Maintaining Intimacy In Relationships While Social Distancing

For many couples this will be their first time maintaining a relationship “long distance.” Everything in life has a learning curve and it is okay if you realize your relationship hits a few “bumps” during this time.

Here are some tips and tricks to try and maintain intimacy and your relationship during social distancing:

Communicate

■ Always remember to express how you are feeling. ■ This is a difficult time and if you need to adjust your relationship for the time being, talk to your partner about it. ■ Stay connected.

Make your expectations of each other clear

■ How much you talk. ■ How many dates.

Set Boundaries

■ You don’t have to talk constantly. ■ You can take “me” time.

Set up a weekly “date”

■ Have a FaceTime/Zoom dinner. ■ Watch a movie or show together (Netflix party). ■ Write letters to each other. ■ Cook the same recipe together. ■ Do a book club.

Sex

■ Sexting/Safe Sexting (more information on this later!). ■ Make a list of what you are okay with and what you are not comfortable doing. ■ Although sex can be an important part of a relationship, relationships can involve much more than sex, and it is okay to wait until you are physically together.