Love is in the air, every time we look around… Oh, what’s that? Valentine’s Day, you say? We’d quite forgotten. That’s because, for us, romance is an everyday kinda thing. We’re not hopeless romantics, we’re hopeful romantics, always confident that an idealistic gesture – grand or intimate, passionate or sentimental – will lead to loveliness. And we have a helpful partner in our romantic adventures. That’s right: the humble phone.
Whether you’re just starting out in a relationship or you’ve been together for, oooh, yonks, your digital device can help you plan and carry out a delightful date night that could help you learn more about your partner, bring you closer together, or simply be lots of fun! So, to set those sparks flying, grab your phone and follow our top tips for romance this month and all year round.
Get on the apps
Now, when it comes to romance, “the apps” usually means the ones used by single people looking for love. But there are dating apps for people in relationships too, and we don’t just mean shared calendars. There are apps that provide questions for both of you to answer so you can get to know each other better. Others focus on enhancing intimacy between couples by improving communication and offering expert tips, while some aim to help you put the spark back into a relationship or even assist with counselling. Search your app store for “relationship tips” or “love advice” and you’ll find lots of options with ways to make your relationship more fulfilling.
Find activities you both love
Through your digital device you have access to all sorts of online classes and activities, from cooking and wine tasting to treasure hunts, yoga and virtual museum tours. You can try an almost endless selection to find a pastime you’re both enthusiastic about without having to travel anywhere – although when you do find your thing, you’ll be guaranteed plenty of fantastic trips together to indulge that passion. This is where tablets can come into their own, giving you a much more comfortable experience (although two people trying to watch the same phone screen is pretty intimate in itself).
These activities don’t have to be organised by third parties, though: you can be inspired to make your own fun. For instance, there’s a TikTok trend in which people find something they like online and try to make it using clay – a brilliant, if potentially messy, pursuit for couples to try together.
Enjoy a romantic meal apart
Sometimes it’s just not possible to be together when you want to be. A partner can be called away by work, family issues or any number of other matters. At times like these it’s important to stay connected, and one great way to do this is by ordering the same takeaway using a food delivery app – or, if you’d rather, using a meal delivery service that gives you a simple way to cook and eat together. Just set up a video chat, get the cutlery out and you’re all set for a digital date.
Have a cosy movie marathon
One easy way to enjoy a snuggly night together involves using apps you’ve probably got on your phone and/or tablet already: streamers. From BBC iPlayer and Channel 4 to others like Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+, they all have watchlist features that will enable you to curate your own programme of movies to watch together – you could even set up a profile specifically for that purpose. Whether you pick films you’ve enjoyed and want to rewatch together, use it as an opportunity to introduce your partner to flicks you think they’ll love, or just choose scary movies to encourage them to grab you and not let go, it’s easy to create the perfect movie night.
