5 Tips To Bond With Your Partner In A Long-distance Relationship
My partner and I have known each other for many years now, most of them spent thousands of miles apart, so we consider ourselves to be a long-distance relationship, or LDR, experts. Though the pandemic has halted plans to finally close the gap, the ways we connect with each other have grown.
If you're struggling with staying connected in your relationships right now, whether they're romantic, familial, or platonic, here are some things my partner and I do to stay connected, even when we're apart:
1. Watch TV or movies together
Miss going to the movies with your friends or family? Get everyone together to watch something with Teleparty, a free Chrome extension that allows you to synchronously watch shows and movies on various streaming platforms. Teleparty has a built-in text chat, but my partner and I usually hang out in a Discord voice call while watching.
2. Hang out on camera or mic
One of my favorite parts of being in a relationship is the ability to be doing separate things in the same space, and this is a way to facilitate that same feeling over distance. My partner and I will hop on a voice or video call and just go about our activities as normal.
I might be reading or writing while he draws or plays a video game, and we'll occasionally voice opinions on our activities. It's comforting and makes the days feel less lonely. I also do this with my friends if we're playing separate games, and with my mom, as we both cook dinner.
3. Play multiplayer games
My partner and I are already into video games, so finding something we can both play is relatively easy. We enjoy Teamfight Tactics as our first choice game, but also have a fun time with other games like Among Us and Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
Luckily, multiplayer is a common feature in a lot of games, so try browsing Steam's multiplayer and online co-op tags for something that appeals to your tastes. Some of these co-op games can be played with larger groups of people so you can play with all your friends.
If your family isn't into video games, classic games like charades, Taboo, and Scattergories can be played over Zoom video calls really easily!
4. Write letters and send gifts
The postal service is your best friend right now! Love letters may seem outdated, but there's something special about having a physical object with your partner's handwriting on it.
Small gifts are also treasured keepsakes. Send them a shirt or jacket of yours, or something you think they'd enjoy as a surprise. When it comes to friends and family, letters still have a vintage charm, and thoughtful gifts are bound to make anyone smile.
5. Have a virtual date
You can watch your favorite musician do a virtual concert, do a virtual escape room, follow the same art tutorial on YouTube as if you were at a paint and sip studio, or just share dinner and drinks together. These virtual get-togethers can also be done with your friends or family members.
The most important thing is, no matter what you choose to do, to make spending time with your loved ones a priority. It takes a lot more effort to socialize now that we can't just exist in the same space as other people, but the connections we share with others are worth the time and energy they take to maintain.
Opinions and Perspectives
The article missed mentioning online classes you can take together
We've found that scheduled calls work better than spontaneous ones
Sometimes we just sit in silence together on video call. It's surprisingly comforting
International shipping delays can be frustrating but make the surprises more special
We alternate who plans the virtual date each week. Keeps things interesting
The shared viewing platforms sometimes lag for us but it's better than nothing
Finding the right balance of communication takes time. Don't force what doesn't feel natural
We've created our own traditions around virtual dates. Makes them feel more special
I love how these suggestions can be adapted for different types of relationships
Our timezone difference makes gaming together tough but we make it work on weekends
Sometimes simple video calls are the best. Don't need to always plan activities
We've started learning a language together online. Gives us something to practice together
The virtual dates felt weird at first but now we look forward to them every week
Having background noise of my partner doing their thing helps me feel less alone
We tried gaming but ended up arguing too much. Stick to what works for your relationship
The letter writing suggestion inspired us to start a joint journal we mail back and forth
I've found that mixing up activities keeps things fresh. Can't just rely on one method
These tips have helped me maintain friendships too. Distance affects all relationships
We take virtual walks together sometimes. Just prop up the phone and explore our neighborhoods
The shared viewing platforms have really improved over the past year. Makes movie nights much easier
Sending gifts has gotten expensive but we've started making things by hand instead
We've adapted board games to play over video call. It takes some creativity but it's worth it
I appreciate how these tips focus on quality time rather than just constant messaging
The gaming suggestion works well for us because we can chat while playing something casual
We've started watching sunrise together over video call. It's become our special ritual
These are great but I still struggle with the time difference. Any advice for managing that?
I've found that scheduling our virtual dates helps make them feel more special and intentional
The suggestion about just being on call while doing different things has been a game changer for us
We've turned cooking together into a weekly competition. It's chaos but so much fun
Writing letters has helped us express feelings we might not say out loud on calls
My partner and I have grown closer through gaming together. We never played before the distance
The pandemic has actually made long-distance relationships more normalized, which is a silver lining
I find it interesting how different couples prefer different communication styles. What works for some doesn't work for others
Virtual escape rooms are surprisingly fun! We've done several with friends from different countries
These suggestions are helping me cope with being away from my family too, not just my partner
We tried the letter writing but found it too slow. Quick voice messages work better for us
I worry that doing separate activities while on call might create emotional distance rather than closeness
We've started a virtual movie club with other long-distance couples. It's been amazing for building community
Nothing beats physical presence but these ideas have helped make the distance more bearable
The most meaningful thing for us has been sending care packages with local snacks and small gifts
Can't relate to the gaming suggestion at all. We prefer reading books together and discussing them
Animal Crossing has been our go-to game. We visit each other's islands and leave silly messages
I find it hard to stay focused during video calls while doing separate activities. Anyone else have this problem?
Honestly virtual dates have saved my relationship during lockdown. We get creative with themes each week
The cooking together over video call idea is wonderful! We've been sharing family recipes this way
Letters are nice but international shipping is so expensive right now. I wish there were more affordable options
My partner and I tried a virtual paint night last weekend. It was hilarious seeing how differently our paintings turned out
Voice messages have worked wonders for us with the timezone issue. We send them throughout the day and listen when we can
These are great suggestions but they all seem to require good internet connection. Any ideas for couples dealing with timezone differences and poor connectivity?
The jacket exchange idea is brilliant! I'm going to surprise my girlfriend with my favorite hoodie next week
I actually disagree about video calls while doing separate activities. It feels awkward to me and I never know what to say
Among Us has been perfect for us! It's easy to learn and super fun even if you're not usually into games
Does anyone have suggestions for good multiplayer games that aren't too complicated? My partner isn't really a gamer
Virtual dates feel so artificial to me. I've tried them but they just make me miss real dates even more
I've been using Teleparty with my partner but didn't know about the Discord voice call option. That sounds much better than typing in the chat!
The letter writing suggestion is beautiful. I sent my boyfriend a handwritten letter last month and he absolutely loved it. There's something so personal about seeing someone's handwriting
Really appreciate these tips! My girlfriend and I have been struggling with distance during the pandemic and watching shows together has been our lifeline