If you are stuck at home for too long, at some point, boredom inevitably sets in, even if you have the company of your special someone. For this reason, we have compiled a list of fun things for couples to do at home that will not only help you fill your time with useful activities but also will also strengthen your emotional connection.
During this strange new age of isolation, it is only too easy to let the concept of social distancing evolve into emotional distancing. Stress, uncertainty and the disruption of our working lives and normal routines can combine into a perfect storm. This can turn the safe sanctuary of your home into a battlefield.
Here are some ways to find a positive in this maelstrom of anxiety to retain and strengthen the emotional connection between you and your partner. Whilst you may be restricted to your own home, there is no reason why, with a little creativity, you can’t still have fun together!
Here are seven fun things for couples to do at home:
1. Recreate your first date
Sure, this is going to be a little tricky if your first date was on a moonlit beach or at the Eiffel Tower. However, it is a great way to reconnect, and remember why you fell in love to start with!
There are lots of things you can to do bring that beautiful memory to the forefront again:
- Wear similar outfits (or the same clothes, if you have them!)
- Make an effort for each other
- Cook or order in a similar style meal that you ate
- Create a playlist for each other of the songs that bring this time to mind
- Decorate your dining area, have a picnic or eat outdoors
2. Exercise together
You may have different hobbies from your partner, and so if one of you is a champion marathon runner and the other hates running, perhaps choose something on more of an even playing field!
Exercising is good for our physical and mental health, and shared experience is among the most fun things for couples to do at home and will help you reignite your emotional connection. You could opt for a bike ride, go for a walk, or perhaps try out something new to you both.
There are lots of videos and ideas you can find online for exercises you can easily do within your own home. Here are some ideas:
- Yoga / Pilates
- HIIT or bodyweight circuit training
- Dance – any kind of dance releases feel-good endorphins!
- Following an online aerobics class
- Joining a virtual workout group
- Spin cycling/running if you have an exercise bike or treadmill
3. Work on a project
Planning for the future helps us remember that, as tough as times might be now, there will be a point in time when it comes to an end. Working on a project together reinforces that positive message, and gives you a common goal to connect over.
Ideas for projects, either to start planning or to get started on right away, could include:
- Gardening – tidy up your outdoor space, plant a vegetable plot, grow your own herbs or clear that tangle of weeds at last!
- DIY – whether it is painting a room, building a new set of shelves or stripping back that ancient wallpaper.
- Organizing – clearing out old clothes, getting rid of junk and sorting out that shed is cathartic. A clean organized space helps your headspace to feel the same. Decide on what you’d like to tackle, and take it one small step at a time.
4. Have a movie night
We often don’t make much effort for our partner if we have been living together for a while, and a date night is a fun thing for couples to do at home that makes a normal evening feel a little more special! Choose together what movie you’d like to watch – either an old favorite or something you have never seen before.
You could either take it in turns to pick the film or decide together. It’s usually a good idea to agree on a genre, especially if one of you loves rom-coms and the other is a horror fan; you want to choose something you can both enjoy! Get a little dressed up, get out the popcorn, and settle in for a comfortable night of shared enjoyment.
5. Stargazing
Looking up at the stars is a romantic experience, and one best shared with your loved one. It is easy to forget about these simple, astonishing pleasures!
You don’t need to have a fancy telescope to be able to enjoy the remarkable night sky; get a cozy rug, make a mug of hot chocolate, and kick back to see what constellations you can see.
Spending valuable time together is important to stay emotionally connected, and the wonder and beauty of the night sky is a simple way to do so.
6. Learn something new
Find something you have always wanted to know how to do, but have never had the time to do. It doesn’t have to be something ambitious like learning a new language, but something fun, simple and engaging that you can enjoy together.
You can find millions of instructional videos online, and here are some ideas for simple things you could learn to do together as a couple while having fun at home:
- Make your own – facemasks, bird feeders, and bath bombs – anything you can think of!
- Gardening – learn how to grow your own, whether it is mushrooms, herbs, vegetables, or roses.
- Cookery – take a short pastry-making course, practice making your own bread or perhaps just a new dish you haven’t ever made before.
- Try your hand at painting, drawing or watercolours.
7. Games night
Probably not for the more competitive of us, but a games night is a low-cost way to have fun together as a couple at home. Choose your favorite games, and set up some kind of challenges – best of three, loser cooks dinners – anything you like!
If you don’t have board games at home, you can play plenty of games without any equipment. Some ideas include:
- Charades
- Card games
- Pen & paper games such as noughts and crosses/dots and boxes
- ‘Who Am I’? – each player chooses a famous person from any category, sticks the name on their opponent’s forehead, and they have a limited number of ‘yes/no’ questions per turn to work out who they are
Conclusion:
Confinement doesn’t have to mean conflict, and staying emotionally connected with your partner will help you both find the support you need in times of stress.
Any activity of our list of fun things for couples to do at home requires a little effort or imagination and is bound to help you stay connected, and keep your bond as strong as ever.
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