5 Ways To Date Remotely During Lockdown

While concern over the novel coronavirus slowly trickled in at the start of the new year, it was business as usual for the majority of the globe until suddenly everyone's world came to a screeching halt around the beginning of March. Social gatherings and travel plans have all been canceled, and everyday grocery trips have morphed into potential hazards.

The more intricate parts of our lives have been impacted, too, including our interpersonal relationships. For instance, those of us who've just started dating someone new, are now experiencing a particularly tricky scenario.

We're excited enough to pursue the relationship or eager to maintain what we've already built but are still in that budding phase where you either don’t live together or aren’t intimate enough just yet to warrant routine overnights.

* Focus on Your Emotional Connection

Social distancing doesn’t have to translate into emotional distancing. Whether your relationship is brand new or you’ve been dating a few months, consider this an opportune time to get emotionally closer to your partner. Simply communicating regularly and continuing to feel out your connection is a great place to start.

* Do Something Together Even Though You’re Apart

Shared experiences bring us together and give us something to talk about. For example, while social distancing you could both choose a book to read at the same time and then set times to discuss it. Not only will it personally relieve stress for each of you and serve as a break from the news cycle, but it’ll promote a deeper connection.

* Plan Virtual Dates Regularly

One of the best parts of dating someone new is exploring and seeing new things together. In a non-social distancing world that might look like visiting a local museum, going to the movies, or attending a live concert. These are more fun to do in real life, of course, but with the internet on our side you can have the next best thing: virtual dates.

* Make Plans for the Future

Looking toward the future is a great way to keep spirits high and to remind each other that there’s an end to this temporary upheaval. It also signals that you see promise in your connection and desire to continue your relationship and/or eventually take it to the next level.

* Lean into Sexual Intimacy

If you both share a desire to become sexually intimate (or maintain this intimacy) then lean into it. What sets romantic relationships apart from any other relationship is a sexual bond. In the context of social distancing, this might look like steamy text conversations, phone sex, or even FaceTime sex.