It’s easy to think there aren’t many things to do in a long distance relationship. But to be completely honest…
It’s far from the truth!
As long distance couples our interactions outside of talking can be limited and we tend to fall into a routine that may start to feel redundant.
Doing activities together, other than talking, is completely possible and a great way to connect with your partner on another level.
Genuinely Fun Things To Do In A Long Distance Relationship
There are many ways to keep the conversation going, but here are our top LDR activities you can set up for your next date night!
- Cook together
- Watch movies together
- Play games together
- Visit a virtual museum
- Draw online together
- Plan your next visit
- Work, study or learn together
- Relationship quizzes
- Romantic dinner date
- Getting intimate
1. Cook your favorite meals together
Cooking together will require a bit of planning but it’s totally worth it!
This can be a lot of fun if you or your partner have a favorite recipe or cultural dish you want each other to try.
The bonus is you get to eat together afterwards!
Another cool option is to bake together. Not only will your place smell amazing, but you can also chat while everything is cooking.
Need inspiration? Check out this long distance couple that cooks together on a weekly basis. If they can do it, so can you!
2. Watch movies together online
We all have different tastes and interests. Watching movies together online is a great thing to do in long distance relationships for a couple of reasons.
- We get to learn about each others tastes and interests.
- It’s a great way to spend two hours relaxing in each others company.
If you’re unsure of what to watch, browse the web, read reviews, watch trailers and share which ones interest you. Or if you want to watch something relatable to your relationship, check out our article on LDR movies.
TIP: Use programs like Kast.gg (Web, desktop & mobile apps) and Netflix Party (Chrome browser extension) to watch movies in sync.
3. Play games together online
Who doesn’t love games? There are so many types that you’re bound to find something you can both enjoy.
Different games and websites we recommend to play together online include:
- Board Game Arena (175 board games to play for free online)
- Words With Friends (App you can play intermittently)
- Miniclip (Hundreds of Flash based games to play online)
There are also many games you can play that don’t need any materials!
- Truth or dare
- 21 questions
- Never have I ever
- Charades
4. Show & tell
Sounds simple right? Well it is!
Don’t be afraid to share interesting things with your partner. Whether you collect certain items or even if it’s a recent purchase, it can be fun to understand what makes each other ‘tick’.
Take it even further and explore things like:
- Your favorite books
- Projects you’re working on
- Photos you’ve taken etc.
5. Visit online museum exhibits
As the technology behind virtual reality and 3D mapping has become more affordable. We can now discover and explore places all over the world without leaving the house.
This is a perfect opportunity for long distance couples to take advantage of.
We really enjoy museums and historical exhibits because there is so many fascinating things to see and learn about.
Some worth checking out include:
- The Louvre (Where the Mona Lisa is kept)
- National Museum of Natural History
- NASA’s Glenn Research Center
6. Draw online together
Did you know: Studies have proven that creativity improves mental health and increases happiness.
So why not engage in creative activities together over video chat!
There are many tools available for freestyle drawing online. Some we recommend trying are:
7. Plan your next visit
There are many moving parts when it comes to planning a trip. Why not team up and plan your next visit together!
As the old saying goes:
Two heads are better than one.
Splitting tasks will not only speed up the process but you’ll likely look for different options and deals, giving you a lot more choice.
Sites we recommend to help your planning process:
- Google Flights (set up an email alert for prices around your dates)
- Secret Flying (great for finding amazing deals and error fares)
- Airbnb (vacationing together or wanting somewhere private to stay)
- iVisa (to check if you need a visa to travel)
- World Nomads Travel Insurance (make sure you’re covered)
8. Work or study together
Do you find yourselves just wanting to be in each others company? You may not want to talk but want to feel ‘close’.
Using this time for working or studying is a great option if you want to be in a calm and silent environment. There is also evidence from Stanford University researchers that working or studying together can boost motivation.
You can also bug each other for help, but not too much!
If you want to step it up a notch:
- Create a work/study music playlist together.
- Put yourself on mute if there is background noise.
- Schedule breaks to relax together.
9. Long distance relationship quizzes
While it can be fun to take a quiz to find out what kind of bread your are… why not use this time to learn about your relationship?
Completing this together will create some interesting discussion points and ways to work on yourselves and your relationship.
Relationship quizzes we recommend:
- How well do you know your partner? (The Gottman Institute)
- What is your love style? (The New York Times)
- Are you and your partner compatible? (Relate.org.uk)
10. Have a romantic dinner date
Light some candles, play a little background music and put on a nice outfit because it’s time to get ready for a romantic dinner date.
This is a great option if you’ve taken the initiative to cook together (our first LDR activity in this article) as most of the hard work is out of the way!
But it can also be a great idea to order your favorite takeout to give it a restaurant feel.
TIP: If you are going to order takeout, use a delivery service like Uber Eats because you can both select the same delivery time.
First time using Uber Eats? Get a $5 discount on your order by using the code ‘eats-vhva4‘ at checkout.
11. Getting intimate
First, let’s be clear, it’s important you both feel comfortable when it comes to getting intimate. Whether it is sexting, phone sex or being intimate online, make sure your partner is ok with the idea and always respect each other’s boundaries. This should be a fun and memorable experience for both for you.
Ready to take your relationship to the next level? Interactive couples toys are a great option.
Lovense are a company that specialises in adult devices for long distance couples. Their male (Max 2) and female (Nora) products connect to and control each other’s movements, creating an immersive experience.
What’s also awesome is that two male or two female devices can connect to each other!
You’re up!
If you’ve noticed recent video chats have become a little stale, it’s time to change things up!
Send this article to your partner and discuss what you’d both like to try.
Remember, you don’t have to do everything on this list. Pick one or two and see how it goes. From there you will likely find other things!
Final thoughts on things to do in a long distance relationship
Routine and predictability are two of the worst enemies a long distance relationship can have.
Teaming up and doing stuff together can make for great conversations, during and after those activities.
When you feel like you don’t have things to talk about, take the initiative and propose something to do together!
Livius founded Long Distance Lover in 2012 to bring straightforward and actionable advice to couples looking to strengthen their long distance relationships. He now acts as an advisor to the LDL team.
FAQs
How can I make my partner feel special in a long distance relationship? ›
- #1: Send Your Boyfriend a Lovebox.
- #2: Surprise Them With Their Fav Food Right at Their Door.
- #3: Give Him a Special Shoutout on Social Media.
- #4: Write Him a Sweet Letter.
- #5: Send Him a Good Morning Text Everyday.
- #6: Send Him a Care Package With His Favorite Things.
- Make a List of Your Goals. ...
- Ask About Their Physical, Mental, and Emotional Health. ...
- Talk About the Future. ...
- Discuss What Bothers You. ...
- Talk About Your Hardships. ...
- Ask Them What Makes Them Happy. ...
- Ask Them What Makes Them Grateful. ...
- Talk About Communication.
- Start watching a new show on Netflix together. ...
- Send each other surprise deliveries. ...
- Try using a couple's app. ...
- Send each other ~saucy~ texts. ...
- Send each other snail mail. ...
- Plan what you'll do for your next IRL date. ...
- Play video games together. ...
- Try a “miracle berry” date.
- Schedule Activities To Do Together. Ashley Batz/Bustle. ...
- Go On A Road Trip Together. ...
- Take A Trip Without Your Other Half. ...
- Be Flirty. ...
- Try A New Restaurant Together Every Month. ...
- Lay In Bed And Just Touch Each Other. ...
- Asking A Third Party For Help.
- Communicate as much (or as little) as you need to feel connected. ...
- “Be there” even when you can't actually be there. ...
- Remind your partner frequently what you love about your relationship. ...
- Forge a secure attachment by supporting each other's interests. ...
- Find a way to hang out together while apart.
Be generous with your affection.
Tell your special guy that you love him. Treat him to lots of hugs, kisses, and snuggling — whatever you know he likes. Remind him that he's the perfect one for you and that you couldn't ask for anyone better. If he knows you're being sincere, this will make him feel special.
- What's your favorite nickname?
- Describe your family dynamic.
- What's your weirdest habit or quirk?
- What were you like in high school?
- Was there an embarrassing fashion moment in your adolescence?
- Would you rather give up music or television for a month?
- What's one word that you think describes me?
- If our relationship were a TV series, what genre would it be? ...
- Did you ever think you'd be “forever alone”?
- Would you rather have a great time without me, or an average time with me?
They Have Intimate Conversations
"Some couples like to talk about their feelings, hopes, desires, and their love for one another before they go to sleep," says Robert Weiss, LCSW, CSAT-S over email. "This helps them build trust with each other and to feel safe and connected."
Each player has to answer a set of 21 questions. To make things more interesting, the players can divide the questions and allocate points to each. The person who answers them all wins. If you gather more than two people to play, all the other players get to ask you a question from the list as per their wish.
What is a fun game to play as a couple? ›
Charades is the perfect party game to play with other couples. Invite some people over and play on teams either with your significant other, or against them! Involving other people in your charades playing can make it more fun, and it will not take away from getting to know your partner better.
How do I make long distance not boring? ›- Personality/compatibility tests. ...
- Choose a book to read together. ...
- Cook together, taking turns to choose a recipe. ...
- Play some simple verbal games together. ...
- Exercise together. ...
- Change up your settings. ...
- Ask more detailed questions. ...
- Keep a daily diary but share it.
- Trust him. ...
- Encourage him. ...
- Be honest. ...
- Respect his time with friends. ...
- Don't flirt with other men. ...
- Appreciate his little efforts. ...
- Don't take him for granted. ...
- Send him sweet messages.
In plain language: Men often feel most loved by the women in their lives when their partners hug them, kiss them, smile at them, and explicitly offer gratitude, praise, and words of affection. Men also feel loved and connected through sexuality, often to a greater degree than women do.
How do you show love in long distance? ›- Share Photos or Snaps of Your Day. ...
- Start a Fun Countdown of the Next Time You See Each Other. ...
- Start a Book Club. ...
- Make a Special Couples Playlist. ...
- Build a Scavenger Hunt for Them. ...
- Get Crafty! ...
- Bake Them Their Favorite Bread or Cookies. ...
- Plan a Trip Together!
The main takeaway? “Emotional connection and support are so important in a long distance relationship,” she said. “Keeping in touch and involving each other in daily feelings and situations is powerful to keep a feeling of intimacy flowing.”
What keeps a man in a relationship? ›Respect is one thing that men value very highly. If you demean him in public or do not respect him in private, your relationship may suffer. Men value women who are respectful toward their partners as well as their dreams and aspirations. Learn to respect your man for who he is and appreciate his good qualities.
What makes a man happy? ›To make your man happy emotionally, you have to be attentive to his needs and to know when to give him space. To make your man happy sexually, you have to want to try new things and to be bold and adventurous. But the most important part is that you are feeling happy while you're pleasing your man.
How do you play 20 questions in a relationship? ›The game is pretty simple. Just create a list of twenty questions, and ask your crush one question at a time. The game can be one-sided, or you and your crush can take turns asking each other the same questions from the list (either popcorn style or each person asking the other the twenty questions straight through).
What are some juicy 21 questions? ›- What's the weirdest dream you've ever had?
- If you could travel to any year in a time machine, what year would you choose and why?
- If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
- What's one of the most fun childhood memories you have?
What is the sweetest way to Talk to your boyfriend? ›
- I love you for everything you are.
- I feel so safe with your arms around me.
- I can't stop smiling around you. You make me so happy.
- I crave you more than pizza.
- I love your _____.
- You're more than my boyfriend. ...
- Every day is an adventure with you.
- I'd do anything to see you smile.
First, keep your lips soft and slightly opened, in a gently inviting and receptive way. Don't press them together tightly, but also avoid opening them too wide. Drooling and too much saliva is almost always a turn-off for men and women. On the other hand, some women and men like steamy, sloppy, wet kissing.
How do you make him miss you at night? ›The best way to make a guy miss you is to pull away. Refrain from texting or calling him for the smallest things. If you reach out to him constantly, he does not have any chance to miss you. Instead, give your special person a reason and some time to miss you.
What couples do at night in bed? ›This can be anything from multi-player video games to scrabble, UNO or even Jenga. It keeps the relationship fun and devoid of tensions. Apart from intimacy, couples often massage each other in bed. While this is romantic only in some instances, it is usually because you tend to develop aches and pains as you age.
What should you not talk about in bed? ›- Ex Lovers. Okay, no one likes this. ...
- Anything About Work. You might have a really stressful work life but that's still no excuse for bringing it up during foreplay. ...
- Parent Problems. ...
- The Last Fight. ...
- The Marriage/Kids Talk. ...
- Your Less Common Fetishes. ...
- ANY Size.
- When was the first time you said “I love you” to someone in your life other than family?
- When and where did you go on your first date ever?
- Do you remember our first date?
- Were you nervous during our first kiss?
- When did you know you loved me?
- What is your ideal night?
For the counting to 21 game, the winning numbers are 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, and 21 itself. Students should note that we can find these numbers by moving four numbers backwards each time or by repeatedly subtracting four (starting with 21).
What is 21 Truth or dare? ›As a group, players take turns counting one, two, or three numbers in sequence from 1 to 21. The player that has to say “21,” loses the round and has to tell a truth, complete a dare, or answer a situational question. The numbers you say are entirely your choice—there are not any set patterns that you must follow.
What is the 20 questions game Texting? ›1. 20 Questions. To play the 20 questions texting game, one player must pick something from their imagination; it could be an object, place, or even an obscure celebrity. Then your friend will try to guess the object you chose in 20 "Yes or No" Questions or less.
What activities bring couples closer? ›- Go on regular dates. ...
- Spend time by yourself. ...
- Go back to where you had your first date. ...
- Focus on communication. ...
- Laugh together. ...
- Get away together. ...
- Try to understand each other. ...
- Listen to Them.
What can me and my boyfriend do? ›
- Have a Tech-Free Date Day Together. Yup, you've read that right. ...
- Plan Your Future. ...
- Get a Couples Massage. ...
- Go on a Double Date. ...
- Stargaze on a Rooftop. ...
- Write Each Other a Love Letter. ...
- Play a Sexy Game of Twister. ...
- Visit Each Others Hometowns.
- Scrabble. Classic word game!
- Yahtzee. Classic dice game! ...
- Battleship (Quick)
- Mancala (Quick) This is a classic fave that I haven't played in a long time. ...
- Monopoly. ...
- Forbidden Island (Cooperative, Quick) ...
- Forbidden Desert (Cooperative) ...
- Chess, Checkers, Batgammon (Quick)
- Personality/compatibility tests. ...
- Choose a book to read together. ...
- Cook together, taking turns to choose a recipe. ...
- Play some simple verbal games together. ...
- Exercise together. ...
- Change up your settings. ...
- Ask more detailed questions. ...
- Keep a daily diary but share it.
- Share your surroundings. ...
- Remember the big and small events. ...
- Put your life into context. ...
- Be specific when crafting your text messages. ...
- Send positive energy. ...
- Elaborate on how much you miss him. ...
- Play flirty texting games. ...
- Stop reading too much into his texts.
- #1: Send Her a Sweet Care Package.
- #2: Send Her a Lovebox.
- #3 Tell the (Cyber)World How Special She Truly Is.
- #4: Speaking of Flowers… ...
- #5: Plan a Long-Distance Movie Night.
- #6: Send her Text Messages Throughout the Day.
- Relive the pre-technology romance.
- Consider writing a surprise email.
- End of the day call.
- Get into random sext with him.
- Send some surprise gifts.
- Share some comic or goofy pictures of you.
- Some social media PDA can do.
- Consider meeting him once a while.
- of 9. Fix Him Dinner in Your Sexiest Bottoms. ...
- of 9. Draw Him a Steamy Bath. ...
- of 9. Say "Thanks" ...
- of 9. Initiate a Surprise Smooch. ...
- of 9. Pack His Lunch. ...
- of 9. Stock His Kitchen. ...
- of 9. Give Him Man-Time. ...
- of 9. Make a Spotify Playlist.
- Be knowledgeable. Nobody likes a dimwit! ...
- Take initiative. Remember the time when you two were flirtatious? ...
- Take care of yourself. ...
- Give him some space. ...
- Compliment him. ...
- Be more expressive. ...
- Show interest in his interests. ...
- Be spontaneous.