Distance Is Not The Only Thing You Have To Worry About
Long-distance relationships are plagued with a lot of challenges. The good news is that if both of you are willing to work on them, it will all be worth it.
One of these curveballs that you will have to deal with is the almost inevitable monotony.
Monotony happens mainly because of two things:
The first is getting used to the routine. You call or text on the same day every day or week. You know exactly when you get to see each other. It gets old pretty fast, and you will get bored.
The second reason is the distance itself. Remember the saying ‘out of sight out of mind’? Yeah, enough said.
21 Ways How To Keep A Long-Distance Relationship Interesting
With boredom looming over your relationship like a dark cloud, you need to do whatever it takes to keep things interesting.
Don’t worry, you don’t have to do anything extreme or too far out of your comfort zone. Sometimes it takes just a few adjustments and simple sacrifices, and you will notice the difference in no time.
Here are some fun ways to spice up a long-distance relationship.
Spontaneous Meetups
With LDRs, it is important to have a visiting schedule. However, if you have the means, then a spontaneous meetup somewhere romantic now and then will take your relationship to new heights. It is a great way to express the desire to see each other and spend quality time together.
Surprise Phone Calls And Texts
If getting that ticket is a little too far out of your budget, then you could always settle for surprise phone calls. Call them at work to remind them how much you love them. Send a flirty text to show that they are on your mind. It might be small acts, but they make all the difference.
Check out our long distance texting guide to improve your texting skills.
Virtual Dates
Do not make the rookie LDR mistake of assuming that video calling and air travel sustain these relationships.
It is possible to run it like a normal relationship, including going on dates. All you have to do is be creative. You could do anything from taking a virtual tour of the many famous museums and galleries to going on a virtual reality quest.
Check out this article for the best virtual date ideas.
Watch The Same Movie Or Series Together
Just because you are hundreds or even thousands of miles away from each other doesn’t mean that you and your bae cannot enjoy a fun movie date night. You just have to be creative about it.
It is a fun way for you to create memories together, hang out, and keep things spicy with something different from routine phone calls and video chats.
Try Online Shopping for Each Other
It is a great suggestion for long-distance couples who have been together for a while and know each other’s styles and sizes.
It’s even better if it happens randomly, without any special occasion – just you and your partner treating each other to some stylish pieces while having fun.
It can be one item, or you can go all out and get a full outfit – it all depends on your budget.
Next, have it shipped to your partner’s address and wait for your package to arrive.
Once you both have received your packages, you can Skype or FaceTime while trying on the new outfits.
Trying on pieces that don’t fit or are ridiculous to wear can be so much fun. But showing some flesh can also turn up the heat and lead you to the bedroom for a different kind of fun!
Learn Something New Together
Do not forget that one of the most important aims of being in a relationship is growing together.
The best way how to keep a long-distance relationship exciting is by learning a new skill. That is made a whole lot easier these days with the many online classes available. So whether you want to learn how to bake or speak a new language, do it together, and it should do wonders for your relationship.
Get A Hobby
Another reason long-distance relationships run the risk of growing stale and boring is the lack of individual growth. If your relationship is all you have to focus on, then you will have trouble. To solve this problem, find new interests that will keep you sufficiently preoccupied.
Organize a Fitness Challenge
If “train together, stay together” is your motto as a couple, distance shouldn’t be a problem!
If you are bored with hitting the gym alone or following a workout video at home, you can organize a fitness challenge.
Come up with a list of exercises you both like, and let the fun begin. You can even video-call and do it together at the same time, of course, if your time zones allow.
You can give this challenge a good run and turn it into a long-term activity that eventually will help you reach a set goal like losing weight or becoming healthier.
Plus, a little competition can be healthy and productive for a relationship, especially because it will give you another thing to do together besides watching Netflix.
Try A Couple’s App
These days, there is an app for anything and making long-distance relationships work is one of the many niches satisfied. There are options for all sorts of things, from messaging and language translation for intercultural relationships to even synchronizing activities for those long-distance hangouts.
The LDR apps include:
- Raft
- Kindu
- Pathshare
Thoughtful Surprise Gifts And Treats
You could keep the romance alive by sending each other LDR gifts. There are many different services available that facilitate this where all you need to do is browse their catalogs, pick, and pay.
It could be flowers, little home décor trinkets, or other gifts and experiences that make them feel special and cared for.
Play Online Games Together
If a fitness challenge is not your thing, we have another one for you. Games.
Yes, that’s right. You’d think being apart takes fun activities like board games away from you, but thanks to technology and the Internet, that’s no longer the case!
For those of you who are total beginners, there are always the classics like Scrabble, Texas Hold’em Poker, Ludo, chess, and many others.
Then there are the massive multiplayer role-playing platforms such as Second Life and League of Legends.
But if you are avid gamers, you don’t really need this suggestion because you already know how much fun sleepless nights full of gaming can be.
For a team-oriented gaming session, dive into Spades together, where players collaborate to achieve victory. Whether utilizing a physical deck of cards or the online Spades sites, coordinating strategies and communicating effectively as a team enhances the excitement and camaraderie of the game, creating memorable experiences for all involved.
(VIDEO) GAME ON!
Discuss Your Plans & Dreams
A long-distance relationship will only last if there is a goal in mind. It could be long-term plans like whether you will ever live together in the same place and if you want to get married or not. It could also be something short-term, like what to do on your next virtual date and when the next visit will be.
This helps create the sense that things are moving forward.
Cook Together
They say, “the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach,” and there may be some truth to it. So why don’t you mix things up a little and try something different than your regular video chats and watching movies?
Cooking together can be even more exciting if you choose recipes for each other. You can go for something simple, especially if you are not great cooks, or take it up a notch and give your partner a real culinary challenge.
Bring your good mood, get your ingredients, play some soft music in the background, start a video chat and get cooking!
Sharing a laugh and learning a new recipe while watching each other mess up your kitchens can be so entertaining that it will make the distance melt away.
Get Creative to Share Intimacy
You may not be the most romantic type on Earth, but reading poetry with elements of eroticism is a great way to relight the fire. It may also help you tap into your inner poet and inspire you to write yourself.
Poems, prose, letters — the format doesn’t really matter as long as your partner is the inspiration behind your words. So put your deepest desires on paper and mail it the old-fashioned way. That’s next-level romance.
Creativity and naughtiness put together have the power to bring the butterflies to life. Send them a suggestive text or a flirty quiz that requires deciphering. The suspension will keep them motivated to put in some effort and see the result.
Share A Naughty Photo Or Two
They say a picture is worth a million words, and this couldn’t be any truer. If you want to spice things up and relieve some of that sexual tension, then you should consider sending a risqué photo. The whole scandalous nature of it all will get that heart racing, which is exactly what you want. Check out our Dirty Talks for LDR examples.
Sexting
Intimacy takes the biggest hit when it comes to long-distance relationships. It should be very high on your list of priorities when trying to revive the butterflies and excitement.
Sexting is simple and fun and allows you to explore that very important aspect of the relationship despite the physical separation. Just be open about what you are comfortable doing and what you would like to try.
LDR Phone And Skype Sex
If you are in a long-distance relationship and sexually frustrated, you could also take it a notch higher from the photos and sexting to full-on online intimacy.
Here, one important thing is to ensure that you are both on the same page. The last thing you want is for it to be awkward for either of you.
If you are both game, then do it. Grab your LDR sex toy and have fun! Thanks to teledildonic technology, you can now have remote sex and feel your partner’s movements and vibrations in real-time.
Don’t Forget to Spend Time Alone
We all need time alone or to spend it with our friends, family and other dear people in our lives.
Hanging out with other people and enjoying activities that don’t involve your partner shouldn’t affect your relationship. After all, you are both individuals who need time and space dedicated to your personal growth and self-care.
Being physically apart from your partner can be a great opportunity for you to pick up a new hobby, hit the gym more often, or go out in nature. It lets the other person breathe!
You can actually do all those things you always complained you couldn’t find time for. This is your chance to look deeper and fall in love with your own company!
Your partner should add to your happiness, not be your entire world.
Make a Journal Together
Long-distance relationships usually require a lot of effort and work to succeed. The absence of physical presence in a relationship can put a lot of strain on your love. But it can also give you a chance to connect on a deeper, more intimate, or even spiritual level as a couple.
The point here is to concentrate on what you CAN do and what you have and not on what you lack and desperately need to fulfill.
Journaling comes in different forms, and you can try the one that works best for you and your long-distance partner. Take turns to write or record your everyday life apart, and once you are together, you can read or watch it together.
Journaling will give you an insight into each other’s personal lives and document your LDR love story. That way, you can still feel connected at heart and soul, even though you can’t always be physically together.
Don’t Rely On Technology Only
There is no denying that technology makes things a lot easier and more convenient for long-distance couples. However, it can get a little impersonal with time.
Break the monotony of emails, texts, and voice notes with something more traditionally romantic. Old-school snail mail letters are the perfect way to keep things interesting.
The new generation of long-distance sex toys allows you to enjoy physical intimacy with your partner even if you live far away from each other.
Plan a Surprise Visit
How would you feel if your long-distance partner suddenly showed up at work or your home without warning?
If happy, excited, and grateful is your answer, chances are they’d feel the same seeing you! So why don’t you make their day and give your LDR partner a surprise visit?
Obviously, you should confirm their schedule is clear with the help of coworkers or local friends, or ask them subtly about their plans for the time you are planning to surprise them. Do it carefully, so you don’t give yourself out and ruin the surprise.
A surprise trip to a third location is also a great option for those of you with an adventurous spirit. It may take a bit of planning, but spending time together with your loved one is always worth it.
Go Forth And Give Your Relationship A New Lease On Life
If you feel that you have plateaued in your LDR, then here’s how to keep things interesting in a long-distance relationship.
These tips will also help if you are about to start a long-distance arrangement and you want to avoid this eventuality.
Just remember that the relationship will only be as fun as you and your partner are willing to make it. Another take-home message is the importance of creativity and spontaneity. That ensures that you do not have time to get bored because you keep switching things up.
