People all over the world are experiencing the side effects of social isolation. You may be afraid that being unable to consistently see your partner may be detrimental to your relationship. You may miss physical touch and just being physically present with your partner. Although it is hard to not be there, in person, with someone you really care about, dating long distance temporarily can actually help deepen the connection you already have. 

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• Take this opportunity to have deeper conversations and really get to know each other.

• Have a Netflix Party. Use the Chrome internet browser plugin “Netflix Party” and watch Netflix together. This allows you to chat in the same window of the movie and have dual control over pausing and playing the movie.

• Have a video chat dinner date. Coordinate a nice meal and have dinner together over video.

• Read the same book or watch the same shows together, and discuss them.

• Take an online class together. There are plenty of free online classes available right now. Coursera has many topics to choose from.

• Explore who you are as partners. Read a book about healthy relationships together.  Figure out what your “love language” is. Talk about what you want in a relationship, in a partner, and what your life goals are. This is a fantastic opportunity to find out if they match up with this other person.

• Get dressed up for each other and take pictures and video chat. It is important to feel good about yourself and have a nice image in mind of the person you care about.

• Cyber sex. It’s still a thing! You can do this over the phone or through video chat. Just remember that any pictures or video can be saved by your partner and used in the future. Sharing intimate pictures and video is quite a common thing these days, and it can also be used as blackmail to pressure you into doing things in the future.