What To Do Online With Long Distance Relationship

Introduction
Why Online Activities Matter
Getting Started: Set Up, Boundaries, and Gentle Agreements
Small Daily Rituals That Create Consistency
Deep Connection Activities (For Intimacy And Growth)
Fun & Playful Online Activities (Games, Challenges, and Laughter)
Creative Projects To Build Shared Meaning
Special Occasions, Anniversaries, and Milestones
Intimacy, Boundaries, and Emotional Safety
Planning Visits, Finances, and Practical Steps Forward
Troubleshooting Common Long Distance Problems
Sample Weekly And Monthly Plans You Can Adapt
Tools, Apps, And Practical Recommendations
Personalizing Based On Relationship Stage
When To Reassess The Relationship
Personalization Tips: Make Activities Truly Yours
Final Thoughts Before We Close
Conclusion
FAQ

Introduction

Most couples in long distance relationships struggle with the same quiet worry: how do we keep feeling close when miles — and schedules — keep us apart? Nearly half of all people in relationships report relying on technology to stay emotionally connected, so if you’re asking “what to do online with long distance relationship,” you are in very good company.

Short answer: There are countless meaningful, playful, and growth-focused things you can do online with your partner — from tiny daily rituals that build emotional safety to creative projects and structured date nights that recreate shared presence. The best activities mix consistency, variety, and purpose: pick a few routines to anchor your week, sprinkle in novel experiences that spark excitement, and include opportunities to plan the future together.

This post will gently guide you through why online activities matter, how to choose the right ones for your relationship, dozens of concrete ideas grouped by purpose, tech and etiquette tips, sample schedules you can adapt, common traps and how to avoid them, and supportive resources for ongoing inspiration. My aim is to be your caring companion: practical, warm, and focused on what helps you heal, grow, and thrive together.

Why Online Activities Matter

The emotional purpose behind shared online time

Distance doesn’t just remove physical touch — it removes casual moments: bumping into each other making coffee, sharing a laugh over a silly TV ad, or holding hands on a walk. Online activities recreate many of those small, connective moments in new forms. They help:

Maintain emotional attunement: regular shared experiences keep you tuned into each other’s moods and needs.
Build shared memories: doing things together — even virtually — creates history you can reflect on.
Reduce loneliness: predictable rituals and surprise delights both soothe the ache of separation.
Encourage development: learning or planning together pushes the relationship forward rather than letting it stagnate.

The balance of routine and novelty

Routine gives safety. Novelty gives excitement. When you plan online activities, aim for both: anchor your week with a few rituals (a 10-minute morning check-in, a Sunday video dinner), and add monthly surprises (a mystery virtual date, a joint online class). This blend helps relationships feel steady and alive.

Getting Started: Set Up, Boundaries, and Gentle Agreements

Tech basics: make connection easy and pleasant

Small tech upgrades can make your virtual time feel more natural:

Use a stable video platform (Zoom, FaceTime, Google Meet) and know how to share screens.
For phone calls, use a tripod or prop your device so both hands are free.
Try a second monitor or split-screen when you want to watch things together.
Choose comfortable audio — use earbuds or a simple mic to avoid echo.
Send links ahead of time if you plan to play a game or watch a show.

If you’d like steady ideas and gentle reminders delivered to your inbox, consider joining our free email community for weekly relationship ideas and encouragement.

Create gentle boundaries and expectations

Long distance relationships thrive on clarity rather than rules. You might find it helpful to agree on:

Communication windows (when texts are welcome, when calls are best).
Privacy expectations (how much to share about day-to-day social life).
Response norms (a short note if you’ll be offline for a long time).
Date-night etiquette (no multi-tasking, be camera-ready).

Frame these as shared experiments: “We might try a 10-minute check-in every evening for two weeks and see how it feels.” Gentle, collaborative language keeps the tone supportive and non-accusatory.

A short communication checklist

Ask about time zones when scheduling.
Be explicit about whether a call is casual or a “date night.”
Use calendar invites for planned activities.
Don’t let missed calls become evidence of lack of care — check in calmly.

Small Daily Rituals That Create Consistency

Tiny rituals build emotional bank accounts. Here are simple ideas that take minutes but add up.

Quick checks and micro-moments

Morning or nightly 5-minute check-ins: two things you’re grateful for, one highlight, one ask for support.
A daily photo swap: one image from your day with a short caption.
“Good morning” voice notes instead of text — tone matters.
Share a daily song and explain why.

Shared micro-tasks

Read the same article and exchange thoughts.
Do a 10-minute mindfulness pause together on a call.
Set a shared step goal and send progress screenshots.

Why these matter

Consistency conveys presence. Even a few minutes of intentional connection daily helps partners feel prioritized and reduces stress during long stretches apart.

Deep Connection Activities (For Intimacy And Growth)

If you want to deepen emotional intimacy, longer, structured activities create space for vulnerability and discovery.

The 36 questions and guided closeness exercises

Work through curated question sets or conversation prompts designed to foster intimacy. Schedule a relaxed evening, set aside screens for interruptions, and take turns answering with curiosity rather than judgment.

Try taking one question per day or tackling the full set in a weekend retreat-style call.
Record favorite answers in a shared journal document.

Shared therapy-adjacent practices

Couples don’t need to be in crisis to benefit from proven exercises: gratitude lists, “stress-reduction” sharing (one partner speaks while the other listens and reflects), and appreciation letters. These can be done over video and deepen trust.

Joint reflective projects

Keep a shared Google Doc where you both add weekly reflections about what you appreciated that week and what felt hard.
Create a digital “memory book”: short voice clips, photos, and tiny anecdotes you’ll revisit on visits.

If you enjoy prompts and creative date setups, you might like to join our email community for curated conversation starters and date ideas sent straight to your inbox.

Fun & Playful Online Activities (Games, Challenges, and Laughter)

Laughter and play are magic for connection. Play reduces tension and creates joyful memories.

Multiplayer games and digital competitions

Online board games: platforms like Tabletopia or apps for Catan bring strategy nights to video calls.
Casual phone games: Words With Friends, Draw Something, or mobile card games that let you trade playful jabs.
Jackbox or party packs: great for group dates with friends and family.

Low-prep, high-fun activities

Buzzfeed-style quizzes and silly personality tests (then debate the results).
“Who knows who better?” quizzes you create on Kahoot or Google Forms.
Compete in online escape rooms or puzzle challenges.

Creative and messy fun

Paint-and-sip nights via video: pick the same tutorial and compare masterpieces.
Bake or cook the same recipe simultaneously and judge presentation.
DIY craft nights: both make something small and mail it afterward for the reveal.

For ideas and inspiration you can pin and revisit, explore daily relationship inspiration on our Pinterest boards.

Creative Projects To Build Shared Meaning

Shared creativity creates something that’s uniquely yours.

Collaborative storytelling and digital scrapbooks

Make a joint digital scrapbook of visits, screenshots, and ticket stubs.
Write a sentence-by-sentence story in a shared doc — alternate turns and watch the plot twist.

Learn something new together

Take a short online course or language lessons and practice on calls.
Pick a hobby (photography, coding, cocktail mixing) and set simple milestones.

Co-creating future plans

Design your dream home together with online tools; planning future life helps keep partnership goals aligned.
Build a travel bucket list and research trips, saving for them together using a shared spreadsheet.

For step-by-step date DIYs and visual prompts, you can also browse creative date ideas and DIYs on Pinterest.

Special Occasions, Anniversaries, and Milestones

Distance makes holidays and anniversaries extra meaningful — and the effort counts for a lot.

Date night blueprints for important days

Recreate a special date: cook the same meal, dress up, and play a curated playlist.
Plan a surprise delivery: flowers, favorite takeout, or a care package timed for the call.
Create a “visit countdown” box: mail a small craft or a calendar with a chain to tear off each day.

Shared rituals for anniversaries

Exchange video letters: record a 3–5-minute message to watch together.
Compile a montage of photos and voice clips to play and comment on.
Make a “future promises” jar where each note is a plan for something you’ll do together.

Low-cost, high-heart ideas

Virtual tour of a museum, followed by discussing your favorite piece.
A themed trivia night about your relationship history.
A donation or shared charitable activity done in both of your names.

Intimacy, Boundaries, and Emotional Safety

Online space can be intimate — but it also requires trust and consent.

Create safety around digital intimacy

Ask before sending intimate photos or asking for calls in vulnerable moments.
Talk about what “sexting” or sexual sharing means for each of you and what feels safe.
Decide together how to archive or delete sensitive content.

Strategies for vulnerability

Use “I” statements when sharing fears to avoid blame.
Set a “check-in” after heavy conversations to normalize recovery time.
Keep short notes of appreciation visible; positive reinforcement nurtures safety.

Managing jealousy and insecurity

Name triggers early and be curious about their origin.
Avoid assumptions; choose curiosity: “I noticed you seemed distant — is everything okay?” rather than accusatory language.
Reaffirm commitments in practical ways: share plans, follow through on promises, and schedule face-to-face visits when possible.

Planning Visits, Finances, and Practical Steps Forward

Visits are often the emotional anchor for LDRs. Planning them well reduces stress and increases joy.

Practical trip planning together

Create a shared travel fund and a simple savings plan you both contribute to.
Use a spreadsheet to track dates, flights, and lodging — transparency removes anxiety.
Plan a realistic visit cadence: whether monthly, quarterly, or seasonal, choose what you can sustain.

Budget-friendly visit strategies

Alternate who travels to balance costs.
Visit during off-peak dates for cheaper flights.
Consider “meet in the middle” trips where both travel halfway for a new shared adventure.

Create a visit itinerary with small surprises

Add a mix of quiet and exciting activities — museums, a favorite local café, a cozy night in.
Plan one surprise (a picnic, a mini road trip) to keep the visit memorable.

Troubleshooting Common Long Distance Problems

Every relationship will hit snags. Anticipating common issues helps you respond lovingly.

Problem: Boredom or routine

Rotate date formats: intro a new monthly “mystery date” planned by one partner.
Create a 26-week challenge of small activities to keep novelty alive.
Revisit shared goals to renew purpose.

Problem: Mismatched schedules

Set asynchronous rituals (voice notes, photo swaps) that don’t require simultaneous time.
Use shared calendars to find overlapping windows.
Allow a weekly “flex window” where either of you can suggest a quick call if available.

Problem: Communication breakdowns

Use structured check-ins: one person speaks for 5 minutes while the other listens and reflects.
If emotions run high, pause and agree to revisit after 24 hours when both have cooled.
Consider a neutral prompt list to avoid rehashing the same argument.

Problem: One partner feels less invested

Name the feeling and invite curiosity: “I’ve noticed you seem quieter; I’m wondering how you’re feeling about us lately?”
Suggest low-pressure activities that re-engage (a single creative project or a surprise care package).
Reassess long-term plans and timelines honestly together.

Sample Weekly And Monthly Plans You Can Adapt

Here are flexible templates you can copy and adapt depending on your schedules.

Simple Weekly Template (for busy couples)

Monday: Quick voice note to start week (2–3 minutes).
Wednesday: 15-minute mid-week check-in video — share wins and one stressor.
Friday: Dinner date over video — cook the same meal or order in.
Sunday: Plan the week briefly via shared doc (5–10 minutes).

Richer Weekly Template (for more time together)

Daily: Morning “I’m thinking of you” photo or voice note.
Tuesday: Co-learning session (30 minutes: language, course, or hobby).
Thursday: Game night (Jackbox, chess, or mobile games).
Saturday: Longer video date — watch a film together, then discuss.
Sunday: Reflective hour — gratitude notes and planning.

Monthly Rituals

First weekend: Mystery date planned by one partner.
Mid-month: Creative project check-in (scrapbook, playlist).
End-of-month: Review progress on shared goals and finances.

Tools, Apps, And Practical Recommendations

A toolkit makes doing things together simple.

Communication and calls

Zoom, FaceTime, Google Meet — choose what’s comfortable for both.
Marco Polo or voice message apps for asynchronous video check-ins.

Shared watching and entertainment

Teleparty (Netflix Party), Kast, or Discord for simultaneous streaming.
YouTube watch-along and synced playlists.

Games and interactivity

Jackbox Party Packs, Tabletopia, Board Game Arena, Words With Friends.
Kahoot or Google Forms for quizzes.

Shared docs and planning

Google Docs/Sheets for shared journals, budget, and itineraries.
Trello or Notion for collaborative projects and bucket lists.

Gifts and deliveries

Local delivery services for surprise meals.
Mail-friendly care packages: small and meaningful items that show attention.

Personalizing Based On Relationship Stage

Different phases call for different approaches.

New relationships

Prioritize getting to know each other: longer Q&A nights, light vulnerability, and playful dates.
Keep plans exploratory and low-pressure.

Established long-distance

Focus on shared projects and future planning.
Deepen rituals and invest in co-creation (scrapbooks, courses, financial plans).

Reuniting after separation

Practice patience: transition back into physical closeness gently.
Use shared reflections and gratitude to process reunion.

When To Reassess The Relationship

Sometimes distance reveals deeper mismatches — and that’s okay. Consider a reassessment if:

Patterns of hurt or mistrust repeat despite attempts to repair.
One or both partners feel consistently emotionally drained rather than replenished.
Future timelines and priorities remain fundamentally misaligned.

Reassessment is a compassionate act: it’s about honesty and caring for both people’s well-being. If you want external support or gentle prompts to guide these conversations, join our free email community for regular guidance and compassionate resources.

Personalization Tips: Make Activities Truly Yours

Build things around inside jokes and shared history — that personal touch makes any activity warmer.
Rotate who plans: alternate between structured dates and spontaneous surprises.
Keep a “wins” list of moments that felt meaningful so you can recreate the elements later.
Keep a shared playlist, a shared photo folder, and a small private space online that’s just yours.

Final Thoughts Before We Close

Long distance relationships ask for creativity, consistency, and heart. They also give you a unique laboratory to practice communication, empathy, and partnership. Small rituals, playful moments, and shared projects are not distractions from the hard work — they are the very work of building closeness across distance. With the right blend of routine, novelty, clear boundaries, and intentional planning, you can not only preserve your connection but grow it into something richer and more resilient.

If you’d like a steady stream of heartfelt date ideas, conversation prompts, and encouragement delivered to your inbox, join our free LoveQuotesHub email community here: Join our caring email community for weekly support.

Conclusion

Distance changes how you love, but it doesn’t diminish what you can build together. By choosing activities that match your values — whether that’s playfulness, learning, intimacy, or shared future planning — you create habits that hold you together between visits. Remember: the goal is not perfection but presence. Try different things, notice what warms your hearts, and keep the lines of curiosity open.

If you’re ready for ongoing inspiration, practical date blueprints, and a compassionate circle of support, join our email community for free and let us walk alongside you as you nurture your relationship from afar: Get heartfelt support and join us today.

FAQ

What are quick ideas for a first virtual date?

Try a 60-minute “low-pressure” date: pick a light collaborative activity like a short quiz, a two-song playlist exchange, and a 20-minute walk-and-talk where you each stroll and talk on hands-free. Avoid heavy topics and focus on curiosity and humor.

How often should long distance couples do scheduled online dates?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Many couples benefit from one intentional date night per week and short daily rituals (texts or voice notes). Experiment with frequency and adjust based on energy and schedules.

What if one partner dislikes video calls?

Find alternatives that feel safer: voice notes, asynchronous video messages like Marco Polo, shared playlists, and collaborative documents. Schedule occasional low-pressure video time and let comfort grow gradually.

How do you keep intimacy alive without physical contact?

Emphasize emotional intimacy: deep conversations, planning for the future, shared creative projects, and thoughtful gestures (care packages, surprise deliveries). Respect each other’s comfort and consent for more intimate exchanges, and create rituals that foster closeness in consistent ways.

Get the Help for FREE!