8 Must-try Tips To Make Your Long Distance Relationship Work During Lockdown!
Long-distance relationships can be tough. When I was in one, I used to spend the equivalent of time we spent hanging out before on wondering if it is even worth it. That relationship ended eventually because the distance turned out to be the least of the problems between us. But it gave me great insight into the whole idea. I spent a lot of time figuring out interesting things to do during a long-distance relationship. And it feels almost cathartic to be sharing them with you here!
Here are the tips to help your long-distance relationship last:
1. Watch2Gether
And watch together. Music videos, movies, or ahem ahem. A couple who consumes art together stays together.
Watch2Gether is a great place to explore for the purpose. The site supports a wide range of content sources such as Youtube, Dailymotion, Vimeo, and Soundcloud. For not directly integrated sources such as Netflix, Disney Plus, or Amazon Prime you can use the W2gSync feature which can synchronize external sources with the help of their browser extension. What's cooler is that you can create temporary rooms and delete them the next day. So what happens in WaGe's stays in WaGe's (get it?)
2. Participate in online events together
I thought of this while watching Raunaq Rajani's Relationship Advice on YouTube. It's been shifted to Zoom recently, and in a segment of the show, the host asks a couple from among the audience (both of whom are usually in a long-distance relationship given the pandemic) to turn on their cameras, and an interaction ensues.
Well, I can't promise that much engagement in other online events, but they are sure a great way to rekindle the romance and bring in the excitement. Comedy, improv, corporate shows, online lectures (personal tip: Watch Jordan Peterson's videos together.
You both will either get a deep psychological insight into your relationship or have a great time mocking him turn by turn. Either way, your relationship wins), you go girls and boys!
3. Order food for your partner
The way to a person's heart is through their stomach. No matter what these snobbish bloggers tell you by claiming the word 'foodie' for themselves alone, believe me, everyone is a foodie if they get their favorite flavors. So scintillate your partner's senses in the second-best way possible (the first is a massage of course, what were you thinking?) and order that dark chocolate for them right now!
4. Read with your partner
This one's probably the most personal. But hey! You can also read comics together if you want! And if your partner is not a good reader, just get out of it already, I am telling you.
I mean, what even is the world without readers who spend five minutes of their lives reading the diary of a very random girl on Sociomix?
(Personal tip: Read this article with your partner and talk it out. What tips you can actually execute and which ones of them are completely bogus. If I manage to bring even a single couple closer, I will consider myself closer to Heaven *sobs*)
5. Online tours
This one's the most exciting! One great thing about the pandemic is that it enables us to see the magnificence of technology in all its glory. You can visit world-class museums and art galleries from the comfort of your home, and spend as long as you want to stare and analyzing the artifacts from the Mayan civilization! Remember you both made this plan to visit France for your honeymoon? Go check out Musee d'Orsay right now!
To be honest I am not even sure if this is a great way to make a relationship better or worse because I for one don't even look at my partner when I am in the vicinity of great art, let alone chat with them.
6. Be friends
When you are physically together, this part sometimes goes away. You two are so busy managing your finances together, thinking about the rent or the logistical concerns for the next place for your date, that you forget the pure joy of talking like best friends who don't make sense to a third person at all!
A long-distance relationship can be a great time to bring that back. To love and be compatible unconditionally, and not merely because they are your 'better half' and you are dependent on them to pick up the grocery on their way back home from work.
7. Introspect
I know the article is getting darker as we move forward, but you need to use intuitive tips if all the sensory ones mentioned above fail to rekindle your relationship.
For starters, ask yourself these questions:
Do you want to sustain the relationship because you love that person and keen for it to survive the pandemic or because you are afraid to be alone and making compromises to sustain long-distance relationships is how it's 'supposed' to be?
In this age of technology, the most prominent thing you are missing in an LDR is physical intimacy. If your relationship is so dependent on physical proximity to survive even a few months, is it worth it?
In the bigger picture, are you more grateful for your relationship or making more compromises in it?
This is not to undermine the sheer frustration that long-distance relationships involve, and the whole gamut of helpless situations (like not being able to be there for your partner when they are sick), or worsen your anxieties about your relationship. But sometimes, distance is a way to get objectivity on relationships and work on them (or choose not to) in newer ways. Perhaps yours is one that needs that?
8. Move on if you (or the relationship) are too young
I guess you saw this coming. But this one comes from a place of practicality rather than emotion, unlike the last point. All the tips mentioned above require you to have a great Internet connection, some financial independence, and reasonable privacy where you are living.
And also, at least no outright rejection (if not explicit approval) for your relationship from the people you are locked down with. All these things are hard to come by for young people, especially in countries like India. The result of trying to sustain a relationship already made complicated by the virtue of distance in this environment would be loads of stress and unpleasant situations.
Of course, individual scenarios vary. This is not absolute advice. But it is a possibility nonetheless. Don't trap yourself in difficult situations for anything. True love can wait. True love will wait.
Opinions and Perspectives
Some activities worked better than others but trying them brought us closer
Virtual activities will never replace physical presence but they help bridge the gap
The introspection questions sparked important conversations we needed to have
The food surprise idea sparked a competition of who can find better local restaurants
Long distance revealed strengths in our relationship we didn't know existed
We've created our own variations of these activities to keep things fresh
We tried the reading together idea but ended up just sending book recommendations instead
Food ordering across time zones requires serious planning but worth it
The article oversimplifies the challenges of maintaining intimacy long distance
These tips helped us discover new shared interests we never knew we had
We alternate choosing activities to keep things balanced and interesting
The introspection questions helped us strengthen our relationship instead of ending it
We modified these tips to fit our schedule difference. Flexibility is key
Reading together works better than I expected. It gives us something meaningful to discuss
The food ordering suggestion led to some hilarious delivery mishaps but great memories
Trying to force these activities when you're not both into them just creates more strain
I wish they'd mentioned the importance of trust and open communication
The museum tours were surprisingly intimate. We learned so much about each other's tastes
These activities help but they don't address the emotional toll of separation
The tips about being young feel condescending. We're 20 and more committed than most older couples
My partner hates reading so we adapted it to audiobooks instead. Works perfectly!
Online events have been hit or miss for us. Some are engaging, others just awkward
The introspection part helped me realize we were just afraid of being alone
Virtual museum tours became our thing! We plan to visit them all in person someday
Reading together has actually improved our communication. We discuss the books for hours
We tried all these tips but still broke up. Sometimes distance just reveals incompatibilities
The part about financial independence is so true. LDRs can be expensive with all the virtual dates and surprises
I appreciate how the article acknowledges that sometimes moving on is the healthiest choice
These tips work better for established relationships than new ones starting during lockdown
The friendship aspect is crucial. My LDR failed because we lost that fundamental connection
We've turned Watch2Gether into our weekly date night tradition. It feels almost like being in the same room
Food ordering across countries is tricky with different delivery apps but worth the effort
I think the article understates how hard it is to maintain intimacy in LDRs
The museum tours were a disaster for us. The internet lag made it frustrating rather than romantic
My partner and I tried the reading together thing. We're on our third book now and it's become our favorite activity
The introspection questions are brutal but necessary. Made me realize I was holding onto something that wasn't working
I actually met my partner through an online event during lockdown. These virtual spaces can create real connections
The tip about moving on if you're young seems pretty dismissive. Some young couples have stronger bonds than older ones
Anyone else feel like these online activities are just band-aids for the real issue of physical separation?
I'd add that having individual hobbies is just as important as doing things together
Honestly the food ordering tip seems a bit shallow. There are more meaningful ways to show you care
Watch2Gether has been a game changer for us! We even use it to listen to music together while working
Pretty solid advice overall but I think they missed mentioning the importance of setting communication boundaries
The being friends point really hit home. Sometimes we get so caught up in the relationship label that we forget to just talk and laugh
Not sure about the Jordan Peterson suggestion... watching his videos might cause more arguments than bonding
The virtual museum tours are actually pretty fun. My partner and I spent hours exploring the Louvre last weekend
I really connected with the part about introspection. This lockdown made me realize my relationship was more about comfort than love
The food ordering tip is genius! I surprised my girlfriend with her favorite pasta yesterday and she was so touched
I disagree about moving on if you're young. Age doesn't determine commitment. My partner and I started dating at 19 and we're making it work despite the distance
Anyone else find that reading together actually makes you feel more distant? My partner falls asleep every time we try
I tried Watch2Gether with my boyfriend last week. The syncing feature is amazing, no more counting down to press play at the same time!