As the days go by in quarantine, we can’t help but reminisce on the last few moments we spent with our loved one. We simply sit here and wish we could’ve hugged them a little tighter, held them a little closer, and had the chance to exchange a proper goodbye. But, we didn’t.
Now, days seem emptier without this person. The only thing making us seem closer to them are the screens that we talk to day and night in hopes of feeling a slight human connection. We can’t help but wonder when life will truly feel normal again or when we will finally be able to reunite with our partner.
Although loneliness quickly becomes our greatest enemy during these times, we must still remember that there are a plethora of ways to keep us connected. And even if many of these mere options don’t fall in the exact category of our complex love language, they allow us to explore new ways of intimate bonding.
Here are a few ideas and tips on how to keep the romance alive during this time, despite the unprecedented nature that has come with it:
Become each other’s penpal
Although spending hours on facetime or texting may be our primary form of communication within this generation, we must not forget how our ancestors once communicated during times like these –– even when they were miles apart.
By surprising your loved one with a handwritten letter in the mail, you are simply making their day a little brighter by sharing your appreciation for them in the most meaningful way possible. Even a short and sweet note stating how much you miss them can strike a smile on their end during this difficult time.
Eventually, this can become a weekly tradition for the two of you, and can lead to even more creative endeavors.
If the two of you are celebrating a birthday or anniversary during this time, there is no reason why the usual gift exchange should be pushed aside. Perhaps pick out a gift that can be ordered online or get started on your very own do-it-yourself (DIY) project and ship it to their house before the special day. Even better, add on a handwritten letter/note to the package and combine the two unique gestures together.
Watch a movie together – virtually
The online chrome extension “Netflix Party” has taken the world by storm through its way of allowing Netflix users to binge watch their favorite series or films with loved ones from a distance. This new addition provides a way for users to synchronize video and even adds a chat in order for participants to be able to communicate as they watch.
However, there are other ways in which partners can also watch any movie or TV show in a more personal and engaging environment. Online apps such as Discord, Zoom, or Skype have been around for quite sometime now, and allow their users to screenshare while videochatting or voice calling others.
Schedule a specific day of the week with your partner to take some time away from the daily stress of responsibility and unwind with a long-distance movie night. Although it might not be the same as cuddling up next to them and sharing some nice movie snacks, you can each set up your own comfortable setting and bond through the screen.
Make a Playlist Together
If there’s one thing that can get anyone through a rough patch such as this one, it’s music. We all have those specific songs that we listen to in order to reflect on ourselves and what it is we’re going through, so why not share the experience with our partners?
On the online Spotify app, users can create collaboration playlists where they can allow other users they follow to add their own songs to the list. You can create your own collaboration playlist with your significant other, give it a unique title, and add one another’s favorite songs that have gotten the both of you through quarantine as well as any special songs that have defined the relationship.
Listen to it every now and then to feel as if a piece of your partner is always with you, and to recall older memories through songs that may remind you of those moments.
Go on a virtual Facetime date
Due to social distancing guidelines, usual date nights have taken a turn. However, that doesn’t mean that the two of you can’t still plan to get all dressed up and simply have a stay-at-home date via video chat.
Weekly date ideas can vary, as one night the two of you can search up the same cooking or baking tutorial and follow it together on camera, or the same takeout meal can be ordered and enjoyed together virtually. Light some candles, set up the camera on the table, and make it seem as if your partner is right in front of you in a regular restaurant.
These dates can take place during the day as well. Set up an exercise schedule with your partner throughout the week and complete workouts accordingly together on screen. On other days, search up new arts and crafts projects to pursue together.
Although this time apart from our significant other can impact the relationship in several ways, it is still important to recognize the upside of the situation. This extensive period of time away from our loved ones truly makes us appreciate those moments with them we once took for granted. It will also ultimately strengthen the bond of the relationship over time.
Despite there not being an exact date that dictates when quarantine will officially be over, we must keep somewhat of a state of normalcy until the day finally comes when we are all reunited.
