5 Tips To Bond With Your Partner In A Long-distance Relationship

My partner and I have known each other for many years now, most of them spent thousands of miles apart, so we consider ourselves to be a long-distance relationship, or LDR, experts. Though the pandemic has halted plans to finally close the gap, the ways we connect with each other have grown.

If you're struggling with staying connected in your relationships right now, whether they're romantic, familial, or platonic, here are some things my partner and I do to stay connected, even when we're apart:

1. Watch TV or movies together

Miss going to the movies with your friends or family? Get everyone together to watch something with Teleparty, a free Chrome extension that allows you to synchronously watch shows and movies on various streaming platforms. Teleparty has a built-in text chat, but my partner and I usually hang out in a Discord voice call while watching. 

2. Hang out on camera or mic

One of my favorite parts of being in a relationship is the ability to be doing separate things in the same space, and this is a way to facilitate that same feeling over distance. My partner and I will hop on a voice or video call and just go about our activities as normal.

I might be reading or writing while he draws or plays a video game, and we'll occasionally voice opinions on our activities. It's comforting and makes the days feel less lonely. I also do this with my friends if we're playing separate games, and with my mom, as we both cook dinner. 

3.  Play multiplayer games

My partner and I are already into video games, so finding something we can both play is relatively easy. We enjoy Teamfight Tactics as our first choice game, but also have a fun time with other games like Among Us and Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Luckily, multiplayer is a common feature in a lot of games, so try browsing Steam's multiplayer and online co-op tags for something that appeals to your tastes. Some of these co-op games can be played with larger groups of people so you can play with all your friends. 

If your family isn't into video games, classic games like charades, Taboo, and Scattergories can be played over Zoom video calls really easily!

4. Write letters and send gifts

The postal service is your best friend right now! Love letters may seem outdated, but there's something special about having a physical object with your partner's handwriting on it.

Small gifts are also treasured keepsakes. Send them a shirt or jacket of yours, or something you think they'd enjoy as a surprise. When it comes to friends and family, letters still have a vintage charm, and thoughtful gifts are bound to make anyone smile. 

5. Have a virtual date 

You can watch your favorite musician do a virtual concert, do a virtual escape room, follow the same art tutorial on YouTube as if you were at a paint and sip studio, or just share dinner and drinks together. These virtual get-togethers can also be done with your friends or family members. 

The most important thing is, no matter what you choose to do, to make spending time with your loved ones a priority. It takes a lot more effort to socialize now that we can't just exist in the same space as other people, but the connections we share with others are worth the time and energy they take to maintain.