How Date Night Has Made Me More Successful In My Career - Brian Forster

About 5 years ago my partner and I decided to make a commitment to going out and doing something fun together one night a week, date night.?After several weeks of going out to restaurants for dinner, I planned a less-traditional date night for us to play a round of golf.?I was nervous she might not like what I had planned, but sure enough it was a blast and opened up a whole new world of date night possibilities!?We still do dinners but like to mix it up with other activities as well, for example: bowling, spa nights, summer picnics, etc..?Heck sometimes we plan a walk through the city with our pup and grab a slice of pizza along the way – believe it or not, some of the best nights are the cheapest as long as you have a plan!?

Okay, now how does this relate to my career you ask??We quickly found that date night helps us professionally as well.?First off, this weekly tradition is a great way to break up the week – we usually do date nights on Wednesday which is a nice mid-week treat and gives us something to look forward to.?It also allows for dedicated time to focus on what is important and for me that is spending quality time with the person I love the most (and often times our dog, who is a very close second) – and I think we can all agree that when you’re happy at home, your job is just easier.?

I have also found that by maintaining this weekly date night tradition it has organically resulted in me being significantly more organized.?Quickly after we started, I began to plan out date nights ahead of time.?To me, it’s important to get it right and make sure this time together is fun – and I don’t want to spend half the evening trying to decide what to do/where to eat, etc.. This pre-planning of date night however quickly morphed into also planning out dinners for each night of the week and then work days as well.?Don’t get me wrong, things pop up unexpectedly and you can’t plan for everything – but having an outline for the week both personally and professionally has been a game changer.?I’ve found I’m more focused at work and having a plan and clearly defined goals as I walk into the workday, has set me up for success.?

I know, I know, we are all crazy busy and it may seem unrealistic to dedicate one night a week to date night – but I am confident that if you plan out your week, you can make it happen and both your personal and professional life will benefit.?With that I encourage you to go online, book a dinner or activity and take your significant other, family, or even just yourself, out for a date night during the week.??