Long Distance Relationship Activities (And Behaviors to Avoid)

Long-distance relationships are harder than regular relationships. You can’t just grab a meal together or go for a walk. Or can you?

Physical distance does not mean that you can’t share in many of the same activities as regular couples, especially with modern technology. It will just require a bit more intentionality and planning. So if you’re looking for some long-distance relationship activities, keep reading.

Below we’ll list a few activities you can try with your long-distance partner (and then we’ll talk about what to avoid doing).

Long Distance Relationship Activities

Go For a Walk

You may not be able to walk side by side, but you can share a walk with your partner by talking on the phone while you go for a stroll. If you can, do this while they’re taking a walk so that it feels like you’re walking together.

As you walk and chat, you can share some of your favorite places in your neighborhood or maybe try somewhere new. Mention what you see, and maybe even snap some pictures to send.

We don’t recommend walking and video chatting, as that can be dangerous, but if you want to hop on a video chat find a nearby park or bench.

Cook & Eat a Meal Together

Just because you’re not in the same kitchen does not mean you can’t cook together. Something fun to try is making the same meal. Stock up on the ingredients you’ll need, set up your phone, tablet, or computer (away from any liquids!), and prepare the meal together.

Then you can enjoy it together and see if they turn out the same.

Watch a Movie Together

Streaming has made it so that you can now watch movies or TV shows together anywhere in the world.

Schedule a call or a video call, and hit play simultaneously so you can watch the movie together. It may take some getting used to, but this can be a fun activity if you’re wondering what to do in a long-distance relationship.

Date Night!

Set the tone at home with soft lighting, music, and maybe a glass of wine. Here are some other ideas to make a date night feel special:

• Dress for the occasion
• Light some candles
• Make a delicious meal (either make it together or prepare it beforehand)
• End with an intimate conversation

Physical intimacy is vital to any relationship, so it’s important to create intimacy even if you can’t physically touch.

Take Up a Hobby Together

Hobbies enrich our lives in so many ways. Some hobbies are relaxing, some challenge us, and some are fun. If you and your partner are up for it and have the time, you could find a hobby together.

You can partake in the hobby separately and then chat about it, or video chat or talk on speaker phone while you do it. If you are going to chat, it’s best to pick a hobby you can do at home.

Here are some hobby ideas:

• Painting or drawing
• Baking
• Cooking
• Yoga
• Knitting
• Learning a new language
• Learning to play an instrument

You could also choose to take up different hobbies and do them at the same time while on a video call. This is something that couples who physically spend time together often do.

Do Chores Together

Chores probably aren’t something you look forward to, but doing them alongside your partner can make them more fun!

Things like folding laundry, doing the dishes, and generally tidying up around the house are great chores to do while on the phone or on a video call. It might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of long-distance relationship activities, but it will bring you closer and make your chores more fun!

Invite Each Other to Gatherings

If you and your partner lived in the same place, chances are you would invite each other to social gathers with friends or family. You can still do that! Participate in each other’s events via video chat – this is something the COVID-19 pandemic made mainstream, so don’t shy away! Just make sure the rest of the group knows they’ll have a digital guest.

Not only will this help you stay in touch with friends or family you might not see otherwise, but it will also help you feel more involved in each other’s lives.

Things to Avoid Doing

Now that we’ve given you a few ideas for long-distance relationship activities let’s talk about some behaviors you might want to avoid.

Keeping Feelings & Emotions to Yourself

You might be the kind of person who prefers to talk about difficult feelings or emotions in a person. That’s completely valid, but you’ll need to get comfortable talking about these things from afar when you’re in a long-distance relationship.

Avoiding serious conversations will lead to problems down the road; it’s best to address them as soon as possible. Get into the habit of talking openly about your feelings with your partner.

Checking Up on Your Partner

Trust is the foundation of all relationships, but that’s especially true for long-distance relationships. You won’t necessarily know where your partner is all the time or if they’re actually doing what they say they’re doing. Trust is crucial.

You might notice a change in your partner’s behavior, which might cause worry. They might meet some new friends and talk about them a lot. They might be less responsive to texts or miss a call with you.

Don’t get in your head about it. And avoid asking your partner for proof of where they’ve been or what they’ve been doing. Communicate your concerns as soon as they come up and talk them out.

Forgetting the Little Things

Daily little things add to our lives, so don’t forget about them. Of course, you want to make the most of your conversations and ensure you have the big, important talks. But that doesn’t mean you should forget about the little things.

Ask about your partner’s day – How did they sleep last night? How was their commute? What did they have for lunch? What did they wear today?

This applies when you see each other in person as well. Try to include little everyday moments in your time together.

Treating Every Visit Like a Vacation

If you don’t see each other often, you might feel like you need to make every visit feel special.

And while you do want your time together to feel special, you also don’t want to treat every visit like a vacation. You want to know your partner’s life when you’re not there. This insight is important and will give you a glimpse into what life will be like when you’re finally together.