11 sweet things to do in a long-distance relationship (and more!)

Here are 11 sweet things to do in a long-distance relationship that I’ve tried. While these suggestions have worked for me, do consider what makes your partner feel loved. 

Sometimes, it’s spontaneous acts or gifts that make them feel special. Or it’s when you help them with a task after because it eases their burden. 

So think about whether your partner will appreciate these gestures when going through the list of 11 sweet things to do in a long-distance relationship. If you have yet to learn, take this as an opportunity to do so. 

I also share later in the article seemingly small yet significant acts you can do to sustain your long-distance relationship. 

Summary 

• 11 sweet things to do in a long-distance relationship 
• How to make long-distance exciting? (10 tips) 
• How to sustain a long-distance relationship? (9 tips) 
• Frequently asked questions 
  •  What is the secret to a long-distance relationship? 
  • Do guys like long-distance relationships? 
  • How do I know if he really likes me long-distance? 
• Conclusion

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11 Sweet Things To Do In A Long-Distance Relationship 

Here are the 11 sweet things to do in a long-distance relationship. Try out several of these options and see what resonates with your partner. What matters is the thought and effort put into it. 

1. Send a care package 

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One of the 11 sweet things to do in a long-distance relationship is send a care package. This always goes down well with my partner who loves a good self-care ritual. 

Think about what your partner would appreciate in a self-care package. I included bath salts, a face mask, and a scented candle in the care package I sent to my boyfriend. 

Other suggestions you can consider are tea sachets (if they like to drink tea) and an eye mask. 

A care package would be greatly appreciated especially when you know your partner is under a lot of stress. 

2. Send them positive messages 

Messages of reassurance or comfort are another sweet thing to do in a long-distance relationship. 

Again, something like this can be sent when your partner is under a lot of stress. While this may be a small gesture, it does make a significant difference to your partner’s mood. 

I would advise sending it at the start of their day so that they’ll have something positive to read when they wake up. 

3. Send handwritten post 

Credit: Pezibear 

You cannot go wrong with mail – I mean you’re competing against bills and bank statements! 

Another one of the 11 sweet things to do in a long-distance relationship is send them a handwritten post. 

I’m not talking about birthdays or Valentine’s cards but letters telling your partner about your day and how you feel. Besides letters, you can send them written poems or quotes that will make them smile. 

You can send these sporadically or you can schedule these out biweekly or monthly depending on your capacity. 

The former will make your partner feel surprised while the latter will make your partner feel eager with anticipation for your post. 

Whatever it is, it offers a different mode of communication between you and your partner, and personally, the whole idea just sounds more romantic! 

4. Make a photo album 

Perhaps you’ve just gone on a trip together or you’ve been together for several years. Sending a photo album would be a great souvenir for your partner as they look through the pages. 

5. Make a playlist 

Making a playlist is one of the 11 sweet things to do in a long-distance relationship. It made my partner’s day when I sent a playlist of love songs on Valentine’s Day.  

Sending your partner a song (or several) because it reminds you of them or because you think they’ll like it is one way to show affection. 

Not only does this show attentiveness to your partner’s music preferences but it’s also a thoughtful way to show your partner that you love them. 

6. Send them a sweet text message when you’re thinking about them 

This might be a small gesture but it does make your partner feel loved because it shows that you’re thinking about them. 

These messages would be timely especially when your partner is seeking assurance or emotional support. 

7. Send them a practical gift 

The next few from the list of 11 sweet things to do in a long-distance relationship are more practical but helpful suggestions.

Say your partner likes to cook but you’ve noticed they don’t have a good set of knives. 

Depending on your budget, you can consider gifting them a set of knives that you know will help improve their cooking process. 

The point is to gift them that will ease their burden and you know that they’ll use it frequently. 

So think about what gift would help your partner. Gifting them an item that caters to their needs shows how attentive you are and makes them feel seen. 

8.  Sort out their groceries 

Credit: Mittmac 

If you notice your partner has been busy at work, why not help them with their grocery run? You can assist with ordering their groceries online. 

Assisting with a major life admin task while they’re preoccupied with work is something I know they’ll appreciate. 

9. Assist with completing a chore 

I know this sounds impossible in a long-distance relationship but identify any tasks that you can help with such as scheduling an appointment or hiring someone to help clean the house. 

Again, this would be a sweet gesture if you know your partner is preoccupied with work or other personal matters. 

10. Schedule an experience for them 

Another of the 11 sweet things to do in a long-distance relationship is schedule an experience for them. 

My partner scheduled a spa date for me when he wasn’t around which I thought was very kind of him. 

Consider what experience you can book for your partner that will make them feel loved even when you’re physically distant. 

11. Gift them a course 

This sounds like a wild card and catered to a very specific partner. However, if your partner is looking to upskill themselves, why not gift them a course to kickstart their journey? 

Or maybe there’s a hobby they’ve been meaning to try, you can gift them a session or two for them to experience it. 

This would be a sweet thing to do in a long-distance relationship because it shows you’re encouraging and supportive of their pursuits. 

How do you make long-distance exciting? (10 Tips) 

By keeping your relationship exciting and full of new experiences – despite the distance – these date ideas are designed to maintain a sense of closeness and togetherness. 

Consider trying those that you feel you and your partner will enjoy the most. 

1. Write to each other 

Credit: Firmbee 

Part of the 11 sweet things to do in a long-distance relationship is to write each other a poem or short prose. I’ve tried this date idea with my boyfriend and we enjoy it! 

Select a prompt or a word and then give each other 15 to 20 minutes to write something based on that prompt or word. 

It’s a great activity to do together as it allows for creative expression. Once you’re done, you can listen to each other’s writing. Who knows, it might pleasantly surprise you. 

2. Conversation cards 

While you might be physically distant, it’s important to maintain an emotional connection. 

Using these conversation cards is a great way to continue getting to know each other on a deeper level. 

There are some great apps like the Paired app or even physical cards from Best Self that help cultivate more meaningful conversations with their questions. 

3. Doodle challenge 

This is another activity that my boyfriend and I tried as a virtual date. We each had to name a cartoon character and challenge each other to draw it from memory in 10 minutes. 

It’s funny seeing the results afterwards considering we are very amateur doodlers. This is something you and your partner can consider trying on your next date. 

4. Plan a food-themed date night 

Order the same cuisine and schedule a food-themed date night. From Asian to Italian, there are plenty of options to choose from. Or 

5. Cook a meal together 

This is also another fun experience you can try together. Pick a dish you both have been meaning to try and attempt to cook it together. 

6. Watch a movie together 

You can’t go wrong with watching a movie together. My boyfriend and I have streamed a movie simultaneously on Netflix and it always goes down as a good leisure activity to do together. 

7. Read the same book or article and start a discussion 

Another date idea you can consider is reading the same book together and discussing it with each other. 

If you don’t have time to read a book, then you can consider an article or topic and discuss it. 

This is a great way to know each other’s values. It can also forge a deeper understanding of each other’s views. 

8. Go on a virtual gallery date 

Some art galleries have their collections displayed online. You can go on a virtual tour and explore the artwork together. 

A game that my boyfriend and I played which you can try online is to guess which artwork is your partner’s favorite. 

It’s a great way to assess how well you know each other and enjoy a bit of fun competition. One of my favorite galleries in London, The Courtauld Gallery has a virtual gallery on its site for you to explore. 

The Museum Of Modern Art, MOMA has a segment called Virtual Views where you can explore past exhibitions online on selected dates. 

9. Play a virtual game together 

Credit: Pexels 

If you’re both into games, you can consider playing a game together. You can leverage Discord and communicate there while you play. 

If that’s not your scene, one activity that my boyfriend and I like to discuss and sometimes do together is the Metro crossword or NYT mini crossword. 

10. Plan your next visit 

While it’s great to plan these experiences while you’re in a long-distance relationship, another sweet thing to do in a long-distance relationship is to plan your next visit. 

Discuss what’s the intention of this visit, perhaps it’s for your partner to experience living like a local. Or it’s to explore other potential places to live. 

Scheduling a task that’s focused on fulfilling your long-term goals will keep things exciting in your long-distance relationship. 

How To Sustain A Long-Distance Relationship? (11 Tips) 

Besides the 11 sweet things to do in a long-distance relationship, here are several tips to sustain a long-distance relationship in general. 

Sometimes, it’s not extravagant gifts that sustain the relationship, and creative date ideas can run their course. 

However, these small yet significant acts can go a long way to sustain a long-distance relationship. 

1. Be consistent with phone or video calls 

Scheduling video calls is crucial in a long-distance relationship. It’s your only way to maintain a connection while you’re apart. 

Having a fixed schedule offers reassurance but understandably there will be periods where you’re both busy and cannot commit to the schedule. 

If this is the case, work together to schedule a call that accommodates both your time. 

Be committed to connection but flexible in your timing when needed. So long as your efforts are consistent, you’ll be able to sustain a long-distance relationship. 

2. Make bids for connection 

A piece of advice I always refer to from psychologist and relationship expert, John Gottman. 

Bids refer to any attempt by our partner, big or small, for attention, affirmation, affection, or any other positive connection. 

A good morning text or a compliment are examples of small bids that our partner does to show affection. When we respond appropriately to these bids, it can foster emotional connection. 

According to John Gottman, these bids can be subtle. For example, when your partner asks “What have you been up to?” it’s a bid to share how your day was. 

Or “Let’s watch a movie together” is a bid to do an activity together. When you respond enthusiastically to these subtle bids, it also creates an emotional connection. 

Choosing to not elaborate on your day or not wanting to watch that movie are examples of turning away from these bids. 

While it might seem minor, if this is done consistently, it can weaken your emotional ties with each other and threaten your relationship. 

3. Have something to look forward to 

Being in a long-distance relationship requires a lot of planning including when you’ll see each other next. 

Knowing when you’ll see each other next will give you the momentum you need to sustain this relationship. 

If budget permits, you can plan to meet at a different destination and make a trip out of it. This adds to the excitement as you’ll be going on an adventure together. 

4. Make plans to close the distance 

Credit: LollipopPhotographyUK

While it’s great that you schedule when to physically meet in the short term, it’s important to work towards closing the distance. 

The end goal of your long-distance relationship should be to decide when and where you’d like to settle in the next stage of your relationship. 

Take your time to think about this. You can visit each other’s country and experience living like a local. 

You can also consider where would have the best job opportunities for the both of you or where would be conducive to raising a family. 

It’s going to be a long process but so long as you’re committed to seeing this relationship through, it will be worth it. 

5. Offer reassurance  

Being in a long-distance relationship can take an emotional toll. You’re in a relationship but you’ll occasionally feel lonely because you don’t have your partner physically present. 

When you’re experiencing the lows, it’s important to check in with each other and offer them emotional support. Reassure your partner of the bigger picture and be a listening ear when they need to rant. 

6. Communicate effectively 

We can’t read our partner’s body language and assess how they’re feeling and sometimes text messages can be misinterpreted. 

Because you can’t physically confront each other over these matters, you must communicate effectively instead. Being a good communicator is a process. 

If your partner sounds off over text message, instead of making assumptions, ask them if they’re okay or give them a call to clarify the situation. If you’ve had a bad day at work, inform your partner. 

Being clear and upfront about your feelings will save you from any misunderstanding. 

7. Address matters immediately 

If there’s anything your partner did or didn’t do that’s bothering you, address your concerns with them immediately. 

There’s no point in letting it fester or suppressing it. Either way, it will return to the surface and it will in an explosive way. 

Keeping it in will not change the circumstances of your situation so if your needs aren’t met, address this with your partner immediately so that you can identify a solution. 

8. Always be honest with each other 

Long-distance relationships can be overwhelming and daunting. If you’re experiencing any emotions, be honest with how you feel with your partner. 

A good partner will be there to listen to you to understand and offer reassurance. Don’t feel like you have to navigate your emotions on your own. 

If you have the financial means, you can also consult with a licensed therapist to help you cope with these anxiety-inducing feelings. 

9. Learn how your partner likes to be loved 

It’s important to be mindful as you get to know your partner. Make it a point to learn how they like to be shown love. Another suggestion is to do one more thing than what’s been asked of you. 

For example, say your partner is having a bad day at work. You know that being a listening ear is how they like to be consoled. 

An additional step you can take is to send them a treat or their favorite meal to make them feel better. 

Any additional effort like this will be greatly appreciated by your partner. Also, because it was done without being prompted shows your partner that you care about them. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

What is the secret to a long-distance relationship? 

Stick to a schedule. Timing matters and your time together is particularly precious. To maintain long-distance relationships, you must see one another so know when you’re seeing each other next and learn to trust that both of you will commit to the plan.  

Do guys like long-distance relationships?

While there are many men who thrive in long-distance relationships, others may avoid them for a variety of reasons. Long-distance relationships are challenging and the thought of maintaining a long-distance relationship can be overwhelming for some men. 

How do I know if he really likes me long distance?

If they feel close to you and invested in your relationship, they’ll be ready to chat with you whenever they can. Despite being in different time zones, your partner will make time to stay in touch if they’re committed. Receiving a phone or video call is a sign that your partner loves you. 

Conclusion 

There are more than 11 sweet things to do in a long-distance relationship. I hope this article sparks your creativity as you decide how to make your long-distance relationship more exciting. 

Besides these gift and date ideas, it’s also important to focus on making bids for connection, consistently making an effort to speak, and working toward the future together. All the best!