LOVE LOCKDOWN: HOW TO SURVIVE YOUR LDR DURING HOME QUARANTINE

Here is yet another aspect of your life that’s affected by the COVID-19: your love life.

Due to imposed home quarantine measures, couples are forced into long-distance relationships (LDR). But you know what? Even if staying home (and apart) gets more exasperating as days go by, it is what’s best for you both as of now.

You’re actually lucky that you are living in a time in which you can communicate with the one you love whenever you miss them, thanks to modern technology.    

So in this quarantine period, you don’t have to be lonely. This could be an opportunity and a new way to strengthen your bond with each other. All you have to do put on a little bit more thought into creating romance, even if it is in small, unconventional ways.

Here are 6 fun and memorable activities (all of which can be done virtually) that will help you stay connected with your bae from afar—and maybe even help you appreciate your next reunion even more.

1. WRITE EACH OTHER LOVE LETTERS

There are two approaches here: the good old traditional love letters or the digital letter.  

Here’s a secret: written love letters are romantic and they don’t go out of style. So practice those pretty penmanship and write a letter (yes, using an actual pen and paper) for each day that you were apart. Keep the letters in a beautiful box which you can give as a present when you reunite after the home quarantine has been lifted.  

For the second approach, write a love email and send it to your love every day. 

Writing often will help you deal with separation anxiety and ease that lovesickness.  

2. ARRANGE A VIRTUAL FANCY DATE NIGHT

Feel more connected with boyfriend/girlfriend by scheduling an online date night via Messenger chat or Zoom.  

Have you been neglecting yourself because you’re just staying at home and nobody sees you? Use the date for an excuse and motivation to dress up in your nice clothes.

Cook your love’s fave food. Put on makeup, slip into that flattering dress, and spritz on a luxurious perfume (even though your boo will not be able to smell it through the laptop).  

You can set the mood by playing your favorite romantic song and by lighting up some candles (PRO TIP: everyone looks good in candlelight. Also, set the table nicely with beautiful china and gleaming silverware.

Lastly, don’t forget to include your date! Place your laptop or phone on the table opposite you and you have yourselves a romantic virtual dinner date. Let no home quarantine or LDR dampen the ardor, dear!

3. OR SURPRISE BAE BY ORDERING FOOD DELIVERY AND SENDING IT TO THEIR HOUSE.

Luckily, despite the lockdown, the food delivery service is still ongoing.  

Find out here if your favorite food place is still delivering and have food delivered to your babe’s house. Then, order the same food for yourself and “meet” for a dinner date at 7 p.m. over Messenger.

READ: STAY CONNECTED: COMM APPS TO USE WHILE ON HOME QUARANTINE

4. PLAY ONLINE GAMES TOGETHER

If both of you are gamers, you can play with each other for a little friendly competition.   

There are many two-player online games that you can play in. One example is  Cardzmania, a platform that has a lot of online card games, from Gin Rummy to Klondike

You can also play Online Role Playing Games where you two can assume characters and interact online.

5. BINGE WATCH THE SAME TV SHOW OR MOVIE

For those of you who are Google Chrome users, you can download Netflix Party and make it a virtual movie date. Netflix Party allows you to watch the same movie or TV show together in real and at the same time. It even has a chat feature, so you guys can continue making all your side comments as you would in real life.

If you want to see each other’s faces as you watch the movie, hop on Skype or FaceTime and count-down to when you should each press “play”.

These may be trying times because you can’t just cuddle up on the couch and enjoy watching together, but you just have to creative.

6. LEARN SOMETHING NEW

ECQ is a great excuse to learn something new because you will suddenly have too much time in your hands.  

Take one of the countless online courses out there and become experts in something new together, such as cooking, video editing, etc. Or you could teach your loved one something you are good at, and vice versa!

It takes two good individuals to make a great couple and your new-found skill will surely be of great help to you when the home quarantine is lifted and we are ushered into the new normal.

7. STARGAZE “TOGETHER”

Want to hear something extra romantic? 

We’re all under the same sky and the stars you see when you look up right now are the same stars that your bae see as well. Now that is a great reason to feel closer and connected!

Place a chair outside your home (don’t get out of the fence, though, to avoid getting caught violating the social distancing measures), call your love on the phone or chat them up in messenger, then see if you can spot the constellations together.

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Since the COVID-19 has become a pandemic, the smart and safe thing to do is to adapt to the “new normal”.  

We have just given you a few of the things you can do to keep your connection strong and the LDR more bearable. It would help more if you and your significant other would talk to each other about what sorts of interactions you feel would be best for you and with what frequency and duration.

According to Dulcinea Pitagora, a psychotherapist based in New York, there should be consent in place in remote interactions just as there is when in person. It’s a good idea to discuss what different types of interactions partners want to have and when.

Do you have more ideas on how to deal with LDR during home quarantine? Lets us know!