The next time you are planning a date night or giving your partner hints as to what you want, consider your sun, moon, and Venus sign, and what your heart would prefer. When it comes to the perfect date night for your zodiac sign, you have to get to the basics of what values the signs have, how they receive others, and what makes them feel safe to open up to love. Fire signs love having fun and prefer something passionate. They would feel loved when their partner suggests doing something adventurous- and feels confident doing so. An earth sign prefers gestures of love in a sweet and settled way and wants a date night where they feel safe, comfortable, and like they can just be themselves.
Overall, when it comes to love and figuring out what you need or what your partner does, you want to look at your sun sign as the basis, as well as your moon sign, which is what you emotionally crave, and Venus sign, which is how you love. When reading below, consider your sun, moon, and Venus signs.
ARIES
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Game Night
Aries, being a fire sign, like excitement in their life and that is no different when it comes to a date night. Being a competitive sign, the perfect date night for an Aries is a game night. Do something that gets them thinking and that makes them feel like you are on their level of excitement and fun in life. A game night can consist of a traditional board game or Pictionary type of situation, but this can also entail going to a professional game like an NFL or an NBA game. Aries’ have a youthful spirit and want this type of fun when it comes to love.
TAURUS
Staycation
Taurus is a homebody but they also happen to be romantics at heart. A staycation is a perfect date for a Taurus because they don’t have to venture too far out of their comfort zone, but to be treated to something special like a vacation or an over-nighter will make them feel special. A staycation is where you book a house, Airbnb, hotel, or whatever in a unique place and enjoy the comfort of your city, but in a new home. Adorn the house with red roses, candles, and their favorite foods- and you are set.
GEMINI
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Couples Massage
Geminis are all about partnership, and in a relationship, they are the definition of two becoming one. A couples massage is something you both can do together, and also a way to ease Gemini’s overactive mind, and get them to be in the moment. Geminis are very active and like to be everywhere at once so getting an opportunity to settle down, especially with their partner, helps them focus on what’s important and feel more at ease to open their hearts and be in that space of romance and love as well.
CANCER
Home-Cooked Meal + Movie
Cancer, like Taurus, are home-body souls. They want to be in their safe spaces and only come out of their crab shell for special occasions. A perfect date night for a Cancer is one where they can experience all of the pleasures of a date night- but in the comfort of their own home. Cook a Cancer a special meal, plan a movie where you can cuddle, and take things easy. Cancer prefers slow and steady in love, and acts of service such as cooking a meal for them truly do wonders. Tell them how much they mean to you, and you will receive Cancer at their best.
LEO
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Go Dancing
Leo prefers a night out on the town. A Leo loves to dance, be the center of attention, and be adored by their partner. The perfect date night for a Leo is to have some fun and make them feel special. Go out to a club, take dancing classes, or just explore the town together to provide the perfect date night for a Leo. Dressing up and having fun is everything to a Leo and this is truly where they shine and where they love. If you give Leo all of the attention and love they deserve, that goes a long way for them.
VIRGO
Romantic Picnic With a View
Virgo is a romantic with the right partner. They are often the givers in love, so to go out of your way to do something special for them would mean a lot to Virgo. Being an earth sign, nature is especially therapeutic for Virgo, and setting up a nice, romantic, picnic with good scenery is a recipe for success. The perfect date night for Virgo is where you take care of everything without letting them lift a finger and set up a vibe where they feel relaxed and loved. They even have services now where you can hire someone to professionally set up a cute picnic for you and your partner, as we all know Virgo does love perfection.
LIBRA
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Shopping
Shopping? Yes, shopping. When it comes to Libra, there are many things they love in life, and shopping is at the top of that list. A Libra wants to feel luxurious, beautiful, and like a work of art. They bring this energy into their relationships and they expect this type of love and affection from others as well. Treating your Libra date to a shopping spree would be perfect for this air sign and something they will definitely brag about to their friends later. Take a Libra to their favorite store and mall for a date night- and you are in.
SCORPIO
Art Museum
When it comes to Scorpio, they love time away with their lover. They love to be places where others typically aren’t, and the perfect date night for a Scorpio is one where it's quieter and more intimate. Scorpios have a deep appreciation for art and for things that make you feel something. Bringing Scorpio to an art museum will not only make them see you as unique, but it’s also the perfect vibe for them to feel more comfortable and less pressured. If you can go at a time when there are fewer people around and only you two- the better.
SAGITTARIUS
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Helicopter Ride
Sagittarius is all about going big or going home. They do so many adventures and out-of-the-ordinary stuff for their own selves that you really have to step up to the plate and meet them where they are. A romantic helicopter ride overlooking the city is as spectacular as Sagittarius’ expectations and would make them feel like they won big time. Sagittarius most of all needs adventure and they look for a partner that has this same type of confidence and open mind when it comes to love, life, and experiences with another.
CAPRICORN
Dinner at a 5-Star Restaurant
A Capricorn is the perfect balance between chill and bougie. They aren’t one to judge someone and the place they are in life, but they do prefer the best of the best for themselves. You might get away with a dinner at a regular restaurant once or twice, but they want a partner that is able to add something to their lives overall. Dinner at a 5-star restaurant is simple enough to where this earth sign doesn’t feel too out of their comfort zone, but also nice enough to where they feel valued and like you value the relationship as well.
AQUARIUS
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See Their Favorite Artist in Concert
Aquarius either wants to have fun or be alone. When they are in that space of being out and about, however, they are some of the most outgoing and fun signs of the zodiac. The perfect date night for an Aquarius would be to take them to see their favorite artist in concert. Surprise them with tickets to see someone they love, and they also wouldn’t mind a double-date type of situation as well or inviting some friends with you guys. Keeping things light-hearted is the perfect way to connect with an Aquarius and allow them to open up to you.
PISCES
Star Gazing at the Beach
As a water sign, being near any body of ocean is the best place for Pisces to be. Taking them to the beach at night is romantic for Pisces, and if you aren’t near a beach, going outside and being around nature works as well. You can have a romantic date night by laying out a blanket on the sand, or by sitting on top of your car like all the rom-coms have shown us how, and gazing at the stars while talking and opening up. Pisces isn’t high-maintenance so just taking the time to do something special for them would make their heart happy.
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Anyway, I personally think that the less shallow folks out here may contemplate calling things “quits” or they at least distance themselves a bit from their partner (and what I’m referring to is serious relationships) due to all of the stress and strain that oftentimes comes with the holidays whether it be financial, familial, due to their tight schedules or something else.
Listen, I would hate for you and your man to miss the fun and happiness of experiencing this time of year, all because you are so overwhelmed or irritated that you can’t really enjoy it. That’s why I have a few practical tips for how to avoid allowing the typical holiday season stress from INFECTING your relationship.
Manage Your Expectations
GiphyUnmanaged expectations. If there is a main reason why the holiday season tends to be so stress-filled for so many people, I’d bet good money that this is the cause. And when you’re in a long-term relationship, expectations can manifest themselves in all sorts of cryptic and/or unexpected ways. You might have relatives who assume that you are going to be with them for Thanksgiving or Christmas when you have other plans in mind. You might be thinking that you are going to spend one amount for presents while your man is thinking something totally different. When it comes to scheduling, your signals may be crossed.
And you know what? To all of these scenarios, this is where clear and consistent communication come in. Don’t assume anything. Don’t dictate anything either. From now until New Year’s, mutually decide to check in once a week, just to make sure that you are both on the same page as it relates to the holidays and what you both are thinking will come along with it. The less blindsided you both feel, the less stressed out you will be. Trust me on this.
Set (and Keep) a Budget
GiphyOkay, so I read that last year, 36 percent of Americans incurred some type of holiday-related debt. Hmph. Last year, there was still some sense of normalcy in this country, chile, so I can only imagine what finances are gonna look like over the next several weeks. That said, since I don’t know a lot of people who don’t find being broke stressful, make sure that you and your bae set a budget and then stick to it this year — no ifs, ands or buts.
Because really, y’all — it doesn’t make sense to deplete savings and/or max out credit cards for a few days of giggles only to be damn near losing your mind because you don’t know how to make ends meet come Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
And by the way, this tip doesn’t just speak to things like food and gifts; I also mean travel. If it doesn’t make a ton of sense (or cents) to be all over the place this year — DON’T BE.
Keep Matthew 5:37 at the Forefront
GiphyIf off the top of your head, you don’t know what Matthew 5:37 says, no worries, here ya go: “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” That verse right there? Oh, it’s a boundaries lifesaver! I say that because do you see “maybe” or “I’ll think about it” in there? Nope. LOL. It says that you should tell people “yes” or “no” and leave it at that — and that complements Anne Lamott’s quote, “’No’ is a complete sentence” impeccably well. Yeah, you’ve got to remember that anything beyond a yes or no to a request is privileged information; you don’t owe anyone details or an explanation.
Besides, if you are really honest with yourself, when someone asks you something and you give a “Umm, let me think about it” kind of reply, more times than not, you already know what your answer is going to be — so why not let you both off of the hook? Give your response. Commit to that. And let everyone (including yourself) get on with their lives and schedules.
I promise you that when it comes to those holiday parties, you are pissing more folks off by not RSVP’ing or doing so and not showing up than just saying, “Thank you but not this year” off the rip.
Remember That Your Personal Space Is Privilege Not a Right
GiphyA friend of mine recently bought a new house and invited me over to come see it. He’s a single man with no children, so as I was taking in all of the space that he had, especially as I walked through his finished basement, I joked about relatives coming to live with him. “Hell no” and “absolutely not” were pretty much his immediate responses as he went on to say that some folks even had the nerve to be offended when he told them that he had no intentions on taking DNA in.
Ain’t it wild how people think that your stuff is their right? And yes, that brings me to my next point. Your home is your sanctuary space. If you want to host folks this year — cool. If not, ALSO COOL. Please don’t let folks (family included) guilt you into how they want you to act or even into what they would do if the shoe was on the other foot. You are not them — and as one of my favorite quotes states, “If two people were exactly alike, one of them would be unnecessary.” (A man by the name Larry Dixon said that.)
Hell, my friends? They know that I am good for sending them random things that they need or even want all throughout the year. Coming over to hang out at my pace, though. Uh-uh. Chalk it up to being a card-carrying member of the ambivert club yet I like keeping my living space personal — and I sleep like a baby, each and every night, for feeling that way.
Always remember that your space, your time, your resources, your energy and shoot, yourself period (including your relationship), are all things that are your own. You get to choose how, when and why you want to share them. The holiday season is certainly no exception.
Cultivate Some “You Two Only” Traditions
GiphyIt’s not uncommon for some couples to hit me up after the holiday season to “detox.” Sometimes it’s due to the financial drama (and sometimes trauma) that they experienced. Sometimes it’s because they allowed their relatives (especially in-laws) to get more into their personal business than they should’ve. More than anything, though, it tends to be because they didn’t get enough quality time together and so ended up feeling “disconnected.”
Please don’t let that happen. Listen, I’m not even a holidays kind of woman and yet, I will absolutely sit myself down with some hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies to enjoy a Hallmark holiday film or two. Aside from the fact that most of them are lighthearted and sweet, I also like that they usually focus on couples loving on each other amidst all of the holiday beauty and ambiance — which is something that all couples should set aside some time to do.
Maybe it’s a vacation. Maybe it’s a staycation. Or maybe it’s my personal favorite, A SEXCATION. Whether it’s for a few days, the weekend or even overnight — don’t you let the holidays go by without setting aside time for you and your man to celebrate one another. Don’t you dare (check out “Are You Ready To Have Some Very Merry 'Christmas Sex'?”).
GET. SOME. REST.
GiphyI once read that 8 out of 10 people get stressed out over the holidays and 3 out of 10 lose sleep during to it — and when you’re stress-filled and sleep-deprived, that can absolutely lead to hypersensitivity, making mountains out of molehills and even not being in the mood for sex.
Your relationship can’t afford to go through any of this, so definitely make sure to prioritize rest. I don’t care how unrealistic it might seem during this time, sleep should never be seen as a luxury; it will always and forever be a great necessity.
That said, try to get no less than six hours of shut-eye in (check out “6 Fascinating Ways Sex And Sleep Definitely Go Hand In Hand”) and even ask your bae to take a nap with you sometimes (check out “Wanna Have Some Next-Level Sex? Take A Nap, Sis.”). Not only will sleep help to restore your mind, body and spirit but, when it’s with your partner, it’s an act of intimacy that can make you both feel super connected, even in the midst of what might feel like chaos.
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Holiday season stress is real. Still, never give it the permission or power to throw your relationship off. Put you and your man first and let the holidays be what they are gonna be, chile.
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And so, since this is the time of year when catching a cold (and/or the flu) is common, let’s talk about the impact that sleep (and again, a lack thereof) has on your immune system. That way, you can remain as healthy as possible during the fall and winter seasons.
1. Less Sleep Means More Colds
GiphyLike I stated in the intro, I’m pretty sure you’ve heard somewhere that the fall and winter are the seasons when people are most susceptible to catching a cold or coming down with the flu. And that’s exactly why I thought I would start this all off by sharing the fact that some studies reveal that if you get less than six hours of sleep, on a consistent basis, you end up making yourself more vulnerable to coming down with both. In fact, some research says that only 18 percent of people who get six-plus hours of rest caught a cold while almost 40 percent who got less than that did.
The logic behind it all is sleep gives your body time to build up the proteins and cells (like cytokines and T-cells) that you need to fight off certain viruses. So, if nothing bothers you more than having a stuffy nose or stubborn cough when it’s cold outside, getting more sleep is one way to prevent that from happening to you.
2. Less Sleep Means More Allergy Symptoms
GiphyAt the end of the day, an allergy is basically what transpires whenever your immune system “overreacts” to something that other people’s systems do not. And since sleep is what helps to keep your immune system nice and strong — well, I’m sure you get how less allergy-related symptoms and more sleep go hand in hand. Also, since sleep helps to decrease bodily inflammation (more on that in a bit) and inflammation can also intensify allergy symptoms, that’s just one more reason to get as much shut-eye as possible.
3. Less Sleep Means Potential Diabetes and Heart Disease
GiphyDid you know that in 2024, Black women were diagnosed with diabetes 24 percent more than any other adult demographic. Also, it continues to be a reality that heart disease is the leading cause of death for Black women. These two sobering statistics alone should be enough of an incentive to do whatever you can to keep the risk of diabetes and heart disease way down.
One way to do that is by getting more sleep. Aside from the fact that sleep strengthens your immune system to where it is easier for you to fight off illness and diseases, sleep can keep your blood sugar levels in a healthy space; plus, when it comes to your heart, it gives it, along with your arteries and blood vessels a break.
4. Less Sleep Means Less Time for Your Body to Push “Reset”
GiphyIf you really stopped to consider all that your body goes through during the day (you can read some about that here), you definitely would respect it enough to do your best to thank it by giving it no less than six hours of sleep, each and every night. Sleep is what helps to slow your brain and body down so they are able to “refuel” for the next day. After all, how can your body prevent you from getting sick if your immune system is too worn out to fight ailments off? Exactly.
5. More Sleep Helps You to Fight Off Infections
GiphySpeaking of, in order for your body to fight off infections, there are certain cells and antibodies within you that need to be healthy and strong — one way that they get and stay that way is by you getting a good amount of sleep. For instance, remember when I touched on cytokines earlier? Well, the same way that they help to prevent colds, they also help to prevent infections too. And since sleep lowers your cortisol (stress) levels, rest gives your body the time and space to build up an army that can fight off free radicals and other health-related challenges while you are awake.
6. More Sleep Lowers Bodily Inflammation
GiphyWhenever a health-related issue is mentioned on this platform, inflammation is something that is mentioned quite a bit. Probably the easiest way to explain inflammation is it’s how your body responds/reacts whenever something is happening to your body that shouldn’t be, whether it’s an illness, an injury, a germ or something that you may be allergic to.
If you happen to have chronic inflammation, some symptoms that are associated with that include fatigue, stiff joints, skin rashes, weight gain and moodiness.
The interesting thing about all of this is if you aren’t getting enough rest, you could be triggering inflammation in your body. That’s because studies reveal that a lack of sleep can elevate molecules that are associated with inflammation. So, if you don’t want inflammation to increase within your system, you should definitely catch more zzz’s.
7. More Sleep Regulates Hormones
GiphyWhen it comes to hormones like serotonin, estrogen and cortisol, believe it or not, they play a role in how your immune system acts and overreacts. That’s because, if your hormones are out of balance, that can cause your immune system to work harder than it actually should and that can make you more vulnerable to sickness. One way to keep your hormones leveled out? SLEEP.
That’s because sleep gives your body the opportunity to rest, repair and restore your hormone levels. On the other hand, when you are sleep deprived, that can put/keep your hormones on the ultimate roller coaster ride. #notgood
8. More Sleep Strengthens Vaccines
flu shot GIF - Find & Share on GIPHYGiphyIf you’re someone who is good for getting some sort of vaccine around this time of the year, make sure that you rest up before and after getting your shots. Not only does adequate rest before a vaccination help your immune system to be better receptive to your shots but sleep also helps your body to build up enough antibodies to make your vaccinations effective after getting them. Because if you’re gonna get pricked, shouldn’t it be worth it? My thoughts exactly.
Get some freakin’ sleep! Your immune system depends on it.
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