Skip to main content

4 fun virtual date ideas you probably haven’t tried

Fizkes/Shutterstock

It can be hard to keep things fresh when dating through a computer screen. Poor WiFi, distracting backgrounds, and other tech troubles don’t exactly favor the kinds of connections one hopes for when seeking romance, especially when it’s a new or budding relationship.

But take heart (pun intended). There are ways to stay physically distant and emotionally intimate at the same time. Each of these virtual date ideas will keep you and your date fully engaged, whether you’re still in the honeymoon phase or enjoying a long-term relationship. FaceTime and Zoom calls are great for catching up, but think outside the box next time you’re planning a more memorable virtual date.

Studio Romantic/Shutterstock

Date crates

Are you familiar with meal delivery services? You know, the ones that send you the recipe and ingredients so you can easily prepare meals at home? Date crates are the same idea, only with dating instead of dinner. Date Box Club and CrateJoy are just two of the providers in this space, hoping to add a little excitement to your relationship even if you aren’t opening your box of goodies together.

Recommended Videos

There is a mind-boggling assortment of available themes, so any hobbyist is likely to find something they enjoy. Want to start your own plant nursery together? There’s a crate for that. How about retro video games or board games? An escape room in a box? You’re covered. CrateJoy, specifically, rotates themes every month, with each designed in partnership with relationship therapists and counselors. These professionally recommended activities are sure to inject your relationship with collaboration, communication, and, of course, fun.

ProStock Studio/Shutterstock

Dinner delivery roulette

This is a fun option with little or no planning required. Whether you’re a bonafide foodie or an amateur home chef, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll enjoy the adventure of dinner delivery roulette.

The basic gist is that you and your partner order food and have it delivered to the other person’s residence. It could be your favorite dish, restaurant, or type of cuisine, or your partner can choose something you haven’t tried yet, but they believe you’ll love. This is also a fun test to see how much you really know about each other. Were you listening when they said Indian food was their favorite, or that they just can’t get enough of shrimp fettuccini? This can be a fun time to introduce each other to your own likes or send a little gift to show how well you know them and their palate.

The virtual fun begins when the food arrives and you chat with each other about the meals, whether it was a hit or a miss.

Get creative

With just a little planning and a few basic pieces of equipment, you and your date can relax with a glass of wine and enjoy an art session. Many art stores and online retailers offer all-inclusive kits for any number of arts and crafts projects. Just pick up your kits, turn on a Bob Ross video, and let your creative energy flow.

Painting isn’t the only creative outlet you can partake in together. We also recommend picking up a kit to practice pottery, digital art, jewelry making, or sketching.

Starter kits are convenient, but don’t let prepackaged boxes get in the way of your imagination. For those who are already artistically inclined, consider giving your partner a quick lesson or share your own tools and resources. If you’re into more tactile activities and like building things, buy twin Lego sets and have a race to see who completes it first. If there’s a passion you both share, you’ll surely find chances to explore that world together.

Take the Enneagram Test

For the uninitiated, the Enneagram Personality Test is an online quiz that divides test-takers into nine different personality types.

The nine personality types are:

  • Perfectionist
  • Peacemaker
  • Challenger
  • Investigator
  • Enthusiast
  • Skeptic
  • Giver
  • Achiever
  •  Individualist

Wouldn’t it be fun (and more than a little enlightening) to see where you both land on this spectrum? For an extra challenge, try to take the quiz as each other and see if you know them nearly as well as they know themselves. Personality quizzes, in general, are a great conversation starter, so if the Enneagram isn’t your speed, try the Myers-Briggs test or any of the hundreds of fun Buzzfeed quizzes.

In any dating scenario, it’s important to keep things fresh and remain open to new experiences. We encourage you to use these few ideas as a jumping-off point so you can build upon them and craft the perfect date that will be sure to keep you and your date entertained for hours on end.

BlissMark provides information regarding health, wellness, and beauty. The information within this article is not intended to be medical advice. Before starting any diet or exercise routine, consult your physician. If you don’t have a primary care physician, the United States Health & Human Services department has a free online tool that can help you locate a clinic in your area. We are not medical professionals, have not verified or vetted any programs, and in no way intend our content to be anything more than informative and inspiring.

Scott Harris
Scott Harris is a freelance writer based near Washington, DC, with more than a decade of experience covering health…
5 great products for a fun girls’ night
A group of friends toasting with cocktails

Whether it’s Galentine’s Day or just a random Thursday, having your best friends over can be just what the doctor ordered. Research published in 2018 found that friendships aid in stress management and prevention, and we could all use a little less stress these days.
Netflix night is a tried-and-true way to bond with your friends without leaving your house, but you can’t exactly strike up a meaningful conversation mid-movie. Instead, opt for activities that let the conversations flow and the good times roll.
An evening of art, food, conversations, and casual clothes can do just that. These products will help you have a great girls’ night in.

Nights out with good friends are fun, but having them over for an evening can be, too. It can also be a bit more relaxing. No shoes? No worries. You can still get cocktail service. Instead of movie night, opt for food and art. It will keep your stomach happy and the conversations going. Serving tools, like cheeseboards and cake stands, are stylish ways to leave food out for people to nibble as they paint. A cocktail mixer can turn the evening into a buzz-worthy affair. Paint and canvases are must-haves for your art project. Remember, the art doesn’t have to be award-winning. What’s important is everyone has a good time together.

Read more
How to style sweatpants so you don’t look like you just rolled out of bed
Woman wearing gray joggers with a sweatshirt and jacket

Sweatpants were once reserved only for lounging around the house or sleeping. But thanks to the growing popularity of athleisure wear and our work from home pandemic year, this is no longer the case. Sweats and joggers now have a place in everyday fashion. With the right outfit and accessories, you can dress up your sweatpants to go almost anywhere from the grocery store to the office. So how can you transform your sweats from PJs to stylish wardrobe staples? Keep reading to discover nine tips for how to look good in sweatpants.

Choose fitted sweatpants, not baggy ones
If you want to dress up your sweats, the first step is to choose the right pair to wear out. Baggy, fleece sweatpants might be cozy to wear around the house, but they can make you look schlubby when you wear them out. Choose a pair of joggers that are tapered around the ankle or sweatpants that are fitted around the waist and thighs.
Dress up your joggers with heels or boots
Sneakers and joggers are a match made in heaven. But, if you’re trying to make your sweatpants look dressier, wear them with heels or ankle boots instead. These shoes will instantly elevate your outfit and make you look fashionable no matter the occasion.
Treat them like jeans
Think of your sweatpants like your favorite pair of casual jeans; you can pair them with almost any top. Wear them with a cute sweater, button-down shirt, or simple tank top. This styling method works best with black, beige, or other neutral-colored sweatpants so you can let your top draw most of the attention.

Read more
4 best no-nut butters that will help you forget peanut butter
Sunflower seed butter in a bowl

We think of nut allergies as predominantly affecting children, but only about 20-25% of children outgrow them as they age. The rest go on to live their lives with this allergy. And while nuts impact allergy sufferers to different degrees of severity, avoidance is always the best course of action, which of course means no more peanut butter. If you or your child are allergic to nuts, there are lots of peanut butter alternatives that aren’t made from any kind of nut. Here are four of the best no-nut butter options to choose from.

Sunflower seed butter
For anyone with a nut allergy, sunflower seed butter is the closest you can get to the real deal. It has a nutty and salty flavor. If you enjoy snacking on sunflower seeds, you’ll love this tasty spread. The butter also has a smooth spreadable texture, just like peanut butter but a little thinner. The PB substitute is made from roasted, ground sunflower seeds, usually mixed with a little sugar, salt, and oil.

Read more