Connecting with Loved Ones During CovidUpdated 25 days ago

February is the month of love, but this past year has forced us to redefine how we express that love: how we connect with our friends, family, and loved ones when we’re forced to remain physically distant. 

Here are five ways you can send a little love to the folks you might be apart from this Valentine’s day—or any other day you might want to send love.

Host a virtual game night.

Team up with your favorite competitors for trivia night or a virtual board game. Set up one of your devices to record only the game board and designate a (trustworthy!) game master to move the pieces so all Zoom participants will be able to keep track. Some games, like Balderdash, even come with online versions you can easily adapt to virtual game time.

Make a playlist.

Though the days of burning a mix CD for your crush are long gone, there’s still something romantic about sending music to someone you love. And, when you have the entire Spotify library at your fingertips, there are endless ways to musically say “I love you.”

Take someone out to a (virtual) dinner.

Whether you both get delivery from the same restaurant and clink glasses over Zoom, or both cook the same recipe from your own kitchens, there’s nothing quite like bonding over a shared meal. Plus if you totally bomb your side of the recipe, no one will be the wiser.

Send a letter.

We know, this one is maybe the most obvious. But there’s something to be said about a slower, more deliberate form of communication in a world where everything has become virtual and instant. After all, you can’t stick a text message to your fridge.

Try something new together.

Check the AirBnb listing for remote events in your area, or sign up for an online  exercise class, poetry reading, or totally out-of-the-box activity. Just because you’re not on an actual vacation doesn’t mean you can’t go on a virtual one.