11 Sweet Things to Do in a Long Distance Relationship (To Feel Closer)
Let’s be honest: The “Video Call Fatigue” is real.
When you first started long-distance, just seeing their face on a screen was enough. You could stare at each other for hours. But after three months? Six months? You start running out of things to say.
“How was your day?” “Good. Yours?” “Good.”
…Silence.
The key to surviving Long Distance Relationships (LDR) isn’t talking more. It’s doing things together. You need shared experiences, not just shared conversations.
If you are feeling the distance today, here are 11 sweet ways to shake up your routine and feel like you are actually in the same room.
1. Netflix Party Date
Watching a movie “together” used to be hard. You had to count down “3… 2… 1… Play!” and hope you synced up.
Now, use tools like Teleparty (formerly Netflix Party). It syncs your screens automatically and adds a little chat box on the side.
- Make it sweet: Order the exact same takeout food (e.g., both of you order pizza) so you are eating the same dinner while watching the same movie.
2. Send “Open When” Letters
This is the ultimate romantic gesture. Write a stack of letters, seal them in envelopes, and write instructions on the front:
- Open when… You are sad.
- Open when… You miss me.
- Open when… We just had a fight.
Mail the whole stack to them. It means that even when you aren’t awake or available, you can still “be there” to comfort them.
3. Sleep on FaceTime
Okay, some people think this is weird. But LDR couples know it is a lifeline.
You don’t have to talk. Just set up your phone on your pillow, dim the screen, and fall asleep knowing they are there. Hearing their breathing (or snoring!) can lower your cortisol levels and help you sleep better.
4. Zillow Game
This is my favorite way to dream about the future. Open a real estate app (like Zillow or Redfin) in a city you both want to live in one day. Pick a budget (even a fake, billionaire budget) and tour houses together.
- “I love this kitchen.”
- “I hate that carpet.”
It reminds you that the distance is temporary and that you are building a future together.
5. Read the Same Book to Each Other
Pick a book you both want to read. Every night before bed, alternate who reads out loud. There is something incredibly intimate about listening to your partner’s voice telling you a story. It’s calming, and it gives you something new to discuss besides work.
6. Cook the Same Recipe
Set up your laptop in the kitchen. Pick a recipe neither of you has tried before (maybe a pasta dish or cookies). Cook it at the same time. You can laugh when you spill the flour or burn the sauce. Then, sit down and eat your creation “together” at the table.
7. Create a Shared Spotify Playlist
Music is a powerful memory trigger. Create a “Collaborative Playlist” on Spotify.
- Add songs that remind you of them.
- Add songs you are listening to right now.
When you are walking to work or sitting on the bus, listening to their songs makes you feel like you are walking in their shoes.
8. Care Package Exchange
Digital gifts are nice, but physical stuff is better. Agree on a budget (e.g., $20) and a theme (e.g., “The Color Yellow” or “Snacks”). Go to the dollar store, fill a box, and ship it. Wearing their hoodie or eating their favorite local candy connects you to their physical world.
9. Take a Personality Test
Go online and take the Enneagram, the 16 Personalities, or the Love Languages test while sharing your screen. Reading the results together is hilarious and eye-opening. You will learn things about how their brain works that you never knew, and it sparks deep conversations.
10. Good Morning Video
Stop texting “Good Morning.” Instead, send a 10-second video message the moment you wake up. Bedhead, sleepy voice, messy hair – all of it. Seeing you in your raw, morning state makes your partner feel involved in your real life, not just your curated Instagram life.
11. Plan the Next Visit (In Detail)
Nothing kills an LDR faster than “The Unknown.” You always need a date on the calendar. Even if it is 6 months away, start planning the itinerary. Look up restaurants. Look up hiking trails. Anticipation is a huge dopamine booster. The waiting is easier when you know exactly what you are waiting for.
Final Thoughts
Distance is hard. There is no sugarcoating it. But it also forces you to be creative. It forces you to communicate better than most couples who live together.
If you can survive the distance, you can survive anything.
Tell me in the comments: What is your favorite way to connect when you are apart? I’m always looking for new ideas!
