We all start with the best intentions—planning for a year full of fun, connection, and adventure with our favorite person. But let’s be real: sometimes, even planning for fun can feel like one more thing on the to-do list. That’s not the goal here. Your Magical Year of 52 Dates planner is designed to help you bring more joy, novelty, and togetherness into your relationship—without stress or overwhelm.
So if tackling all 52 dates in one big planning session sounds daunting, don’t worry! There are plenty of ways to approach it so it actually gets used and, more importantly, brings you closer together. Here are some fun, effective strategies to make the most of it.
Chunk It Down
Instead of planning out all 52 dates in one go, try breaking it into manageable chunks.
-
The Seasonal Approach – Plan 3 months at a time. Pick your weekly and monthly dates for the next season, then revisit and refresh as each new season begins.
-
The Monthly Power Hour – Set aside one hour at the start of each month to select and schedule your dates. Put it on the calendar so it actually happens!
-
The "Just Pick 5" Rule – If you’re short on time, pick just five dates to plan ahead—four weekly dates and one bigger monthly adventure. This keeps things flexible while ensuring you’re still making time for connection.
Give Yourself a Time Limit
Planning shouldn’t feel like homework! Try setting a timer for each section:
-
10 Minutes: Inspiration – Flip through the idea pages and quickly check off what sounds fun. Don’t overthink it!
-
15 Minutes: Collaboration – Compare notes with your partner, discuss your top picks, and use the rating system to find common ground.
-
15 Minutes: Implementation – Pick your dates, mark them on the calendar, and jot down any action steps.
-
Done! No need to over-plan—just pick what sounds fun and go for it.
Turn Planning Into a Date Itself
Who says the planning process can’t be fun? Pour some wine, grab snacks, and make an evening of it! Here are some ways to make it a date-night all on its own:
-
Make it a game – Write down ideas, throw them in a bowl, and take turns drawing. Whatever you pull, you have to do!
-
Dream big together – Before finalizing anything, spend a few minutes dreaming about your bucket-list experiences as a couple. What would be amazing to do together this year?
-
Add a surprise element – Each of you picks one date the other won’t know about until the day of.
- Schedule a get-away - Sometimes a change of scenery can be just the thing to aid your creativity. Take the excuse for a weekend get-away and work on it in pieces throughout.
