Because happy and healthy relationships are built in all of the little moments.
Let’s be real: marriage, relationships, and dating take work.
We know! You hear this ALL this time. But, what does it really mean???? Stay tuned- we got ya!…
Between the day-to-day chaos of careers, chores, and possibly raising tiny humans or caretaking elderly parents, intimacy can sometimes slip into the background like an accidentally forgotten text.
“Intimacy” is one of the main concerns that couples mention when seeking support with the crew at Elevating Relationships (hey, hey, Lori and Rashawn here). Emotional intimacy and physical intimacy go hand in hand like peanut butter and jelly, salt and pepper, sunshine and the ocean, or a cozy blanket on a rainy day. When one is missing, the whole relationship can feel a little off, like a song without a melody. That’s where mini dates come in. Think of them as bite-sized love boosters (you know, like those cute little brownies in the bakery section at your fav grocery store) that help you stay connected, have fun, and build emotional and physical intimacy—without even needing to leave the house. BAM!
You don’t need a babysitter, a fancy reservation, or Pinterest-worthy date night prep. All you need is the two of you, a willingness to connect, and about 15 to 60 minutes twice a month. These 24 mini dates are easy, low-prep, and designed to build love, laughter, and connection.
Whether you’re married, seriously dating, or just trying to rediscover the spark, these mini dates can bring new warmth and intimacy to your relationship. Bonus? With intentional frequency, they might even be more effective than a weekend getaway (hello, marriage counseling vibes without the commute). Why? Because intentional time together helps couples connect to positive sentiment, have healthier conflict, and increase overall experience of intimacy.
Here we go—your flirty, fun, heart-opening datebook (see what we did there!?!) of mini dates!
Mini Date 1: Memory Lane Magic
Each of you brings a favorite picture of the two of you together. Share what you loved most about that day or experience. Let the memories take you back and reflect on how far you’ve come. Nostalgia + love = major intimacy points.
Mini Date 2: Musical Moods
Pick a favorite song that you’re currently vibing with. Play it, listen together, and share why it speaks to you right now. Music opens windows into your emotional world, and hey, it might even spark a dance party. And, we are HERE for the dance party!
Mini Date 3: Picasso & Giggles
You don’t need to be an artist for this one. Set a timer for 3 minutes and take turns drawing each other’s faces while your partner tries not to laugh. After the big reveal, share a physical feature you adore about each other. Write the words down on a note (or the drawing!) and post them on the bathroom mirror for a daily reminder of your partner’s love. Bonus: Reflect out loud what you heard your partner say they love about you. That kind of vulnerability? Pure intimacy gold.
Mini Date 4: The Kiss That Stuck
Share a memory of a kiss or intimate moment that left a lasting impression. Describe it in detail—the setting, the feeling, the spark. This is about reigniting passion and reminding each other of your chemistry.
Mini Date 5: Teacher Talk
Share about a favorite teacher from your school years. What made them special? How did they shape your life? It’s surprising how learning about each other’s past can bring couples closer.
Mini Date 6: Future Fantasies
Dream big! Imagine your life together ten years from now. Describe it with no limitations—what are you wearing, where are you living, what’s your daily routine? Let your imaginations run wild and see where your dreams align.
Mini Date 7: Hide & Go Sneak a Kiss
Yes, you’re adults. Yes, we’re suggesting hide and seek. Set the boundaries, take turns hiding, and when you find each other, share something you cherish about your partner. Then, each of you recall a time you felt deeply desired and pursued by the other.
Mini Date 8: Blindfolded Snack Test
Blindfold your partner and have them taste-test a few snacks or bites from your kitchen. See if they can guess what it is. Switch roles. This playful sensory activity is lighthearted and fun—and might even lead to feeding each other a few kisses.
Mini Date 9: Bucket List Swap
Create a “mini bucket list” of 4 things you’d love to experience with your partner in the next year. Take turns talking about each item on your lists and share why each idea matters to you. Find one thing you can realistically plan soon. Hint: Wanting the same thing is not the goal here. It’s more about understanding your partner’s special interests and creating space for both to support and accept influence from one another!
Mini Date 10: Compliment Battle
Set a timer for 3 minutes and take turns giving each other compliments—no repeats! This is a sweet (and sometimes hilarious) way to feel deeply seen, appreciated, and loved. Whoever is in the middle of a compliment when the timer goes off needs to give a 5-minute massage on the back, hands, or feet- receivers choice! Oh yeah!
Mini Date 11: Couples Yoga (or Stretching)
Pull up a 15-minute beginner yoga or partner stretch video. You’ll laugh, balance, wobble, and support each other in new ways—physically and emotionally. Great for physical closeness and emotional connection.
Mini Date 12: Love Letter Exchange
Take 15–20 minutes to write a love letter to your partner. It doesn’t have to be poetic—just honest. Swap and read them aloud. Yes, tears are welcome.
Mini Date 13: Cook Off Challenge
Pick a simple ingredient (like toast, popcorn, or fruit) and see who can make the tastiest or funniest version of it. Present your “dish” with flair and enjoy your creations together. Cooking builds connection—and competition spices it up. Afterwards, check out some new local restaurants online and plan a dinner date in the near future. Make the reservations together and put it in the calendar!
Mini Date 14: Values Check-In
Look up a list of core values (or make your own) and each choose your top 3. Share and talk about how those values show up in your relationship. This builds emotional intimacy and understanding.
Mini Date 15: First Impressions Rewind
Share your first impressions of each other. What did you notice? What stood out? What surprised you later? Laugh, blush, and relive your beginning.
Mini Date 16: Dream Room Design
Pretend you are fancy interior designers with an unlimited budget and dream up your perfect bedroom, kitchen, or backyard. What colors, textures, and furniture would you use? This sparks creativity—and possibly future planning. Feel free to find a few pictures online to guide this fantasy.
Mini Date 17: The “Would You Rather” Game
Play a round of flirty, funny, and even deep “Would You Rather” questions that you make up as you go. You’ll learn new things, giggle a lot, and spark fun conversations. For example, “would you rather be tickled for 5 minutes or sing a song to me” or “would you rather be the little spoon or big spoon” or “would you rather eat ice-cream for dinner or spaghetti for breakfast” or “would you rather cure cancer or end world hunger”. Make up the questions as you go!
Mini Date 18: Storytime Swap and Fly Away with Me
Share a true story from your childhood—one your partner hasn’t heard yet. Choose something that shaped who you are or still makes you laugh. Stories build intimacy and help us feel seen and known by each other.
Then, grab two pieces of paper and set a timer for three minutes. Your mission: each of you must fold a paper airplane before time runs out. When the timer dings, head to your “runway” and see whose plane flies the farthest.
The winner gets to choose one of the following prizes:
- The next Netflix show you’ll binge together- make sure to plan when you will start it
- The next restaurant you’ll go out to- put the date in the calendar
- Or a 10-minute massage from your sweetie- can be immediately or at a time of their choosing
Mini Date 19: Create a Relationship Playlist
Build a shared playlist of songs that remind you of each other or your relationship. Name it something silly, romantic, or meaningful. Music is often a sentimental manifestation of our life and love stories. Listen to a few and enjoy jamming out, dancing, or playfully kissing each time a word (dealer’s choice) is said in the song.
Mini Date 20: A Jar of Inspiration
Grab 10 small pieces of paper and a pen for each person. On each one, write down ONE WORD that can indicate a wish, fantasy, or fun idea you’d love to do together. Fold and place in a jar. Pull one out for a future date inspiration. Example: If the word is: “PLANE”, then the date could be a car picnic while watching planes take off and land OR a weekend trip to your fav city. Your imagination is welcomed here!
Mini Date 21: Relationship Timeline- Let’s Keep it Growing
Sketch a quick timeline of the happiest moments in your relationship—your first date, first kiss, memorable trips, milestones, and other special memories. Take time to celebrate how far you’ve come. Reflecting on your journey can help you both feel more grounded and grateful for the love you’ve built together (even with the challenges!).
Next, head to your local garden center and pick out a plant together. Do a little research on how to care for it and make it a shared goal to keep it thriving. As you make plans to nurture your new plant, chat about how you can support your relationship to grow and thrive, too.
Mini Date 22: The 36 Questions Challenge
Find the popular “36 Questions That Lead to Love” online and pick a few to answer together. These questions are great for deepening emotional intimacy, no matter how long you’ve been together. Hint: we all tend to change in different ways- from our hair color to our food preferences to our dreams for the perfect vacation destination. And, updating our partner on the changes within our inner world is a key part of relationship resiliency and satisfaction.
Mini Date 23: Movie Trailer Life
Imagine your love story as a movie trailer. What scenes would be in it? What would the voiceover say? What would the title be? This is creative, funny, and reminds you how cinematic your love really is. Because every love story is ROMCOM worthy! Bonus if you write out, act out, and/or narrate the trailer and post online for your friends and family to enjoy too!
Mini Date 24: Candlelight and Convo
Set the mood by turning off or dimming all the lights in the room and lighting a candle or two (it’s ok to borrow from your hurricane stash in needed!). Sit close in a favorite spot in your home and take turns sharing one thing you appreciate about your partner and one dream you have for your relationship. Or, share your high emotion and low emotion for the day and a sentence or so about what led to those emotions. This simple convo can open your hearts and deepen emotional intimacy. Then, find a favorite passage in a book, a favorite poem, or a recent favorite post, and read it out loud to your partner. Talk about why it’s a fav for you.
Marriage and relationships thrive on consistent, intentional connection. These mini dates are like little love vitamins for your relationship. If you find yourselves stuck or drifting apart, they can be a powerful supplement to couples counseling or a fresh way to fall in love all over again.
Because emotional intimacy doesn’t happen overnight. It’s built in small, meaningful, shared experiences. Like one of our favorite quotes says by relationship researcher, Dr. John Gottman, “Every positive thing you do in your relationship is foreplay”.
Ready to fall in love with each other all over again? 
Print this list, pick your first mini date, and remember: love grows where intentional attention flows. And, you don’t even need to leave your home to make magic happen!
Sincerely,
P.S. We’re intentional about dating each other, too! One of our favorite go-to at-home dates is playing Monopoly Deal. If you haven’t heard of it, look it up—it’s a fast-paced card version of the classic board game, and it’s seriously fun! We usually set the mood with some smooth jazz (we’re big fans of Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra) and pour ourselves a favorite drink to sip while we play. Competition and belly laughs are one of our versions of an aphrodisiac. Bring it on!
*(Print this section below or save it on your phone to keep track of your at-home mini dates!)*
Mini Date Checklist
| # | Mini Date Title | Completed? |
| 1 | Memory Lane Magic | ☐ |
| 2 | Musical Moods | ☐ |
| 3 | Picasso & Giggles | ☐ |
| 4 | The Kiss That Stuck | ☐ |
| 5 | Teacher Talk | ☐ |
| 6 | Future Fantasies | ☐ |
| 7 | Hide & Go Sneak a Kiss | ☐ |
| 8 | Blindfolded Snack Test | ☐ |
| 9 | Bucket List Swap | ☐ |
| 10 | Compliment Battle | ☐ |
| 11 | Couples Yoga or Stretching | ☐ |
| 12 | Love Letter Exchange | ☐ |
| 13 | Cook Off Challenge | ☐ |
| 14 | Values Check-In | ☐ |
| 15 | First Impressions Rewind | ☐ |
| 16 | Dream Room Design | ☐ |
| 17 | Would You Rather Game | ☐ |
| 18 | Storytime Swap and Fly Away with Me | ☐ |
| 19 | Create a Relationship Playlist | ☐ |
| 20 | A Jar of Inspiration | ☐ |
| 21 | Relationship Timeline- Let’s Keep it Growing | ☐ |
| 22 | 36 Questions Challenge | ☐ |
| 23 | Movie Trailer Life | ☐ |
| 24 | Candlelight and Convo | ☐ |