5 Tips for a Stress-Free Date Night

As a mom and an entrepreneur I truly believe Date Night is what keeps me sane. It’s important to take time out from running a business, be an adult again, and spend time with your spouse! But with our crazy lives and schedules, planning Date Night can be a pain and the source of much misery for Mompreneurs. So here are five tips on how to plan an enjoyable, stress-free Date Night.

5 Tips for a Stress-Free Date Night

1.  Plan Your Restaurant Reservations Ahead of TimeIf dinner is one of your main activities, I suggest always planning in advance. The annoyance of planning date night and picking where to eat was the main reason I launched Taste Savant. Taste Savant is a curated restaurant discovery site that allows you to search by city, neighborhood, cuisine and price range; book reservations; and even get discounted dining. Featuring four cities and growing and now with a free app, Taste Savant is a must-have in every Mompreneur's date night planning arsenal.A couple weeks before your date, do some research. Choose a restaurant that you know you’ll enjoy and book a reservation. It is the worst when you show up at a restaurant and there are no tables available and there’s a 2 hour wait. If you plan ahead, you’ll avoid a buzz kill on your stress-free date night out.2. Organize an Activity for Before or After DinnerIt’s always fun to have something entertaining to do before or after dinner whether it’s seeing a show, grabbing drinks, getting dessert, or meeting other friends. To keep the evening fun and varied, look into entertaining options nearby your restaurant to keep the evening going. Or, shake it up a little and try doing something creative...Whether or not you're on a restrictive budget currently, most of us have had those times in our relationships. Think back to the early days of your relationship, when you had to bring your A game to date night (and often with meager funds!), and think of activities you can initiate that will help the two of you recreate the magic.Here's a few suggestions to get you started:

• Treat your spouse to a "guided tour" by revisiting your old haunts around the city, taking the time to narrate an account of your history there; though your spouse no doubt remembers, they will be tickled to hear you tell the story (a long-stemmed red rose or flask of wine will help make the night extra special)
• There's no better way to feel like a kid again than a night of play with your spouse. Surprise them with a pre- or post-dinner go at bumper cars, go carts, mini golf, a roller coaster ride, swinging in the park or roller skating (a genuine compliment doled out with your spouse's favorite candy bar will go a long way here!)
• Feel like grown-up talk has been on the back burner lately? Arrange a fun and secluded space for the two of you catch up. Maybe its the roof of a building somewhere, or parked on a hillside with a view, or on a ferris wheel. Whatever the location, park there with your spouse and start with questions like, "So tell me what's been going on for you?" or "How are things?" and enjoy the chance to get reacquainted with each others' lives beyond daily routines, work and parenting.

3. Close Down Your WorkdayIt’s hard to unplug, but try and get as many things as you can off your plate before your sitter arrives so that you’re only focused on enjoying your stress-free date night out. If you must check email or take a call while out, warn your spouse ahead of time so that neither of you are annoyed when that phone interrupts your evening.4. Book Your ChildcareMake sure you have childcare squared away a week in advance as well. You’ll want to be stress and worry free when you’re heading out on the town. Also, have a backup! If your sitter cancels on you last minute, you want to have an alternate option.We have a great partnership with UrbanSitter! Created by moms, UrbanSitter helps you find qualified, vetted and referred babysitters even at the last minute. You can try them out at a discount too. I always have my sitter come about an hour before I have to leave to build a buffer in case one of us is running behind!5. If All Else Fails…Outsource to your SpouseAnd finally, maybe the best tip of all. If you just don’t have time to get your act together, outsource to your spouse. I rely on this lots of times and it works like a charm.Start by telling your spouse that you want his support in partnering to create consistent, creative and stress-free date nights so that the two of you are enjoying quality connection and downtime together. Chances are, your spouse shares your desire and will be on board to help. Try sharing this article, and use it as a starting point for inspiration, and the two of you will be enjoying stress-free date nights in no time!

Do you have any more great tips for a stress-free date night? Share them in the comments!

About the Author: Sonia Kapadia has a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Sonia spent her early career at large companies including 5 years at PepsiCo in both the US and UK. Adhering to her entrepreneurial itch, Sonia left PepsiCo to join Gu Chocolate Desserts, a CPG startup in London, as the Head of Marketing and New Product Development. Gu Chocolate Desserts was sold after a year to another private company, leading Sonia to conquer the startup road. From London, Sonia moved back to New York and joined Rent the Runway to lead Marketing Partnerships. Since then she has launched Taste Savant, a highly curated restaurant discovery site designed to help the savvy diner decide where to eat. Sonia is a contributor for Forbes.com - follow her there! Also, check out her company on Facebook and Twitter!