5 Virtual Date Night Ideas
Due to the Coronavirus, social distancing and quarantines have become prominent issues that have young couples unable to enjoy a nice date night and older couples driving each other crazy. Today, we’re focusing on the first one.
I’ve had a long-distance relationship with my boyfriend for six years now. I have to deal with not being able to see him every single day. It hurts and it’s impossibly hard. I understand how painful it is being unable to see them and I’ve pulled together five things that we both do together to make it a little easier. Here are five virtual date night ideas for you to try together.
1. Screenshare a Movie
Okay, I’ve never actually been able to do this successfully. But, I’ve seen various long-distance couples use this for their virtual date night. If you’re skeptical because I just said I haven’t been able to do it successfully, it’s not what you think. I use a laptop for most things and it’s a bit older. It takes a while for things to completely load and most of the time, my beloved is a good five to ten minutes ahead of me during the movie.
I will admit that depending on the age and model of your computer, you could experience technical difficulties. But, we’re only on the first entry. There could be something else on this virtual date night list for you.
For those of you that are interested, I recommend that you each pick out your favorite movie. Each time you choose to do this, take turns choosing the movie. There is an exception to this suggestion, if you both want to watch a movie that looks interesting- that both of you haven’t seen- talk about it before putting it in, because if they chose the same movie, they have time to pick a new one.
2. Re-Create a Previous Date on Minecraft Together
For those of you who don’t know, Minecraft is an open-world sandbox game that promotes creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving in an immersive environment where the only limit is your imagination.
In Minecraft, players explore a blocky, procedurally-generated 3D world, and may discover and extract raw materials, craft tools, build structures or earthworks, and depending on the game mode, can fight computer-controlled “mobs”, as well as either cooperate with or compete against other players in the same world. These modes include a survival mode, in which players must acquire resources to build the world and maintain health, and a creative mode, where players have unlimited resources. Players can modify the game to create new gameplay mechanics, items, and assets.
Minecraft has been critically acclaimed, winning several awards and being cited as the most influential and greatest video game of all time. Social media, parodies, adaptations, merchandise, and the annual MineCon conventions played large roles in popularizing the game.
It has also been used in educational environments, especially in the realm of computing systems, as virtual computers and hardware devices have been built in it. In 2014, Mojang and the Minecraft intellectual property were purchased by Microsoft for US$2.5 billion. A number of spin-off games have also been produced, such as Minecraft: Story Mode, Minecraft Dungeons, and Minecraft Earth.
With all this in mind, playing with your beloved on a virtual date night- in general- is an excellent way to bond closer with each other. Especially if you’re on the phone talking at the same time.
3. Play an Online Game Together
It can be something as simple as a multiplayer online app game or something as complex as a story-based progression game. As long as you can play together, it’s a viable option for you.
My boyfriend and I like to play our own weird quirky game whilst playing any repeats. For Example: “Who can find the weirdest looking NPC?” or “Who can drop the strangest item into the others’ inventory without them noticing for three whole minutes?” and, “Who can make their character look more stupid?” It puts a lively and often hilarious spin on something we’ve done for years.
You can borrow ours or you can just as easily make up your own for your own virtual date night together.
This is one of the gems I screenshotted and cropped together to fit the image guidelines for Society19, I just had to show you guys.
4. Send Each Other Care Packages
Simply put, you should send a care package for two reasons. One, it will make your partner feel good. Two, it will make you feel good!
Receiving mail in a time when everyone depends on cell phones and computers has become a rare occasion. Think about how excited you get when you receive something unexpected and awesome. That’s exactly how your partner is going to feel!
It’s also something very personal. Everything in it and the intricate details will show your partner not only the time and effort you put into it but the lengths you’re willing to go for them and the relationship.
Care packages are one of the sweetest things to receive in a relationship of all sorts (family, friends, romantic partners, etc.). When you are away from family and friends, getting something from home is going to take part of the loneliness away. If you have loved ones that are miles away, a care package will bridge the distance and show them how much you care.
You’re probably asking, “Why the hell is this in a list about Virtual Date Nights?”
When you receive yours, put it away and wait until the other receives theirs. Unless you’re the second party, then call your partner right away. Open them up over the phone so your beloved can see your reaction to each heartfelt gift.
I do this as often as I can manage. What’s hard, for me anyway, is finding enough things to fill up the box. Candies, unsent letters I’ve written, small paintings are things I’ve sent. Maybe it sounds weird to you, but that’s how we work.
P.S. For those who understand, I was finally able to get the boyfriend hoodie!
5. Simply Call (For Hours)
Communication is key here.
If you’d notice, you have to be on the phone for all of these.
Especially in new relationships, it is essential that you maximize the opportunities to not only build that intimacy but also to avoid any situations that might prohibit it. Although texting is quicker and more convenient, it may create a stale and monotone dialect between partners. Instead of learning how your significant other responds emotionally to certain comments or questions, you are left knowing what they are saying and missing how they feel. We tend to read comments on how we would say them which means your presumed context may be completely different from what they really mean. This leads to more misunderstandings and more time trying to figure out what their true reaction is.
Talking on the phone, however, can strengthen your connection and build intimacy. Hearing your partner’s reaction, inflection, and tone of their voice will help you better understand them emotionally and can only heighten your communication skills with that person. At the end of the day, a call is just more special. Taking the time to physically talk with significant other shows them that you care and are invested in the relationship. There is an old-school charm to talking on the phone and staying up until the early morning conversing with your partner can create the best moments in a young relationship.
If you’re anything like me and feel absolutely anxious about making phone calls, that’s completely okay! I didn’t like it myself and neither did my boyfriend, we’re both very introverted. I actually wanted to call him first and my friends reading this are probably going, “Pfft, yeah right she did,” but it’s completely true. I did. I was a nervous wreck and kept stuttering over my words like in the movies.
MOVING ON!
If I don’t, I’m gonna end up going on a tangent about how hella cringy we are.
Okay, so, putting myself back on track here.
Calling your partner can easily decrease each of your feelings of loneliness and lessen the intense missing of your partner. For all you anxious callers, it’s going to suck at first, but it’s the best thing I can recommend for situations like long-distance relationships or social distancing. You’ve talked to your partner before, most likely in person, why is this time any different?
