even if you’re far along in your weight loss plan and have seen success so far. Maintaining motivation over time takes mental focus and hard work (not to mention a healthy meal or two!)Here are three common weight loss motivation struggles: Focusing too much on on external motivationIf your focus for losing weight is to please other people, or fit into societal standards about what the ideal body should look like, you will likely lose your motivation to continue on your weight loss journey. Why? Because extrinsic motivation—motivation that’s fueled by external accolades and pressure—isn’t as sustainable as intrinsic motivation—the motivation you find within yourself.Extrinsic motivation is categorized by two things. First, there’s avoiding the guilt of not meeting other people’s (or society’s) standards. Then, there’s people pleasing, the desire to win approval from other people. While extrinsic motivation can work well in the beginning, giving you a jumpstart into a new, healthy lifestyle, it won’t allow you to keep up with your weight loss goals over time. Letting your stress go uncheckedLosing weight is sometimes quite a difficult endeavour to undertake. Yet, life still goes on even when you’re working toward this big goal. It’s important to find ways to deal with the stress of everyday life while you’re working on weight loss. Even if this means having to scale back on your exercise so that you can take your dog for a walk and get fresh air, grabbing coffee with a friend so you can get some necessary social time in, or even meeting with your therapist to help manage your stress. (Srdjanns74 / Getty)Too much stress can wreak havoc on your mind and your body. When your body is stressed, the hormone cortisol shoots up. Chronic stress (and that cortisol release) has been linked to increased appetite and weight gain. It can also make you tired, which leads to less energy to work out and a lowered ability to maintain willpower when it comes to keeping up with your healthy habits. Having a perfectionist mindsetWeight loss—like any lifestyle change—is about persistence over perfection. If you’re beating yourself up over every missed workout, every unhealthy snack or every pound gained instead of lost, you’re going to burn out quickly. It’s impossible to maintain perfection when you’re dedicated to weight loss —you’re only human, after all. Operating from an all-or-nothing mentality with lots of restrictions built in (like off-limits foods) can lead you to binging or even giving up entirely. Focus on your journey as a whole, not on every little choice you make having to be perfect. How to stay motivated in your weight loss programStaying in tune with yourself is the best way to maintain weight loss motivation over time. First, harness your inner confidence and autonomy. As mentioned, intrinsic motivation, which comes from within you, is far more likely to help you in accomplishing long term weight loss. Relying on, and pleasing, yourself is far more motivating than losing weight simply to please others or fit in. Just as it is with the American singers Lizzo, weight loss, and Doja Cat's weight loss, body positivity can be a good thing, but not if you’re doing it for the wrong reasons. Accepting yourself as you are outside of how others perceive the way you look is sometimes the better long-term option. (Getty)Check in with yourself periodically about your weight loss goals and intentions. Tuning in to how you are feeling, where your stress levels are at and how you can best work to take care of yourself will be far more motivating than any outside force. When you treat yourself and your body with respect and kindness, you will believe that you are worth doing anything you set your mind to. Tips for staying motivated to lose weightIn addition to finding intrinsic motivation, there are a number of ways you can help inspire yourself to stay motivated. While some of the ideas on this list may seem extrinsic (like enlisting an accountability partner to help motivate you to lose weight), when the ideas come from a place of self worth and self actualization, these outside forces fulfill your goals and desires, not other people’s. Use the tips below as a jumping off point for developing the practices that will help you stay motivated to lose weight. Some of them will speak to you while others won’t fit with your weight loss journey or goals. That’s okay. By curating your own unique motivation techniques, you’ll be successful on your own terms. Set achievable goalsKeep the focus on progress, not perfection. Set a weight loss goal for yourself that you know you can achieve rather than a too-lofty benchmark that you may not be able to meet. This way, when you accomplish your goal, you can feel a sense of pride that will motivate you to keep going. Smallering milestones to meet will create sustainable motivation to keep you moving in the right direction.Zero in your “why”Determine why you really want to lose weight. If you’re focused on meeting societal standards and pleasing your partner (or other family members), remember that these “whys” are based on extrinsic motivation, which won’t be sustainable. Think about what weight loss will bring to your life: Will you be able to stop taking certain medications? Reduce your risk of certain diseases or conditions? Have more energy to do the things you love? Feel more comfortable within your body? Whatever your why is, identify it and keep it top of mind. Build your confidenceIf you’re having a hard time finding the internal motivation you need to keep going with your weight loss goals, work on building your confidence and loving yourself as is, right now. Losing weight is an important, sometimes life-saving, goal. But accepting yourself for who you are, at any size, gives you the necessary inner strength to believe that you are worthy and enough to make changes that will benefit you. Create a vision boardHaving a visual of what your weight loss will bring to your life can inspire you to keep going. Maybe it’s a picture of your kids taped to your exercise bike. Maybe it’s a screensaver of an adventurous destination you want to travel to on your computer. A visual reminder of your why that’s rooted in what motivates you from within can keep you focused on your weight loss goals. Conversely, photos of super skinny models will only make you feel ashamed and unworthy—don’t surround yourself with unrealistic images of beauty and societal standards that nobody can meet without the help of photoshop and filters. Tackle your emotional hurdlesWhat’s stopping you from becoming your best self? Typically when people begin any kind of transformational journey, including a weight loss program, intrusive thoughts and feelings can come up. Sometimes these are voices from people in our past, emotional pain from not-so-great memories and other trauma you may have faced. Give yourself the time and space to work through any issues that arise, enlisting a therapist if you need additional, professional guidance. Keep a journalDocumenting your weight loss journey can be motivating so you can see how far you’ve come. This isn’t a food diary where you write down everything you eat, which usually just makes people feel anxious and guilty. (Ranta Images / Getty)This is more of an emotional diary where you can track how you’re feeling about your weight loss, how you’re maintaining motivation, what’s been hard or easy for you and so on. Being able to write down your thoughts and feelings can relieve stress and serve as a reminder for your future self about where you were in different stages of your weight loss journey. Clean out your fridgeTypically, eating healthy is one of the main weight loss goals people have. One easy way to accomplish this is to clear out any foods that don’t fit with your new lifestyle from your fridge and your pantry. This doesn’t mean that you have to purge everything with sugar or fat. But you can think about what foods are worth indulging in and which ones just aren’t. Maybe you keep your favorite candy on hand as a treat but you toss the (already stale) cookies that you don’t love quite as much. Stocking your home with nutrient-rich foods that you actually like to eat will help you maintain your weight loss motivation. You have to make room for those items. Clear out your closetIt may seem counterintuitive to suggest that you give away any clothing that doesn’t fit you—especially clothes you’ve been saving to wear until after you’ve lost weight. However, when you see these items hanging lifelessly in your closet, they tend to not be very motivating. They just take up space. Instead, donate anything that doesn’t fit you right now and create a wardrobe of items that you feel confident in. Chances are the items you’ve been saving are old and out of style anyway. Feeling good in your body, right now, is better motivation than seeing clothes you can’t fit into—especially if you feel guilty or ashamed because your body isn’t ready for them quite yet. Track your progressFind a way to track your weight loss to help you stay motivated. Some people take a photo each day, do weekly weigh-ins, vlog about their progress—do whatever works for you to have a tangible record of your actual weight loss. (Zinkevych / Getty)This helps you see how far you’ve come, which is motivation to keep going. Do a social media purgeTake stock of your social media feeds and determine if the accounts you follow are helpful, or decidedly not helpful, as you work to lose weight. Follow any unmotivating or toxic accounts—especially any accounts that make you feel bad about yourself physically or mentally. Feel free to block or unfollow toxic people (even people you know in real life). Fill your feed with inspirational people and accounts that encourage you to keep going, make you laugh and help you de-stress in general. You can also limit your time on social media and work toward connecting with loved ones directly. Move your body every dayDo some form of physical activity. Even just five minutes of exercise can boost your heart rate–and your mood. While dietary changes are typically what help people lose weight, moving your body in some way can contribute to weight loss as well. (Prostock-Studio / Getty)Find an exercise routine or workout that you actually enjoy and stick to it. Whether you walk outside, do yoga or crush hardcore weight classes at the gym, exercise can make you feel good inside and out. Find an accountability partnerIs there someone in your life who you can talk to about wanting to lose weight? Someone who you can turn to when you’re feeling your motivation wane? Someone who will check in with you and keep your spirits high? Think about who this person could be: Your partner, a friend, a parent. This person can hold you accountable to your goals and give you the push you need to keep going when you feel discouraged. Be competitiveIf you’re the type of person who thrives in the face of a challenge or friendly competition, enlist a buddy to compete with you, in a healthy way, with your weight loss. You can encourage each other to hit a certain goal by a certain date, compete in how many workouts you can complete in a month or train together for a big competitive event, like a 5K or a marathon. If competition lights a fire under you, it can be a fun way to keep motivated. Work on your self talkThe voice in your head could be your best friend—or your worst enemy. Start being aware of how you talk to yourself when you’re doing what you’d consider a “good job” losing weight. Do you give yourself the credit you deserve or do you downplay your milestones? Also pay attention to how you talk to yourself when your motivation wanes or you do something that’s not in line with your exercise, food or health goals. Do you beat yourself up about it or accept that you’ll make mistakes and gently prod yourself to get back on track? Your inner advocate (or critic) can either inspire you to keep going or hold you back from truly feeling like you’ve accomplished your goals. Reward your milestonesWeight loss journeys need to include rewards for yourself. Make a plan for how you’ll give yourself those rewards, and you’ll contribute a lot towards your personal weight loss success.Give yourself a budget for something fun you can do for yourself, like getting a massage, buying a new outfit or treating yourself to a fancy dinner at your favorite restaurant. (wundervisuals / Getty)Determine when you will get your rewards—is it after losing a certain amount of weight? After a month of sticking with your plan? Figure out how you will measure success and give yourself the credit you deserve by rewarding your hard work. This will help you stay motivated to get the next reward—and the next on, and the next one and so on. Don’t be too hard on yourselfLosing weight is a journey, not a quick fix. Not only is it hard to lose weight, but it’s hard to stick to a diet perfectly and maintain an exercise routine, as well as simply live your life. Weight loss doesn’t happen overnight and you don’t automatically become a totally different person when you start losing weight. You’ll still have insecurities. You’ll still have stress. So be sure that you’re not being too hard on yourself if you’re not changing quickly enough or you feel like you’re not making enough progress with your weight or in other areas of your life. Weight loss takes timeGive yourself the time and space to make the necessary lifestyle changes you need to make in order to be successful in losing weight. It may take years to adapt to a new lifestyle, especially if this includes new ways of eating and moving that don’t come naturally to you. Staying motivated over the long term comes from within: You have to believe that you can do this over the long haul and that means having the confidence to know that these incremental changes will add up over time.(Inside Creative House / Getty)Dig deep into yourself for that intrinsic motivation, knowing that you are worth the time and effort it will take to ultimately lose weight and make your new lifestyle stick. As your confidence builds and you see results, you’ll be inspired to keep becoming the person you were always meant to be.
25+ Fun Date Night Ideas for Every Relationship
The old dinner-and-a-movie may be a classic, but it’s not exactly breaking new ground when it comes to fun date night ideas. So why not mix things up with some new activities?RELATED: Best Dating Quotes to Keep You Motivated in Your Search for LoveThe following cute date ideas and first-date tips are divided into categories to help you figure out the perfect excursion for you and your main squeeze (or potential partner). Whether you’re going on a first date, or your 50th, these fun date ideas will surely inspire your next romantic outing!Cute Date Ideas for a First Date Photo by Felipe Bustillo on UnsplashAh, your first date. Such a milestone, right? When choosing the first activity you’ll do together while getting to know each other, consider the following: First, you want the conversation to flow, so it’s important to go where there’s enough distraction to keep you talking. In short, finding a place with lots of stimuli is key. RELATED: Do the 36 Questions That Lead to Love Really Work?Second, you don’t want to accidentally drink too much alcohol because you’re nervous. So, it’s a good rule of thumb to steer clear of bars on a first date. And, finally, it’s always best to meet in a public place for safety and to give you an easy out if the date is not going great.Got all that? The following first date ideas fit all of this criteria and more for making this initial activity together a success. Get CoffeePhoto by Good Faces on UnsplashBy far the most popular first-date idea, grabbing something at a coffee shop is a low-stakes way to get to know someone. If you hit it off, you can continue getting to know each other by taking a walk, window shopping or getting a meal together. If you don’t quite click, no biggie. After finishing your beverages, simply go your separate ways. Walk Your DogsPhoto by Kate Wallace on Unsplash Not only is this a great (and cheap) date idea, it’s also super-cute. Plus, it’s the perfect way to see if your furry friends hit it off, too. Don’t have dogs? Why not visit an animal shelter and give some lonely pooches a little love? You’ll get to see each other’s softer sides, and do something nice for animals in need. Play Games at an ArcadePhoto by cottonbro from PexelThis first-date idea is interactive, fun and casual, making it an ideal choice for people just getting to know each other. An arcade isn’t super-romantic, but it can get cozy when you’re standing shoulder-to-shoulder, battling each other in a fighting game. Plus, a little healthy competition can be a good ice-breaker. Take a Trip to the Farmer’s MarketPhoto by Nana Lapushkina from PexelsMeeting up at your local farmer’s market is a great way to get to know each other’s culinary tastes, and to make easy conversation. If your outing turns romantic, you can even feed each other produce samples, making this the perfect date to help you segue into the second date. Browse Your Local BookstorePhoto by Budgeron Bach from PexelsIf you’re both into reading, what could be more fun than swapping literary tastes at your local bookstore? You can read each other passages from your favorite books, talk about favorite authors and, perhaps, even pick out a book for the other to read before your next date. Fun Date Night IdeasPhoto by Matheus Bertelli from PexelsIf you’re looking for a little adventure, the following fun and creative date night ideas focus on activities and experiences that can really bring a couple together. Doing new things, together, is a great way to bond. Some research even shows that having novel experiences together can strengthen a relationship. RELATED: How to Maintain a Long-Distance RelationshipSo, jump into the favorite date night ideas and get ready to laugh, play and move out of your respective comfort zones. Take a Painting ClassPhoto by ANTONI SHKRABA from PexelsLook for a local painting class (or a painting and wine class) where you and your date can channel your inner artists. You don’t need to consider yourself creative to take an art class. In fact, it may be more fun if neither of you has any natural talent.At the end, swap paintings so you can each take the other’s home with you. Do Something Thrill-SeekingPhoto by Doruk Yemenici on UnsplashTrapeze lessons, bungee jumping, braving the rides at a local carnival — there are a number of ways to get your adrenaline pumping together. Thrill-seeking together is a fun way to bring you closer and have an experience you can look back on for years to come. Go to a Sports EventIf you prefer spectating, get tickets for a local sporting event. You can root for your team, share some stadium food and spend time together as sports fans. If you don’t have a professional team in your area, college sports are sometimes even more fun to watch. Sing KaraokePhoto by Daniil Onischenko on UnsplashFind a local karaoke bar, and make a night of it. If you’re feeling brave, sign yourselves up for a song or two. Or, just watch and cheer on the locals belting out their favorite tunes. Either way, you’ll have a blast. Do a Winery or Brewery TourPhoto by Kym Ellis on UnsplashTaking a tour of a winery or brewery gives you all the fun of a bar experience with a little more novelty. Even if you know nothing about beer or wine, you’ll still have a good time trying different options. You might even learn a thing or two about the varieties you sip. You can also recreate this date at home by buying different types of beer or wine and doing your own tastings. Visit a Theme ParkPhoto by João Rabelo from PexelsChannel your inner child by heading to a theme park. Ride the rides, see the sights, and watch the fireworks. Find that sense of wonder together, and you’ll see a new side of yourself and of your partner. Romantic Date IdeasPhoto by Jonathan Borba on UnsplashIf you’re looking for more romantic date night ideas, the following options are meant to be a little more private and personal. Making special time for you and your other half can give your relationship a needed boost or help you celebrate a milestone. Go to the Drive-inPhoto by Jona on UnsplashWhether you love comedies, dramas or horror, seeing a film at the drive-in is definitely more romantic than being squashed between strangers in a traditional theater. You can bring your own snacks, blankets and drinks to customize your date, and cuddle up together in the relative privacy of your car. Take a Cooking ClassPhoto by AllGo on UnsplashCooking together can be very romantic. However, you might not know where to start, or have the skills needed to pull off a delicious meal at home. That’s why taking a cooking class can be romantic and practical at the same time. After learning how to cook a few dishes, you can then recreate your meal at home for your anniversary or Valentine’s Day, if you choose. However, if cooking doesn’t interest you, dance classes are another fun and romantic way to learn a new skill and spend some special time together. Go to a ConcertPhoto by Thibault Trillet from PexelsChoose a band or solo act that’s special to you both, and book tickets. Being able to look forward to a date builds anticipation. The night of the show, you can dress up, get dinner and make a whole celebration out of it. Pack a PicnicPhoto by Subodh Bajpai from PexelsGoing on a picnic is always a cute date idea. It’s low-key, it’s easy and super-romantic. Either do it yourself at home, then pack food for your excursion, or else order food you can take to-go. Then, choose a spot with beautiful views, or good people-watching, that’s secluded enough so you can feel a bit removed from the action. Finally, enjoy your spread — and time with each other.Go on a StaycationPhoto by Andrea Piacquadio from PexelsGet a break from your everyday life and book a night at a posh local hotel. Sit by the pool, order room service, and act like a tourist for 24 hours. This is a great idea for an anniversary or birthday to celebrate you and your partner with a bigger date activity. Go Camping Photo by cottonbro from PexelsIf you prefer the great outdoors over a luxury hotel, try camping for a night or two. You’ll need to work together to put up the tent, build a fire and make meals. Then you can spend the night cuddling for warmth. Bonus points for bringing an astronomy book so you can star gaze and pick out the constellations together. Daytime Date IdeasPhoto by Budgeron Bach from PexelsWhile we often think of dates as nighttime activities, there are a number of fun things you can do during the day that can have romantic potential. RELATED: Boost Your Shot at Intimacy With This Psychological Love Eye TrickThe following date ideas are great ways to take advantage of daytime hours, and can add some variety to your life. Have BrunchPhoto by Colin Michel on UnsplashDinner dates may be the go-to for couples, but brunch dates are highly underrated. Start your day with breakfast (and mimosas, if you’re feeling extra fancy), and then you can chill the rest of the day (and night). Breakfast in bed is another great option if you don't feel like getting out of your pajamas. Take a Hike Photo by Yaroslav Shuraev from PexelsNot only does this count as one of the best cheap date ideas, getting outside with your partner (and working up a sweat in nature) is healthy, too! Pick a hiking route with gorgeous scenery, pack some snacks (and water!), and take in the sights around you. If you’re feeling like making this date extra adventurous, you could try horseback riding through the woods or on local trails, with a guide to point the way. Go Thrifting or Antiquing Photo by cottonbro from PexelsCheck out your local secondhand shops to see what gems you might find. You could come away with some amazing vintage T-shirts, cool knick-knacks, or even keepsakes like records or jewelry. Not into rifling through other people’s stuff? Visit some high-end furniture stores and try out all of the fancy couches while imagining your future dream home. Visit a Museum or a Botanical Garden(Jacobs Stock Photography Ltd / Getty)For a little culture, go to your local art museum to see which paintings and sculptures speak to you. You don’t have to know anything about art to appreciate what the museum has to offer. And there are always guidebooks and tours to lead the way. You’ll come away with new knowledge, and added appreciation, for the arts. RELATED: What Sexual Chemistry Is and Why It Matters in a RelationshipYou might also check out your local botanical gardens for a stroll among the flora. It gives you a chance to appreciate the plants, flowers and trees native to your area. Chances are, you’ll learn a lot about the natural world right around you. Water SportsPhoto by Sebastian Voortman from PexelsIf you’re a more athletic couple (but don’t want to try rock climbing), why not rent kayaks or paddle boards for a sporty outdoor date experience? As long as you live close to water, you’ll get the chance to do something fun outdoors together — don’t we all spend too much time in front of screens? — while doing something great for your bodies, too. After all of that paddling, you can grab a nourishing meal, and maybe a drink, to reward your hard work. And if it’s winter? Well, there’s always ice skating!Group Date IdeasPhoto by KoolShooters from PexelsSometimes it’s fun to get together with other couples for a group date (or simply a double date). Doing this shakes up your typical date routine, gives you a chance to socialize, and provides new ideas for what you can do on your dates. All of that helps to keep things spicy and interesting in your relationship. Novelty is always a good thing, right?The following ideas are activities you can certainly do with just the two of you. However, they will probably be even more fun with a group.Go BowlingPhoto by Pavel Danilyuk from PexelsMore fun than going to the local library, bowling is definitely more of an old school activity, but it’s great as a group date. You can hang out and chat, while also doing something somewhat active, as well as compete with each other. RELATED: What Does It Mean to Be in a Romantic Friendship?However, if the idea of sticking your finger into random balls and wearing rented shoes gives you the heebie-jeebies, you can opt for another group sporting activity like miniature golf, actual golf or pickleball. Try to Get Out of an Escape RoomPhoto by Zachary Keimig on UnsplashEscape rooms have become increasingly popular. If you’re not familiar with the concept, you’re locked in a room filled with clues, and you have to figure out how to get out, typically by working together as a team. This is a fun night for a group date, because it’s easier to escape when more people are working on a problem. Everyone can find a way to contribute, solving codes to unlock the final door. After your big escape, you can celebrate with drinks. Take a City TourPhoto by Katerina Holmes from PexelsYour town likely offers a number of tours that are fun to do as a group. From ghost tours to food tours, there’s something for any kind of group that will give you the inside scoop on local history. You’ll learn a lot and even see your city in a new light, plus make a lot of memories along the way. Book Tickets for Dinner TheaterDinner and a show, anyone? From comedy shows to magic shows to mystery dinner theater, going as a group to one of these events is always an experience. Dinner theater is a great idea for group dates when people don’t know each other all that well because you’ll definitely have something to talk about when the show is over.Play Laser TagPhoto from PexelsAnother date idea for channeling your inner child, playing laser tag is a fun way to stir up some competition with your partner. Plus, it’s way more fun playing among friends than random people. Breaking up into teams, you can opt to band together with your other half or be opposing to each other—whatever sounds more enticing to you. If laser tag is too tame for your group, you can always go paint-balling, which is a little more intense. Fundraising, Anyone?This is not always available, but if you can find one, think about attending a local fundraising event. Choose a good cause that shows off the spirit of giving in your heart, and you may come away with more than a good feeling. Showing off your generosity and participating in something as a couple may teach you that by giving, you’ll actually receive. At-Home Date IdeasPhoto by Andres Ayrton from PexelsIf you’re not able to get out of the house much these days -- maybe you have kids but no reliable babysitter -- there are plenty of home date night ideas.RELATED: Love at First Sight: Does It Exist in Today's World? With the following date ideas to guide you, you’ll have so much fun that you’ll almost forget that you haven’t even left the house. Just be sure to set a day and time with your partner so you can both anticipate the date and prep accordingly. Cook TogetherPhoto by Gary Barnes from PexelsSometimes the best ideas are the simplest. Instead of ordering in, take the time to cook together. Chances are that you don’t do a lot of this during the week, especially if you have kids and you divide and conquer tasks in those few hours between work and bedtime. Pick a recipe that fits your cooking abilities and work together to create the perfect meal. Do a Board Game NightPhoto by cottonbro from PexelsThere are plenty of board games you can play with just two people, from classics like chess to modern favorites like Hive. That's not even counting video games, or even trivia night. Playing games together lets you have some easy fun while also engaging in a bit of healthy competition. If you’re not into games per say, you can always do a puzzle together and help achieve a common goal. Plan a Movie NightPhoto by cottonbro from PexelsA little more structured than binge-watching, you can choose a movie together, pop popcorn and maybe even make a themed cocktail or mocktail to go along with the film. Then, cozy up under some blankets and settle in. Watching movies at home can be far superior to squishing into theater seats—especially since you can always hit pause when you need to use the bathroom or grab a snack. Take a Virtual ClassPhoto by Alena Darmel from PexelsIn light of the pandemic, you can learn nearly everything from your laptop these days, with skilled people offering tutorials on their talents via paid platforms like Masterclass or for free on YouTube. Pick a skill you’d like to learn, from guitar to painting to cocktail mixing (even a dance class!) and spend some time together perfecting your abilities. You’ll come away with new knowledge and fond memories.Build a Backyard CampfirePhoto by Pavel Danilyuk from PexelsTurn your backyard into a cozy place to cuddle, stargaze and eat s’mores together. Even if you’re tight on space, you can easily fit a small, portable fireplace to burn some wood and find some romance by a roaring fire. You may still be at home, but creating a new setting can make your space feel like new. Make Time for Each OtherIn the end, all of these fun date ideas are about creating special moments for you and your partner (or for your potential love interest if you’re just getting to know each other). It’s one of the best ways to achieve your goals in a relationship. You don’t need to go on the perfect date in order to get that quality time in, you just need to find an activity that speaks to you and have an open mind about trying new things together. Know that it’s more about the company, not about the activity itself. Take the pressure off by choosing joy, having fun and making lasting memories together.KEEP READING: Questions to Ask Your Crush
Positive Anxiety: 5 Ways to Make Your Stress Work for You
It’s safe to say that no one likes feeling stressed out. When you’re overwhelmed with life, anxiety can creep in, leading to all sorts of uncomfortable emotions. We’re taught to avoid stress at all costs. But learning to sit with, and even appreciate, low level stress can actually impact your overall mental health in a positive way. Instead of vilifying stress, it’s important to honor that you’re feeling stressed out and allow those feelings to impact you positively instead of paralyzing you. RELATED: What Is Groupthink? How To Avoid This Common BiasHere’s what you need to know about letting your stress work for you, rather than against you. What the Science Says about the Upside of Stress(Unsplash)While pervasive, unyielding stress (known as chronic stress) is undeniably bad for our mental and physical health, a recent study supports the idea that a little bit of stress, for a limited amount of time, can actually be good for you. According to Daniela Kaufer, associate professor of integrative biology at the University of California, Berkeley, who co-authored the study, “some amounts of stress are good to push you just to the level of optimal alertness, behavioral and cognitive performance.” RELATED: Open-Mindedness: 5 Practical Steps To Open Your MindLow to moderate levels of stress can create resilience, as well as have other positive impacts on your life in general. Kaufer, along with UC Berkeley postdoctoral fellow Elizabeth Kirby, found through their research that stress can impact people for the better, depending on how they perceive the stress and how long the stress lasts. Basically, the way you think about your own stress matters.Can Anxiety Actually Be Good for You?(Unsplash)Stress-induced anxiety is common these days, especially in the wake of the recent pandemic and all of the other issues people face . But anxiety itself is not the problem, according to therapist Britt Frank, author of The Science of Stuck. Frank calls anxiety the “check engine light” of your brain. When you feel anxious because of stress, your anxiety is not the actual issue—it’s a signal that something is going on beneath the surface. RELATED: What Is the Google Effect, How Does It Hurt Your Mind – And What Can You Do About It?When you reframe everyday stress and anxiety as cues that signal a problem you need to face, you can start to appreciate those uncomfortable feelings of stress, overwhelm and anxious thoughts, then get super curious about the root cause. (Of course, chronic stress and anxiety can be debilitating and do not fall within the scope of this discussion.)5 Ways to Harness the Positive Side of Stress (Unsplash)Now that you know that stress isn’t the absolute worst, and that it can even be helpful, here are five important ways that you can make your stress work for you. 1. Use stress as a source of information, not judgmentThink of stress the way Britt Frank frames anxiety—your check engine light is on and trying to tell you some useful information. Get curious about why you feel stress and what’s at the root of that stress. Don’t try to push your stress away, shove it down or tell yourself to just get over it. There’s no need to shame yourself for feeling stressed. Use your stress as a catalyst for finding a deeper self-awareness. 2. Use stress as a self care reminderWhen you feel stressed, chances are that you need to take a beat and make time for nurturing your mind, body and soul. Ask yourself: When’s the last time you ate something nutritious? Had a glass of water? Moved your body? Instead of ruminating in stress, take action toward self care. If you have trouble thinking of ideas, keep a running list of actions on your phone of things that bring you joy, like texting a friend, going for a walk or petting your dog. That way, when you’re deep in stress, you can easily find a self care strategy to help you through it. 3. Use stress to help you take actionStress can be a great motivator. Once you acknowledge and understand the source of your stress, take one small step of action. RELATED: Sensory Deprivation Tank: What Are the Benefits of ‘Floating’?This could be crossing one item off of your to-do list, answering one email, committing to five minutes of exercise or setting a timer for 10 minutes while you begin to tackle cleaning your house. This first step is typically all you need to hunker down and finish the task at hand. 4. Use stress to assess your time management skillsTake stock of your energy management when you’re in a period of stress. Write down what’s eating up your time and what you’d rather be doing instead (or needing to do instead). Evaluate what you can delegate or just skip. Oftentimes, stress comes when we feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day to get it all done. However, this stress can be alleviated when we realize that we don’t have to shoulder all of the burden ourselves. Use stress as a catalyst for setting boundaries and saying no when you need to. 5. Use stress to remind you of your resilienceFinally, allow stress to be your reminder of how strong you are. Even in the face of overwhelm and big emotions, you can persevere. Remember the times in your life when you felt anxious or over burdened and think about how you got through those periods. Harness your strength and resilience to tackle whatever it is that’s causing you to stress out. Accept that stress will come and go. Ride the waves knowing you can handle whatever hand life deals you. Yes, Positive Anxiety Exists(Unsplash)While it’s hard to feel like there’s an upside to stress and anxiety, since we are often told that these emotions are to be avoided like the plague, they are simply part of life. When you feel stressed, don’t try to fight it. Welcome these feelings, and even the anxiety that can come with them. Use stress as a tool to understand yourself better. When you get curious about stress you can take better care of yourself, set firm boundaries, manage your time more efficiently and feel the benefits of resilience that come from weathering the storm of anxiety. Instead of fearing periods of anxiety, realize that they are bound to come. It’s up to you how you acknowledge stress and use it for your betterment.KEEP READING:Train Your Brain to Shed Distracting Habits and Concentrate Better
