6 Easy Ways To Keep Your Relationship Fun During Covid

Hi everyone! Olivia here and I’m so excited to connect with you through Chelsea’s platform. I’ve been an avid TMM reader and follower for years, and am so grateful to be part of this community. Shoutout to Chelsea for bringing us together! My appreciation for this group of women has only grown over the last few months as we’ve navigated a global pandemic together. We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, we’ve baked banana bread and most importantly, we fangirled over sweet Brody! (We still do.)

It’s an understatement to say that the last few months have been anything but normal in so many aspects of life, especially romantically. If you and yours have been struggling to navigate this “new normal” – you aren’t alone.  Have you Googled “how to keep things exciting during COVID-19” because I definitely have!

In full disclosure, my boyfriend and I have gone through a lot of trial and error to establish new ways of keeping our relationship exciting. I finally reached the point where I knew we needed to think outside the box to feel like ourselves again. You know when you’re feeling off, but can’t put your finger on it? That’s where I was. 

So, the experimenting began! If you’re feeling the same way (and you’ve found yourself Googling late at night too), here are some of the things that helped us stay connected.

Roll Baby Roll

At the end of March, a late-night Amazon session inspired an impulse purchase: rollerblades!  Who knew feeling like a kid again was just what we needed?! It brought back all of the late-90s-Brink vibes. A little bit of childhood-nostalgia mixed with trying something new together, was just the kind of playful fun we both needed.  Trust me when I say it was the best purchase I’ve made in months! If you and your SO need some feel-good fun, this is it!  Whether you can give Brink a run for his money, or you’re a first time skater… I promise you won’t be disappointed. Just make sure to wear your sunblock, and a helmet! 

Make Plans

Does anyone else religiously use their planners and calendar app? I know I’m not the only one… If you’re like me, you’ll appreciate a weekly date night! We’ve designated Wednesdays as the perfect night to take turns planning something special, whether it’s dinner at a new restaurant, or a long walk around the neighborhood. This new tradition gives me something to look forward to every week and gives us a reason to get all dressed up. If you’re like me and having plans makes you happy, this is a must. Cheers to weekly adventures! 

Get Competitive

Love a good completion? We do too! So, of course, we’ve been playing a lot of games together. You name it, we’ve played it. Pour yourselves a glass of wine, and open up the old game closet. We’re always laughing by the end of the date, and it’s such a fun way to unwind together.  If you’re feeling bold, you can up the ante with a wager. Ours usually look like foot massages, choosing what to do on the weekend, or cleaning up after dinner. Let the games begin! 

Trade Screens For Ink

Have you found yourself spending way more time on your phone than usual? Same sister. I’ve never used the timer function on apps before, and I’m all about it now. (If you aren’t sure what I’m talking about click herefor more info – it’s a game changer!) My boyfriend and I love to read, and it’s been such a blessing to have some extra time to read for pleasure these days.  Before COVID, we never read the same thing. Now, we’ve ordered a couple books that we’re both interested in and we’ve found that reading the same thing at the same time sparks the best conversation! I look forward to talking about what we’ve read and love hearing what he’s thinking. We usually see things so differently, which I love! This activity has been a fun way to get to know each other in a new light, and I’m all for it.  Crack open those spines!

Grow With It 

Hands up if COVID turned you into a plant-Mom too!  Give me all the succulents, right? This is a pandemic trend my SO and I leaned into happily. If you have a local nursery or Home Depot, I’ve found a day-date to pick out plants can be such a fun way to spend time together. I can’t think of a better season in which to stop and smell the roses – especially when you get to do it with your SO.

Trivia Talks

Was anyone else excited for the return of The Weakest Link? We LOVE a good trivia night too, so we’ve found that conversation cards and trivia packs are such an inexpensive way to spend time together and add some levity to the week. If you’re like us and like a little bit of a mental workout, I suggest sipping on festive cocktails and keeping score! 

When we added these activities to our routine, we found ourselves enjoying our time so much more. Whether it was blading for an afternoon or enjoying a Wednesday date night, we’ve been able to look forward to new things together, which is something I know I was missing at the beginning of COVID. If you’ve felt a little stagnant in your relationship recently; know that we’re working through it with you.  It’s a strange time to be dating, but know we’re in it together!
Hang in there sister.

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More About Olivia

Olivia Phelps is a content creator, writer and reporter located in Southern California who loves sports, words and being outside. You can watch her online covering the Big West Conference on ESPN3 and stay tuned for the launch of her blog. In the meantime ,check her out on Instagram @liviphelps for all things ESPN, women in sports, inspirational quotes and her puppy Tiger (who steals the show).