DateInBedDateInBedDating in the time of pandemic is not as easy as it was back in the good old pre-COVID days. With a constant threat of contracting the infectious disease looming on the horizon, dating has become a dreadful notion for many. Trying exotic food in a bustling restaurant, holding hands in a packed cinema, or strolling hand in hand in a crowded park are not the options that could be availed anymore.
However, this by no means implies that dating is a concept of the past. You can still court someone and follow SOPs hand in hand. Romantic and lively date nights are still a possibility for old and new couples alike. However, taking precautions is a prerequisite to stay safe and healthy.
Chicago psychotherapist Alyssa Arnol told Chicago Tribune that “date nights are about finding an opportunity for connection”, and we couldn’t agree more.
If you want the night to turn into something more exciting then start incorporating new ideas that both you and your date feel excited about.
We have listed down 10 date ideas keeping precautions in mind to keep the infection at bay while enjoying the budding relationship at the same time.
1. Virtual meet-up
The safest idea among all is a virtual date via Skype, Zoom, or other such platforms. You can have coffee while sharing the screen, or order food for each other and enjoy it within the sanctity of your own home, or simply have a meaningful conversation on screen.
To keep things exciting, there’s even the option for planning an online movie night. While you wouldn’t exactly be able to “Netflix and chill”, at least, you and your partner can pick up an exciting movie or TV show to binge on.
In fact, The Journal of Social and Personal Relationships has published that watching something together with your partner or date can do wonders for blossoming a relationship.
You can make your virtual date as happening as you want. Dress up nicely, as you would while going out. You can order food from a new restaurant that you’ve been planning to try or go with a theme and order Chinese/Mexican/Thai takeaway for each other. There is no limit to pepping it up.
This teamwork and shared experience of solving puzzles and undertaking tasks are most likely to bring the two of you closer together and build a more promising relationship in the future.
2. Indulging in sports activities
Doing sports in itself is a healthy pastime. You can indulge in sports that do not require close proximity like tennis, volleyball, throw ball, golf, etc.
Playing sports together is not only good for the body but is also fun, active, and a great way to build a stronger association with your playmate, in this case, your date.
3. Plan a picnic
Plan a socially distanced picnic away from strangers. Prepare your date’s favorite snacks and beverages, pack a picnic basket and spread a blanket in your backyard or an open-air park or a beach, and enjoy a beautiful day out with your partner. Take some interesting board games or sports activities along to make the get-away worthwhile.
However, don’t forget to wear your face mask and follow the SOPs like a holy ritual to ensure everyone’s safety.
4. Enjoy virtual escape room activities
Escape room involves activities like finding clues, solving puzzles, and accomplishing tasks with a team of players in a limited time.
Escape rooms can be found virtually as well as in person. Even the latter alternative is considered safe because the team players are people of your choice instead of random strangers. You can choose people whom you think are safe from the contagious disease.
5. Tour your favorite vacation spot
Take a virtual tour of your favorite vacation spot that you’ve been dying to visit for a long time. Taking a plane or cruising a ship is not necessary for taking a tour, just google the famous landmarks and your much-loved spots and explore the world with your significant other.
You can also take a virtual tour of the destinations that both of you have already visited and reminisce about the good old times that you spent there. It could be your honeymoon get-away or the place where you met, or a fun trip that either of you took individually. There is nothing like bonding while traveling, or in this case, virtual traveling.
6. Create your own cinema at home
Devote your living room to build your private cinema. Arrange some movie snacks and drinks, set up a home theatre and speakers, lower the lighting to give it the touch of a real cinema, and enjoy a movie night with your date.
You can also build a drive-in cinema in an open space and invite friends to enjoy movie nights in their own cars. This will give a true cinema feel and an interesting cinema experience to last a lifetime.
7. Have a Barbeque in your backyard
Arrange a barbeque party for two in your backyard. Set up a nice table for two with candlelight and flowers. Marinate some meat, prepare some salad and a side dish and enjoy grilling with your partner.
The aroma of barbeque, a brisk breeze fluttering by, flowers and candles adorning the table filled with food and the company of your significant other… nothing can get better than this.
8. Take a hike
Choose a scenic trail and take a hike enjoying nature and the love blooming in the air. But don’t forget to maintain a distance of six feet and keep the face masks on. Taking precautions is very important no matter where or with whom you are. Nonetheless, hiking can be romantic despite the distance.
9. Go scavenger/treasure hunting
Plan a scavenger or a treasure hunt with your partner. Hide clues leading to different spots that have been integral in your relationship or conceal items affiliated to both of you and set up cues. Let your partner hunt for them. It will be a fun day-long activity that will bring you closer despite the social distance and will keep you entertained too.
10. Sign up for a virtual club
There is always a common interest that brings both the individuals in a relationship together, it may be love for books or art or food, etc.
Join a book club if both of you are bookworms; join a yoga class if you both love meditating; enroll in a language class if you love to learn languages, or join an art society if you are art buffs. Make the most of that common interest by joining a virtual club to pursue your interest and build a stronger association with your significant other.
The current circumstances may seem blight with respect to socializing and building new relationships. However, as they say, desperate times call for desperate measures. Instead of going with the conventional ways of dating, you can think outside the box to keep your love life exciting.
So try these 10 unique ideas to spend meaningful time with your date or partner and keep the spark alive in your life as well as in your relationship.
Read full articles, get tips, tools and resources for living and loving with more self-esteem plus the latest updates from the blog and weekly newsletter