5 Fun Ideas for Dating in Quarantine
Are you stuck at home, with a hot date on the hook? While going on a virtual cocktail hour on Zoom was all-the-rage during the first week, or so of quarantine, you’ll need to think out of the box if you want to make a good impression on your date.
Matchmaker Jenny Jacobs from Jenny Apple Matchmaking shares some of her favorite virtual dating ideas while you’re staying safe at home during the coronavirus pandemic.
Whip Up Dinner Nights Together
Jacobs suggests mixing it up on dinner date nights, with one night enjoying Italian cuisine, such as making a homemade pizza with your favorite toppings, to a night in France, where you can make banana Nutella crepes. Add an activity such as listening to a concert or going to a virtual opera, or watching a foreign film.
Take an Art Class Together.
Whether painting or creating another craft, Jacobs suggests taking an online course, or get safe body paint and build a large canvas to start your masterpiece. If you don’t have access to art supplies, you can substitute with a notepad with a pencil or pen.
Tease Each Other With Flirty Games
Jacobs suggests getting cheeky and creative by playing “Truth or Dare,” or having a game night by playing anything from strip poker to charades or boardgames like Trivial Pursuit.
Become a Quarantine DJ
Music is both healing and bonding. Making a themed playlist for each other is creative and fun. Whether you fancy romantic songs or country music, Jacobs recommends thinking out of the box and create a workout playlist and one for relaxation to get your mind off of the pandemic.
Listen to our Quarantine Playlist on Spotify
Go Deep with Questions
Carve out an hour to ask questions to help you bond. Jacobs recommends playing Two Truths and a Lie, which is now a popular ice-breaker on dating apps, or the famous list of questions made popular in the New York Times Modern Love essay in Mandy Len Catron’s, 36 Questions That Lead to Love.
This list of 36 Questions, created by Psychologist Arthur Aron, works well if you take turns in asking questions to each other. It’s a perfect way to get to know someone deeper who you’ve started communicating with during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some sample questions are: If you could invite anyone in the world to dinner, who would it be? and For what in your life do you feel most grateful?
Have Fun at Game Night
While you still might have work responsibilities, are stressed about staying healthy and are cutting down your expenses, to lighten the mood, schedule something fun like a game night at home.
I play Quarantine Bingo with my cousins across the country once a week, where everyone chips in $5, and we play three rounds. The winners of each round receive a Venmo payment, we have a lot of laughs, and it creates a ritual to add to our calendars.
Jacobs recommends pairing your game night with popcorn, beer, or any delightful goodies. She adds that you can create teams to make it more fun and competitive, or just play one-on-one with your date.
When you get more creative with your quarantine date nights, it alleviates the mundane feeling of being couped up.
What are your favorite quarantine date ideas?
Source: Jenny Apple Matchmaking, Modern Jewish Matchmaking
Julie Spira is an Online Dating Expert and founder of Cyber-Dating Expert. She created Dating in the Age of COVID-19 to help singles navigate love during the coronavirus pandemic. Find out how our Dress Rehearsal gets you ready for your virtual dates.
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