In her new book, 500 Great Dates, Lisa Sussman emphasises how important it is to keep dating, regardless of how long you've been together.

"The last thing you want is for date night to become a chore, or a dull not a dinner-and-a-movie again' routine," she says.

The dating game isn't exclusively for those in the "young, free and single" club. Even if you've clocked up 20 years together, dating as a couple can remind each of you just why you fell head over heels.

Sussman explains: "Having regularly scheduled date nights can keep you close and connected for years to come. It's not about having the fanciest date or the most expensive or elaborate one.

"Date nights work their magic simply by giving you a chance to catch up with each other and shut out the noise of your busy lives.

"It doesn't take much to pack a little lovey-doveyness into your night out. Mixing things up is what keeps your date feeling interesting and new."

If your love life is feeling a little lacklustre, hit the dating scene - with your partner, of course! Even with a stressful job and screaming kids to juggle, making time for each other can revive a flagging romance.

"You may feel too tired to keep your date - keep it anyway," Sussman says. "What you do isn't as important as that you do it together.

"Ultimately, dating is really just a catch-all word for connecting, communicating, co-operating, communing and all the other good stuff that defines a good relationship."

You may not be able to recreate those first-date jitters but continuing to enjoy the dating game can inject some passion into a placid relationship.

Sussman says: "No matter what happens between you, you can always rely on your dates to bring you back to the beginning of your relationship and forward into the future."

l 500 Great Dates is published by Sterling Publishing Co, priced £5.99.