Lots of singles prefer to go on first dates during the week, which makes meeting up for a drink or a meal after work can be a convenient option. Although I strongly suggest Prime Time Date Night (Friday or Saturday nights) for dates with prospects you think are special, there’s nothing wrong with choosing a weeknight to take some of the pressure off. Another bonus with weeknight dates is that it ensures an end-stop to the evening since you can excuse yourself under the guise of having to go to work early the next morning. That said, there are still some common mistakes many singles make when they’re making the shift from work to date.
The Appeal of After-Work Dates
Most of us can relate to the demanding and stressful nature of the work week, so we all look forward to the point in the day when we can clock out and enjoy our personal lives. For many young professionals or those with busy schedules, weeknights may be the best time during the week to go on dates for any number of reasons. Here, we’ll look at a few reasons it makes so much sense to date after work.
Break from Routine
Let’s face it: work weeks can feel monotonous, and the chance to do something out of the ordinary after you clock out almost feels like a special occasion. If you’re able to plan a date during the middle of the week at some point, it will give you something to look forward to, along with breaking up your typical schedule. In a way, this may actually help bolster your spirits in both your personal and professional life.
Availability and Flexibility
Because most people commute to a concentrated area for work each day, it means most of the population in any given city is in a specific area for most of the day. And because this area is usually close to a ton of lively and popular establishments, it means that many singles usually congregate here due to their proximity, in addition to the fact that they usually have fewer obligations to attend to back home. These situational circumstances make singles the most likely group of people to be out on the town in general, whether dating or just fraternizing.
Seamless Transitions
Not everyone wants to go right home after work is over, and because you’re already out for the day, choosing a nearby destination for a date can not only be convenient for both parties but also provide relief from a stressful day. Once you go home, it can be difficult to muster up the energy to get back out, partly because by that time, you’d have to be comfortable with a later night. If you’re able to plan to dress down a bit or are comfortable going as-is to a nearby venue, you can eliminate wasting precious time and still get home within a reasonable hour.
Mutual Relief
As we just briefly touched on, no one is alone in feeling the pressures and mental fatigue that come with your work obligations, so dedicating your time to something like a date to restore your spirits and put more focus into your personal life is also necessary. While it can be difficult to make time and effort when it comes to dating, a genuine interest in a prospective partner will not only influence you to want to make time for them but also feel a genuine connection with someone as an escape from daily life.
Social Trends
We all know that businesses use various draws to get people out on weeknights, and these can be anything from daily specials, weekly trivia, or even mixers in which you can expect to come across other singles in the area. Certain bars and restaurants become known for their weekly activities, and many people you know may already have a favorite hang-out spot or two, depending on their preferences. Exploring these places can not only provide interactive date ideas but also give you the opportunity to try new ones and come together over a mutual focus.
Are Time-Sensitive Connections Meaningful?
It may go without saying, but dating is all about the time you put into it. Whether you prefer to incorporate dating into your weeknights or not, one thing is certain — if you show you’re ready and willing to get together at any point in the week, your date is going to recognize you prioritizing the relationship. Just because your date is an hour or two long instead of an all-night affair doesn’t mean it’s meaningless. In fact, these frequent and simple encounters are a great way to ease yourself into the dating process. Here are a few ways after-work dates can improve your overall experience when seeing someone.
Convenience
One of the most common reasons for dating after work is the sheer convenience of it. If you’re already in the same proximity and looking to unwind at some point in the middle of the week, scheduling a date can be a great way to catch up and break apart your respective schedules. It also helps that most offices and businesses are near urban centers, where many accessible date spots can be found. At the very least, it is an escape from cooking for a night and makes for a fun dinner alternative to your nightly routine.
Quality Time
While you may not have many hours to spend together when convening after work, it truly is the effort that counts when dating. Making time for your significant other during the week shows you’re serious about the relationship, and being willing to meet up more frequently allows you to talk about day-to-day feelings and happenings instead of always having to catch up on a week or even longer. If you’re not able to see the value or enjoy these simple interactions, you may have to re-evaluate what qualities you desire in a person that makes you yearn for their company throughout the week.
Effective Communication
When you’re able to get together more often, you’ll begin to have better expectations for the person you’re dating, and how they can incorporate you into their professional schedule and vice versa will tell each of you a lot about the other person’s habits and motivations. This can help intentions be forthright, allow preferences to be clearly discussed, and give you both more opportunities to evaluate one another as time goes on. After all, dating requires a lot of honest communication, and the more times you’re able to stay in touch during the week, the better. This can also include forms of mobile contact when things become more steady.
Creativity and Improvisation
One of the most fun and exciting parts of dating is your adventurous phase, and what better way to live life to the fullest than by going on improvisational dates after work? You both probably know of some places that you love and are anxious to share, and taking turns going to them spontaneously or even planning to visit a new location you’ve both been eager to try is a great way to practice making plans on the fly. Not only can this bring an unexpected source of joy and escape from the monotony, but it reaffirms that it’s less about the place and more about spending time together.
Escape Route
Not all dating endeavors are going to be successful, and that’s something we can all accept. Many of us have probably experienced a time in which we wished we could fast-forward a date to its end, but the reality is that’s both rude and hasty. However, the unique benefit of weeknight dating is that almost everyone has to work in the morning, and that means you need to get home at a reasonable time, no matter how much fun you’re having. This effectively limits the amount of time you’ll ever be out on a date and gives you a valid excuse when deciding when it’s time to turn in for the night.
Tips for Dating After Work
Here are a few tips you can take into consideration when dating after work.
- Agree on Activities – Because you’ll already be pressed for time, it can be helpful to have your date planned out, regardless of whether it’s just dinner or a scheduled activity like a movie. This gives each person time to prepare accordingly and know what to expect instead of having to decide on the fly.
- Incorporate Shared Hobbies – Once you feel you’ve found your match, you will have likely bonded over shared hobbies or interests, and making these a focal point in date night can bring added enjoyment while you’re hoping to build a more meaningful connection. This could range from a sunset hike after work to arranging a trip to a weekly art class.
- Don’t Limit to Dinner or Drinks – Everyone loves bonding over their favorite cuisine or grabbing drinks at a trendy cocktail bar, but oftentimes, this doesn’t do enough to bring out your true personality. Including variation in your after-work date ideas will prevent the dating process from feeling stale or repetitive and might even expose you to new things.
- Consider Logistics – When planning a weeknight date, It’s certainly easier and more helpful when both people work in the same area, but if not, you’ll want to consider which places work best to meet up. It’s also important to factor in how distance or rush hour traffic may impact the logistics of getting there on time. The more you’re able to make the situation mutual for both parties, the better.
- Be Communicative – All progress in a relationship begins with solid communication, so being vocal about your desires or restraints when dating during the week should be agreed upon early on, and even if it’s not an option at first, it could be incorporated at a later stage depending how schedules or logistics change or can be altered. It’s also important to respect people’s time and other prior lifestyle obligations.
- Focus on Connection Over Spectacle – While you can excel when trying to impress your prospective partner with a cool or unique date idea, at the end of the day, it’s really about the emotional and personal connection you build with one another over time. You want to ensure that your dates focus on or include each individual equally, while also periodically assessing what a future with the other person might look like. This evaluation of connection can determine the depth of the bond you could ultimately build.
Date Ideas for Weeknights
There are a lot more options than you may initially consider when it comes to after-work date ideas, and it ultimately depends on your interests and preferences as a couple. Here are just a few alternative options that deviate from your normal dinner or a movie.
Art or Other Creative Class
If you’re into painting, pottery, crocheting, or any other type of craft, there are numerous places where you and a date can go to get lessons, have the appropriate space to create, or even take focused classes to perfect your art. These sorts of activities not only bring out your individuality but allow you to bond over your physical creations and sense of expression, making it both fun and interactive.
Local Concert
Sometimes, you just want to gather in a crowd and sing along to some of your favorite tunes, and when a band comes through your area that you both enjoy, this can be an excellent outing to look forward to. Many tours only have one date per city, so planning for, anticipating, and making the most of a show passing through is sure to make for a memorable experience. You’ll also have time before, in between sets, and after the show to converse and connect over music or other things.
Trivia Night
Many places around town offer a number of forms of trivia, ranging from general to music, sports, or even specialty topics. This is a great way to meet in a lively place while working together to compete against the other groups in the establishment. Regardless of how smart or familiar you are with the subject matter, the fun of putting your brain to the test makes for an entertaining outing. You might just learn a thing or two, as well.
Outdoor Picnic or Park
If you’re lucky enough to leave work before the sun sets, depending on the time of year, a simple meeting at the park for a picnic can be the remote and private escape you’ve been hoping for. Not only will this allow you to get creative with what foods and beverages you can bring, but this concept can also be moved to various locations like the lake, beach, or other scenic destinations.
Specialty Food or Drink Spot
We did say that we would include date ideas that don’t prioritize consumption, but when there’s an especially new or unique venue that offers seasonal, limited, or high-demand food or drinks, it’s certainly worth making a special trip to certain places when the time or urge calls for it. This also calls for a more intentional effort when considering where to eat out.
1. Not Changing Your Outfit
If you know you have a date after work, grab some small clothing changes to switch up your wardrobe. Going on a date in a wrinkled suit and work-appropriate shoes that you’ve been wearing all day is not going to give you the best mindset. Grab a pair of nice jeans and less conservative shoes. Take off jackets and ties and unbutton the top of your shirt.
2. Not Freshening Up
While you’re picking out clothes and shoes, grab some toiletries to take with you. That slightly stuffy feeling you have after a full day in your work clothes will appear on your face and in your hair as well. Bring face wipes and then massage in some moisturizer to get the blood flowing and bring color to your face. Reapply any makeup, pull a brush through your hair, roll on a new layer of deodorant and spritz some more perfume or cologne.
3. Talking About Work
The worst thing you can do on a date after work is talk about work. Sure, discuss what you do quickly, but your date doesn’t need to hear about your workplace drama or complicated business deals on a first (or second) date.
4. Not Shaking Off The Stress
While you’re stopping yourself from talking about work, stop yourself from feeling the stress of your workday now that you’re no longer at work. Literally, shake it off. Do a little jig, roll your shoulders back a few times, meditate, stretch … whatever it takes to let go of work-related stress, calm your first date jitters and focus on the person in front of you.
5. Going Somewhere Too Close To Work
The last thing you want to do is run into coworkers while on a date. Between the introductions, the explanations and the gossiping, it’s better to inconvenience yourself and travel a bit farther away in order to avoid this happening. A first date should be between you and your date. There’s always the chance you may run into someone you know, but you can try and minimize those odds by at least not going somewhere that you know your coworkers frequent after work.
Not every first or second date is going to take place on Prime Time Date Night, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take it just as seriously and prepare and plan for it accordingly. Everyone has busy schedules and getting the Saturday night ask-out every weekend is not very realistic, so don’t take it personally. Put forth the effort to show that you appreciate the time you’re both spending to meet.
You may also be interested in 5 Unique, Fun First Date Ideas: Breaking Away From The Norm
