from datetime import datetime
datetime_str = '09/19/18 13:55:26'
datetime_object = datetime.strptime(datetime_str, '%m/%d/%y %H:%M:%S')
print(type(datetime_object))
print(datetime_object) # printed in default format
date_str = '09-19-2018'
date_object = datetime.strptime(date_str, '%m-%d-%Y').date()
print(type(date_object))
print(date_object) # printed in default formatting
df['date_time']=pd.to_datetime(df['date_time'], format='%d-%m-%Y %H.%M.%S')
#fomrat given in code should match the format of the feature
#here--> df['date_time'][0]=10-03-2004 18.00.00
#watchout for the blanks '-' '.'datetime.datetime.now().date()