One Thing Date Night: Building Healthy Marriage Rhythms in the New Year

Activity #1: Out of the House: Coffee + Connection Chat

Activity: Visit a cozy coffee shop or smoothie bar. Bring a notebook or journal with the printed conversation prompts. *If you cannot get out of the house make a winter drink like hot chocolate, coffee or Russian tea (recipe is below).

  • Purpose: Deepen your connection by reflecting on where you are as a couple and dreaming about where you want to go.

  • Conversation Prompts:

    • What is something that is stopping us from staying connected? What solutions can we come up with to change this?

    • What’s a rhythm we’ve already created that brings us joy or peace?

    • What’s one area we’d like to grow in this year as a couple?

    • How can we support each other in personal growth while staying connected?

    • What’s a dream or goal you have for our marriage that we haven’t talked about recently?

    • What’s your favorite memory of us from the past year?

    • What’s one fun or adventurous thing we can do together this year that we’ve never tried?

    • What rhythm or habit do you think brings us closer to God as a couple?

    • How do you think we’ve grown the most as a couple over the years?

    • What’s one challenge we overcame together this past year, and how did it strengthen our relationship?

    • If we could describe our marriage in one word for the past year, what would it be? What word do we want to describe for the upcoming year?

  • End with a prayer over your marriage before heading home.

Russian Tea recipe:

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 cups white sugar

  • 2 cups orange-flavored drink mix (such as Tang)

  • 1 cup instant tea powder

  • 1 (3 ounce) package powdered lemonade mix

  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Combine sugar, orange drink mix, tea powder, lemonade powder, ground cinnamon, and ground cloves in a large bowl; mix thoroughly.

  2. Store in a sealed jar.

  3. To make: Stir 3 to 4 tablespoons of dry mix into 1 cup of hot or cold water.

Activity #2: ​​Healthy Rhythms Vision Board

  • Activity: Gather supplies (poster board, markers, magazines, sticky notes) to create a "Healthy Marriage Rhythms" vision board.

  • Steps:

  1. Brainstorm rhythms to implement or strengthen in 2025 (e.g., weekly date nights, daily prayer together, monthly budget reviews).

  2. Add visuals, Bible verses, or words that inspire you both.

  3. Commit to one rhythm to start implementing immediately.

Purpose: Focus on how to intentionally align your marriage with Christ-centered, practical rhythms that sustain connection and growth.

Activity #3: Intimate "Unplugged Hour"

  • Activity: Bedroom Game: “The Anticipation Jar”

    • This game is designed to build emotional connection, excitement, and physical intimacy through playful, intimate interaction. It balances lighthearted fun with deeper bonding. Create a romantic ambiance at home with candles, soft music, and no devices allowed.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

  • A small jar or bowl

  • 10-15 small slips of paper

  • Pens or markers

HOW TO PLAY:

  1. Preparation:
    Before the game begins, each of you writes down 5-7 prompts, actions, or questions on the slips of paper. These should range from flirty to emotionally intimate to physically affectionate. Examples:

    • "Describe your favorite memory of us together in detail."

    • "Kiss me like it’s the first time all over again."

    • "Whisper one thing you love about me in my ear."

    • "Name a place you’d love to go on a romantic getaway."

    • "Give me a 5-minute massage—your choice where!"

  2. Take Turns Drawing:
    Take turns pulling one slip from the jar. Follow the instructions or answer the prompt. Allow the conversation or action to naturally lead into the next moment.

  3. Build Anticipation:
    Space out the actions by pausing for conversation or playful teasing in between. This will build emotional connection and anticipation for physical intimacy. 

  4. Once all of the slips have been used (if you have gotten that far 😉), spend a few moments holding each other and reflecting on how the game made you feel closer.

End the Date:

Close the night by praying together over your marriage and the rhythms you plan to build, thanking God for your time together and asking for guidance in the new year.


 

Looking to create healthy rhythms for your marriage this year? Our LIMTED-TIME Healthy Rhythms Bundle is here to help! This exclusive bundle includes everything you need to strengthen your connection and grow together:

  1. Weekly Marriage Check-In Guide

  2. 68 Date Night Ideas

  3. 21 Prayers for Building an Awesome Marriage

  4. 30 Fill-In-The-Blank Love Note Prompts

  5. Annual Marriage Check-Up Guide

Don’t miss this opportunity to invest in your marriage and start the year off strong! Grab your bundle today with any donation made to Awesome Marriage Ministries, and take the first step toward building the rhythms that will strengthen your marriage.



 
Kim KimberlingComment