Do you need Date Night Ideas for Long Distance Relationships? Read on to learn what I JUST found out…
I recently came across the acronym ‘LDR’. Being very curious, I tried to figure out the meaning independently and could only come up with ‘Last Day of Rain’, which didn’t make much sense. Come to find out, it’s used to describe Long Distance Relationships! With that google search came so many different stats on LDRs that I was a little shocked to read. One of them being “about 14 million people in the US are in a long-distance relationship” this was honestly surprising. This makes me curious as to how many of you reading this are in a long-distance relationship! Just in case, I figured I could share some date night ideas for long-distance relationships.
But first, know being in an LDR has its pros, and it has its cons. I don’t think anyone goes into dating someone thinking, “I want to be in a long-distance relationship,” but love happens, and then life happens too, which can lead to some tough decisions. On top of all those hard decisions, you may be growing into yourself and who you are as a person, or perhaps still trying to figure it out. You might be wondering how you can possibly handle a Long Distance Relationship, too! Is your anxiety spiking a little?
It is hard work being in a long-distance relationship, and if someone tells you it’s easy, I will have to agree to disagree with that. Some of the key factors of being in a relationship, like communication, intimacy, quality time, etc., are some of the things you must work extra hard for.
It is not easy, and these relationships face a lot of hardships. Being away from your partner for a long time, you each have your own lives that they don’t get to be a part of. You could experience anxiety, jealousy, longing, loneliness, excitement, happiness, security, insecurity, and safety all in a couple of days. That’s hard! If you are experiencing any of those now, give yourself some grace and know that things will improve if you both make an effort.
With the cons of an LDR, there are also pros too. Being long-distance can bring your relationships closer together. As a Couples Counselor in Bethesda, I can tell you that communication is vital to the relationship. Open communication can help strengthen a relationship. It can also bring a creative side when finding things to do from a distance, like dates.
Date Night Ideas for Long Distance Relationships
A big part of dating is the actual dates themselves. That might seem obvious, but some couples lose that after a short time. Date your partner! Do something you enjoy and spend quality time with each other. How do you do that in an LDR?
Movie Night
Cozy up on your couch, bed, or favorite chair. Grab that popcorn or candy, pick a movie you and your partner want to watch, and press play simultaneously. It may sound silly, but it’s worth it when you can spend time with your partner.
Dinner date
You and your partner decide on the same or different dinner. You can either make it or order take out to one another’s home. There are so many ways to make this fun, so be creative!
Walk and Talk
If you like being outdoors and enjoying being active with your partner, get your walking shoes on, put in those headphones, and go for a walk. Have your partner do the same and have a walk together while you talk about your week, your next visit, or just your surroundings.
Game night
Pick a few games, whether it’s “Truth or Dare,” “Never Have I Ever,” or “20 Questions,” and play a couple of them. Get to know your partner again while sharing a few laughs and creating new memories. Feel free to make these “adult” versions too.
These are just a few ways to have date nights while being long distance. After that, it is all about making the time and building those connections.
If you are reading this and you are in an LDR, I am rooting for you. Being in a relationship, in general, creates a lot of vulnerability, and then you tack on the distance with your loved one; it’s downright rough.
