Long Distance Date Ideas
Anyone in a long distance relationship knows how difficult they can be are. It’s not just that it sucks being physically apart – being alone, wishing they were there to hear that joke or watch that great film you just saw. Beyond that, the distance can wreak havoc on your emotional state.
Suddenly, the small things that wouldn’t normally cause an issue in a normal relationship seem like the biggest problems in the world and you begin to bicker for no other reason than the fact that you simply miss each other.
Without a doubt, a long distance relationship can take a toll on you. One of the trickiest aspects of a LDR is the fact that it can be really difficult to mix things up when you’re apart. Other than staying in contact digitally through phone calls, texts, emails and FaceTime, what can you do to actually connect? If you’re in a long distance relationship you’re well aware that it can seem challenging to feel like you have a normal relationship with one another because you don’t get to take part in any normal date activities. While other couples are out for dinner, at the bar or enjoying some Netflix and Chill, you’re apart – again.
There is a silver lining to all this – LDR lovers typically learn to communicate much more effectively than people in normal relationships because you have no other choice. But that doesn’t mean that the only thing you can do with your long distance love is simply talk – there are plenty of ways to get creative with long distance dates.
And bear in mind that when we say “date,” we rarely mean the traditional dinner/dancing/drinks/movie format. We firmly believe that any effort to spend time together and connect constitutes as a date. Here are some of our favourite long distance date ideas that kept us feeling like we were really part of each others’ lives, even when more than 5,000 miles separated us.
1. Play games online together
This is something we used to do pretty frequently. Our favourite game was an online mini golf game that we would spend hours playing. It was a different way to interact with one another and because we weren’t constantly talking about the distance between us, we thought a little less about it in the moment which made us feel closer automatically.
2. Scavenger hunt
This is a really fun idea that gets you out and about. Each partner should come up with a list of items for the other. Exchange the lists, and send one another out on a scavenger hunt. If you’re comfortable doing so, you can carry out your scavenger hunt while you’re on FaceTime or Skype. If you’re not comfortable doing this, you can just send photos of the items as you find them. Even if you don’t do this over video chat, it’s a great feeling that you’re out doing something together, even when you’re apart!
3. Movie night
Don’t let close proximity couples get all the glory of movie night. This is a great one to plan if you’re not separated by too many time zones. Choose a movie to watch together, each of you planning ahead and purchasing some of your favourite movie night treats, like pizza and ice cream (our favourites? M&Ms and peanut butter cups). Watch the movie together over FaceTime or Skype. This is a great way to connect in real time and actually feel like you’re doing a normal date activity together.
4. Book club
If you’re both lovers of the written word, you can make your own little book club for two. Take turns choosing which book you will read each week or month (choose a time frame that suits your reading speeds) and have regular catch ups about what’s happening in the book. When you’ve both finished, you can have an in-depth chat to share your thoughts and impressions about the book.
5. Series binge
You’ve probably figured it out by now, but we are big fans of movies and shows. We love reading too, but it’s a little more solitary. A series is trickier than a movie for two simple reasons: it’s a much bigger commitment, and self control comes easier to some people than others. But if you think you’re up to it, come up with your own way of watching (will it be together over FaceTime? Will you watch separately and talk about it on the weekends? You figure out what works for you) and this can be a great way to feel connected and like you’re working through something together.
6. Be creative – together
If you’re both creative people, try working on a little project together. The obvious one is if you both write, perhaps try writing a collaborative story. If you’re musical, how about composing a song? And if you’re not traditionally creative but have hobbies, mix things up – if you like walking, what’s more romantic than going on an early morning hike and sending your true love a photo of the sunrise?
We hope this post has been helpful, but don’t let it be too prescriptive. If none of these work for you then it’s just a case of finding out what does.
Have fun with it!
If you already have date ideas, what has worked for you? We’d love to know – share with us!