Virtual Date Ideas for Long-Distance Couples: The Activities We Loved Most
Updated: 5 days ago
How We Made Long Distance Feel More Connected
Long distance is hard. There are good days and not-so-good days, but ultimately, for the one you love, it is always worth it. My boyfriend and I were in a long-distance relationship for 2½ years and learned so much about how to manage the distance and make it fun and productive for both of us. Now, I am here to share those tips and tricks so you and your loved one can enjoy all your moments together, even the ones spent miles apart.
The main things my boyfriend and I did to feel more connected were to schedule time to talk and be intentional about the time we spent talking. These two things were a must because scheduling time to talk took away any guessing games about when the other was available, and being intentional about the topics and activities we did while on the phone or FaceTime bred valuable conversations that actually deepened our relationship. In the rest of this blog, I am going to share our favourite intentional virtual dates that had the most positive impact on our relationship while we were long-distance.
Our Favourite Virtual Date Ideas
Exploring Long-Distance Apps Together
There are so many apps out there that are tailored specifically to long-distance couples! One intentional activity my boyfriend and I planned for our FaceTime calls was to explore the App Store and figure out what worked for us. Over the past 2½ years, we have tried many apps, some great and some not so great. Below are our top three favourites:
Locket: A shared home-screen widget where your random daily photos pop up on their phone, keeping you both effortlessly involved in each other’s routines.
Mario Kart Tour: A fun mobile racing game where you and your partner (or long-distance bestie) can race against each other, adding some friendly competition to your virtual dates!
GamePigeon: Mini-games you can play directly through iMessage. My boyfriend and I loved it because it’s so accessible and easy to use, making it perfect for a quick bit of friendly competition from miles away.
These were some of our favourites, but the whole idea of this FaceTime date is to figure out what works for you and your partner! If you need more ideas, head over to our Instagram, where we posted more App & Website Recommendations for Long-Distance Couples.
Cooking the Same Meal over Video Call
My personal favourite date that we did was cooking together via FaceTime. My boyfriend and I would take turns choosing a recipe, with one of us guiding the other through the instructions each time. Once we had chosen a recipe, we would each hang up and head to the grocery store to get the ingredients, and once we were back, we
would hop back on the call and start cooking! My boyfriend is an incredible cook, so I always preferred when he was head chef, but getting to be the one in charge ended up being unexpectedly fun for me as well! Make sure you plan this one in advance because the whole process takes a while, and you want to leave enough time for the two of you to enjoy the meal “together” at the end. If you are looking for specific recipe ideas, stay tuned because an Instagram post is coming with recipe suggestions for this virtual date idea!
Setting Personal Goals Together
This virtual date idea was the most impactful on my boyfriend and I's relationship. Whenever we returned to long-distance after visiting each other, we would schedule a FaceTime call to discuss the goals we wanted to focus on while we were apart. These were short-term goals that were achievable during the time between seeing each other next. For example, if we weren’t going to see each other for a month, we would set goals that were achievable within that month.
We also created categories for these goals: finance, health, mental, and personal. A mental goal would be something like journaling three times a week to help with mental clarity or meditating for 10 minutes every evening. A personal goal was more open-ended. I remember one time my personal goal was to learn how to sew.
This was simply the format that worked for us, but you can absolutely make this date your own! The beauty of it is that you get to focus on yourselves and work towards your individual goals while still being involved in each other’s lives. You can check in on each other’s progress, offer encouragement, and hold each other accountable, helping you feel connected even when you’re miles apart.
Tips for Planning a Virtual Date That Feels Special
The most important thing is finding what works for you and your partner! Here are a few tips we learned along the way to make your virtual dates successful:
Plan ahead: Schedule your dates so you both have something to look forward to, and nobody feels like they need to move their schedule around to accommodate a last-minute FaceTime call.
Mix it up: Balance fun activities, like playing games, with more meaningful dates, like setting goals together.
Keep it simple: Virtual dates don’t have to be expensive or elaborate. Sometimes, a simple FaceTime call is all you need.
Try new things: Don’t be afraid to explore different apps and activities until you find your favourites!
Zero-pressure attitude: Sometimes, a date might not go as planned. One of you might be tired, or the recipe you chose might be a flop! Be patient with each other and give each other grace.
Comments