With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, February is the perfect month to renew the romance in your relationship.
Love is in the air at Fred Astaire Dance Studios and we are celebrating this month by reminding couples about the importance of keeping romance alive and thriving in their relationship. The news for couples in America is bright. At least 88 percent of Americans cite love as the number one reason to marry, according to research conducted by the Pew Research Center. Plus, the divorce rate in America is at an all-time low. The United States divorce rate fell from 9.7 new divorces per 1,000 women age 15 and over in 2009 to 7.6 in 2019, the U.S Census reported. Couples who are supportive, communicate effectively, and spend quality time together typically have strong relationships.
The hustle and bustle of daily life can occasionally cause even the most dedicated couples to put their relationship on the back burner. Fred Astaire Dance Studios encourages you to let Valentine’s Day serve as a reminder to spice up your relationship. Surging COVID-19 numbers and statewide curfews are putting a damper on traditional Valentine’s Day celebrations, but there are numerous ways couples can spend time together this month while staying safe.
- Play Hooky. Cast your responsibilities aside for the day and spend time with your spouse. Play hooky from work and plan a day of fun activities together. Whether it’s watching a movie, cooking lunch as a couple, or catching up on your sleep, taking a break from the daily grind will help remind you how much fun you have with your spouse.
- Learn to Dance in Your Living Room. Fred Astaire Dance Studios believes life is better when you dance and learning some romantic ballroom dances is a great way to reconnect. The chain of dance franchises recently launched an Online Lesson Platform featuring hundreds of top-notch dance lessons from certified Fred Astaire Dance Studios instructors and Dance Council members. You can also book a live-streaming lesson. As an added bonus, Fred Astaire offers date-night dance classes for couples.
Here’s a clip of some young couples filming TikTok dance videos at home.
- Light the Fire and Enjoy an Indoor Picnic. Chilly temperatures outside are not conducive to enjoying a romantic meal on a blanket in the park. Turn your living room into a romantic dinner spot by lighting a fire or turning on the gas logs, hanging some twinkle lights, and spreading out a comfortable quilt on the ground. Try your hand at putting together a delicious charcuterie platter and uncork a bottle of wine. All the amenities of your favorite outdoor picnic spot, minus the bugs.
Check out this video to learn how to make the perfect picnic platter.
- Schedule Happy Hour at Home. Friday night for many hard-working couples used to mean meeting up at a local watering hole and enjoying an adult beverage. Teleworking and social distancing guidelines put a stop to this trend for many Americans. Consider reviving the tradition with your spouse, even if you just commute from different rooms in the house. Craft a unique cocktail recipe at home, set out some nibblers, turn on some tunes, and de-stress together at the end of a long workweek.
Watch this clip from the “Tipsy Bartender” to learn how to make a retro happy hour beverage.
- Take a Walk. Renewing romance can be as simple as dropping what you’re doing and taking a walk outside with your partner. The experts believe getting outside in nature can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Spending as little as 20 minutes outdoors can put you in a better mood, an earlier study in the International Journal of Environmental Health research revealed. Walking together outside helps couples eliminate electronic distractions and focus on each other.
Contact your local Fred Astaire Dance Studios location to find out more information about taking a dance lesson with your spouse to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Or visit our Online Lesson Platform to stream a dance lesson to your living room.
