5 Tips To Bond With Your Partner In A Long-distance Relationship

While we social distance to keep ourselves safe, looking to long distance relationships can help keep us connected with the people we love.
Video call, 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. 

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Opinions and Perspectives

We've discovered new shared interests through virtual activities

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Having regular check-ins helps maintain emotional connection

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These ideas have helped us grow stronger despite the distance

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We take screenshots during video calls to preserve memories

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The key is finding what works specifically for your relationship

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We've learned to celebrate small moments together virtually

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Sometimes the simplest activities mean the most

6

We've created our own virtual date ideas beyond what's listed here

1

The pandemic made us realize we can be close even when physically apart

3

We've found that having specific shared goals helps maintain connection

5

These tips work well for maintaining long-term friendships too

1

We've learned that quality of time matters more than quantity

7

The suggestions about maintaining routine really resonated with me

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We've started doing virtual puzzle solving together

1

Setting boundaries about communication expectations is important too

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We take turns reading chapters of books to each other over call

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The distance has made us appreciate our connection more

1

We've learned to be more creative with our time together

5

These suggestions have helped us develop better communication habits

5

Virtual coffee dates in the morning help us start the day together

1

We share playlists and listen to the same music while working

2

The article missed mentioning online classes you can take together

4

We've found that scheduled calls work better than spontaneous ones

3

Sometimes we just sit in silence together on video call. It's surprisingly comforting

4

International shipping delays can be frustrating but make the surprises more special

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We've started doing virtual workouts together. Helps motivate us both

8

The gaming suggestion works because it gives us a shared goal

1

We alternate who plans the virtual date each week. Keeps things interesting

8

Writing letters has improved our communication in unexpected ways

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The shared viewing platforms sometimes lag for us but it's better than nothing

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We've learned to appreciate small moments of connection more

1

These tips helped save our relationship during a forced separation

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Finding the right balance of communication takes time. Don't force what doesn't feel natural

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We do virtual museum tours together. Many galleries now offer this option

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The pandemic really changed how we view long-distance relationships

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We've created our own traditions around virtual dates. Makes them feel more special

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I love how these suggestions can be adapted for different types of relationships

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Our timezone difference makes gaming together tough but we make it work on weekends

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Sometimes simple video calls are the best. Don't need to always plan activities

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We've started learning a language together online. Gives us something to practice together

3

The virtual dates felt weird at first but now we look forward to them every week

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Having background noise of my partner doing their thing helps me feel less alone

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We tried gaming but ended up arguing too much. Stick to what works for your relationship

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The letter writing suggestion inspired us to start a joint journal we mail back and forth

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I've found that mixing up activities keeps things fresh. Can't just rely on one method

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These tips have helped me maintain friendships too. Distance affects all relationships

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We take virtual walks together sometimes. Just prop up the phone and explore our neighborhoods

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The shared viewing platforms have really improved over the past year. Makes movie nights much easier

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Sending gifts has gotten expensive but we've started making things by hand instead

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We've adapted board games to play over video call. It takes some creativity but it's worth it

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I appreciate how these tips focus on quality time rather than just constant messaging

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The gaming suggestion works well for us because we can chat while playing something casual

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We've started watching sunrise together over video call. It's become our special ritual

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These are great but I still struggle with the time difference. Any advice for managing that?

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I've found that scheduling our virtual dates helps make them feel more special and intentional

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The suggestion about just being on call while doing different things has been a game changer for us

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We've turned cooking together into a weekly competition. It's chaos but so much fun

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Writing letters has helped us express feelings we might not say out loud on calls

5

My partner and I have grown closer through gaming together. We never played before the distance

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The pandemic has actually made long-distance relationships more normalized, which is a silver lining

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I find it interesting how different couples prefer different communication styles. What works for some doesn't work for others

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Virtual escape rooms are surprisingly fun! We've done several with friends from different countries

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These suggestions are helping me cope with being away from my family too, not just my partner

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We tried the letter writing but found it too slow. Quick voice messages work better for us

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I worry that doing separate activities while on call might create emotional distance rather than closeness

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We've started a virtual movie club with other long-distance couples. It's been amazing for building community

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Nothing beats physical presence but these ideas have helped make the distance more bearable

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The most meaningful thing for us has been sending care packages with local snacks and small gifts

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Can't relate to the gaming suggestion at all. We prefer reading books together and discussing them

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Animal Crossing has been our go-to game. We visit each other's islands and leave silly messages

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I find it hard to stay focused during video calls while doing separate activities. Anyone else have this problem?

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Honestly virtual dates have saved my relationship during lockdown. We get creative with themes each week

1

The cooking together over video call idea is wonderful! We've been sharing family recipes this way

6

Letters are nice but international shipping is so expensive right now. I wish there were more affordable options

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My partner and I tried a virtual paint night last weekend. It was hilarious seeing how differently our paintings turned out

4

Voice messages have worked wonders for us with the timezone issue. We send them throughout the day and listen when we can

3

These are great suggestions but they all seem to require good internet connection. Any ideas for couples dealing with timezone differences and poor connectivity?

7

The jacket exchange idea is brilliant! I'm going to surprise my girlfriend with my favorite hoodie next week

5

I actually disagree about video calls while doing separate activities. It feels awkward to me and I never know what to say

3

Among Us has been perfect for us! It's easy to learn and super fun even if you're not usually into games

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Does anyone have suggestions for good multiplayer games that aren't too complicated? My partner isn't really a gamer

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Virtual dates feel so artificial to me. I've tried them but they just make me miss real dates even more

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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!

2

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

3

Really appreciate these tips! My girlfriend and I have been struggling with distance during the pandemic and watching shows together has been our lifeline

5

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