With the pandemic keeping everyone inside their own homes, maintaining relationships has been quite a task. And it’s a completely different level of struggle for couples in long distance relationships. With the virus nowhere close to vanishing, all planned meetups for 2020 have been pushed further into the future. So, how do you really maintain a healthy, fun, and “normal” relationship in the new normal? Here are some crazy, old school, and fun ideas on how to maintain a long distance relationship.

1. Netflix party and chill

All of us are grateful for Netflix Party which makes staying home all the time a little more bearable. With synchronized video playback and a chatbox on the side, it is a great way to bond with your long distance boo. While you can’t really catch up for a movie date, a virtual movie date is the new age solution to all your problems. Grab some popcorn and start a movie marathon!

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2. Make use of your musical instruments

If one of you knows how to play an instrument, here’s a fun idea. Get on a video call with your partner and have a weekend concert all by yourself. Send them recommendations of all your favourite songs and sing along while they play their instrument. To take it up a notch, make a nice cocktail for yourself, light some candles, dress up, and have a fun evening together.

3. Go old school and write letters to each other

No matter how corny or cheesy this sounds, going old school is always fun. I mean, sending long texts is nice but handwritten letters have a unique charm. Be genuine, go crazy, and express how much they mean to you in your own way. It’s way more intimate and meaningful, and you can always sit together and go through them some day.

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4. Go out on a walk, virtually

The next time you go out for a stroll in the park or take your dog out, bring your partner along. Get on a video call and let them accompany you while you are out. This way, you can give them a quick tour of your place and vice versa. And spending time outside with your bae can be really refreshing and fun.

5. Make a bucket list of all the things you want to do next year

Whether it’s planning a lunch date, going to a concert, or cocktails at a fancy bar, make a bucket list with your partner for next year. You can discuss all the things you could have done this year and keep adding them to your bucket list for 2021. This way, you will have a lot of time to spend planning little adventures with your partner. And it will also help you in exploring each other’s interests.

6. Create a travel scrapbook for the next few years

While we all had vacay plans this year, we had to settle with trips to grocery stores. But don’t let that be a downer because you can always gear up for another year. Sit down with your partner on a call and discuss all the places you want to visit in the coming year. Create a fun travel scrapbook and pen down all your travel plans for the years ahead.

7. Play games and solve puzzles

What’s more fun than a games night with your partner? Take quizzes, solve puzzles, and play games together online. It’s a fun way to enjoy each other’s company and spend some quality time together. Get a little competitive and raise the stakes by keeping prizes at the end (get sneaky!). That’s how to maintain a long-distance relationship without losing the element of surprise.

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8. Create a Spotify playlist for each other

Back in the day, one of the most romantic gestures was making a mixtape for your partner. And let’s just say that not much has changed and it still remains an elite way of showing love. But, instead of an actual mixtape, make a Spotify playlist for each other. You can give it a cute name and share it with your partner. Who says long distance relationships can’t be intimate?

9. Start your own book club

This is one of the most exciting and therapeutic ways to spend time when you are away from each other. Every week or month, pick a book you both would like and read it. Once it’s over, you can get on a Zoom call and have a discussion on it. You can even club it with a virtual dinner date and dress up a little. That’s how you can have a nice date once in a while with new things to talk about.

Keep the romance alive!