Dating in college brings more excitement than most dating times in your life.  You are young, good looking, and have the adventurous side to go for pretty much anything.  However, often, as a relationship progresses, the spontaneous adventures such as leaving for a weekend to California are replaced with eating pizza instead of the traditional tacos for your Friday entree. 

After a couple flies over the beginning hurdles, date night activities can plummet to worse and worse levels.  A so-so date night leaves couples feeling unfulfilled and, frankly, bored with the relationship.  Here are 5 dates that should never be considered dates again.

1. TV Shows and Movies

Even my boyfriend and I have our top favorite shows on TV.  TV and movies at home relaxes the mind and the body, giving both of us a chance to unwind after a long day. However, watching House sitting on the couch together doesn’t exactly scream bonding or encourage conversation.

Solution: Shut off the TV and clear your mind by making your own movie...which will probably be a lot more enjoyable to watch later.

2. Running Errands

Sometimes time runs out, why not bring your girlfriend along to the car parts store, grocery shopping, and by your buddy’s house to say hi? Think back to when you were 10 and your mother dragged you all over town to the store and dress shopping, only to run into a friend she chatted with for thirty minutes.  No one likes to be the errand side-kick.

Solution: Make it worth his or her while.  If you have to get things done, do them fast, and then finish with nice dinner.

3. Homework Night

Cuddling up around a library table to the sweet whispers of typing and flipping pages shoves romance as far out your mind, as it is full of calculus and chemistry.  Plus, equating brain melting studying with a fun dating might start some aversions to your significant other....

Solution: The stacks beg for you to sneak off and enjoy yourself, but thinking outside the obvious; if you have to study, break up the marathon with a 30-minute coffee break with no homework talk.

4. Hanging out with Friends

Tossing friends into the mix stimulate parties, bowling, bars, cards, Wii games and more.  Add in your best friend, his buddies, and their significant others and it becomes sort of an extravaganza. With all those people around all the time, when does the couple have time for couple time?

Solution: Either limit your number of group dates or have more one-on-one (pun intended!) time away from friends. Logging a few hours together never hurts.

5. Napping

Holding each other close for 3-4 hours actually has the foundation for a great date, but not if you are both unconscious. Neither of you get to know anything more about each other’s lives, and honestly, if you can do it with your cat, it is not a date. 

Solution: Napping together tops off a great day of playing Frisbee in the park or after a day in the mountains.