How To Date While Observing Social Distancing
Thursday, August 20, 2020
AD/Sponsored - This post is sponsored, but all the opinions are my own
Dating was hard enough before the social distancing came in. Whether you're spending time with your significant other or trying to match with someone on a dating site, social distancing has made it harder to date. It's something you can't avoid and will be around for some time. I thought it would be helpful to share my tips for dating at this difficult time. Whether you're living together or apart, here is some advice for you!
Utilise Technology
If you're looking for a date, there are lots of dating sites that will allow you to meet matches and communicate! Dating sites like www.dateaberdeensingles.co.uk allow you to safely meet other singles and find love in this difficult time. This Aberdeen dating site allows you to meet a range of different people in the Aberdeen area. You may want to use a dating site local to you for closer matches.
Technology also allows you to communicate with your date. Whether you're messaging or using a video chat, you'll be able to keep a good connection! There are lots of video chatting apps you can use, including WhatsApp, Facebook messenger and Zoom.
Take Advantage Of Outdoor Areas
Although you may not be able to hug or hold hands, you're allowed to see your date outside and from a distance. Whether you're having a picnic in the park or wandering around a zoo, there are lots of outdoor dates that you can try. Outdoor dates are one of the safest ways to meet up with your partners. There are so many places you can go, and with more attractions opening up, there is no excuse not to! Here are some outdoor date ideas for you to set up!
- Visit a local National Trust site or forest
- Meet adorable animals at a zoo or farm
- Get scared at a theme park
- Watch a film at a drive-in theatre (in separate cars)
- Eat food truck treats on a park bench
- Enjoy a picnic in the park
- Swim in an outdoor pool
Set Up Virtual Date Nights
My boyfriend and I have had to compromise a lot during the lockdown, especially as we weren't isolating together. One of the best ways we managed was to set up virtual date nights. We would use video chatting apps to talk, dress up and choose a date! Here are some of our favourite date night ideas from a distance. These can all be done using a laptop or games console!
- Use Netflix Party to stream a movie together
- Play Xyzzy (online Cards Against Humanity)
- Challenge each other on Xbox, Playstation or computer games
- Explore a virtual tour together
- Cook the same recipe and enjoy a meal over facetime
- Take time to learn about your date and quiz each other
- Have a book club evening
- Take an online course together
- Make care packages for each other and unbox them over call
- Create a playlist together
- Order each other a meal to try
Learn To Be Flexible
Flexibility is something I've really had to learn recently. Lockdown has meant that plans change instantly and some people aren't ready to go back out into the world. If your date or partner isn't prepared to go to a restaurant, compromise with them. It's natural to be scared or nervous, and you should force then. You also need to be prepared for plans to change instantly. People going back to work, being made redundant or even family members getting sick can means that plans get cancelled. Be understanding and reschedule. If you're flexible, dating is a lot easier!
Build A Connection From Afar
You don't have to be physical to create a connection. If you're dating while observing social distancing measures, utilise eye contact and other flirtatious body languages. It may not seem like a big piece of advice, but you'd be surprised what a smile and a bit of eye contact can do. It also tells your date that you're interested and listening, deepening your connection.
You can also build your relationship by having meaningful conversations. Setting aside time to get to know each other builds a great bond. You could ask each other questions or tell life-changing stories. One of my favourite games to play is pancakes or waffles. You ask the other person "pancakes and waffles", and they respond with their favourite. Their favourite gets removed from the mix, and they will ask you, replacing their favourite with a new thing. If I chose pancakes, I'd ask my date "waffles or ice cream " for example!
Get Cheeky Over Text Message
Just because you're social distancing, doesn't mean your love life has to suffer. There are lots of messaging apps that you can use to sext your other half. Make sure you're being sensible with what you're sending the other person. Flirtatious messages can be a great way to maintain your relationship, but be cautious when it comes to images. Make sure you trust the person and are sending it to the right one. If you're feeling uncomfortable, don't send anything. You don't have to feel pressured! There's nothing wrong with some saucy sexting!
Don't Be Too Hard On Yourself
Things can become overwhelming, so don't be hard on yourself if a relationship ends or nothing comes of a date. Everyone is experiencing the pandemic differently, so don't feel bad if things don't turn out your way. Look on the positive side where you can. You may have met an amazing friend, tried a new favourite dish or even discovered something you didn't know before! Dating can be a long process, and COVID-19 is a delay. Don't let it put you off!
Social distancing is hard, as is dating, and the two combined can be a nightmare! Don't let the restrictions put you off meeting someone amazing, or maintaining a healthy relationship. These are just some of the things I've been doing to cope, but everybody is different. How have you managed dating during the lockdown? I'd love to hear your dating wins and fails - the more unique the story, the better!
13 comments
These are great suggestions for anyone looking to start dating or those who are in a long distance relationship already.
ReplyDeleteMy friend met someone through a dating site during lockdown and it’s going really well x
That's amazing, I wish them all the best! Thank you for reading!
DeleteEm x
Such cute tips! I think this time can be especially great to create bonds, since everyone is roughly in the same boat and it offers us the chance to look beyond physical attractions.
ReplyDeleteI think building bonds is so important. Thank you for reading!
DeleteEm x
Great post! Thank you for sharing! I loved reading this post! I love all of the activity ideas!
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading!
DeleteEm x
I got into a relationship just before lockdown. I am glad I did because I don't think I would have been up to dating online hha!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.emilyclareskinner.com
Lovely post! It's been difficult not being able to see my boyfriend very much but we are partly used to it as we live quite far apart when we're not at uni - it's just been an extreme length of time this time! Technology is so great to keep things going and do virtual dates!
ReplyDeleteTash // A Girl with a View
I miss my boyfriend a lot, and I am so grateful that we've managed to pull through and use technology to our advantage!
DeleteEm x
These are some great ideas! I am fortunate enough to have been able to stay with my boyfriend during lockdown so we didn't have to socially distance - but I've got a lot of friends who are having to try and find a way to socially distance whilst dating so I'll forward this post to them x
ReplyDeleteRoni | myelevatedexistence.com
Aw that's really sweet, I am glad you've managed to stay together! Thank you for reading!
DeleteEm x
Me and my boyfriend arrange virtual date nights when we're apart, and making the most of ourdoor spaces is a brilliant idea :)
ReplyDeleteThey're not the same, but deffinitly a must for any relationship! Thank you for reading!
DeleteEm x