25 things you can do while you're stuck at home with your partner that don't involve Netflix
- Couples who are currently quarantined or self-isolating together might find themselves running out of things to do.
- Although it can be fun to Netflix and chill, there are plenty of other activities couples can do at home together to help pass the time.
- Giving each other massages, doing crosswords or puzzles together, rearranging your furniture, and taking baths together are just a few examples of creative things couples can do together at home.
- Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.
Lighten things up with a dance party.
You can't go to a club to dance right now, and you're both probably feeling bogged down by the heaviness of the news cycle.
But dancing at home can take you away from that. Put on a fun playlist, and dance it out with your partner.
Take a break from Netflix by reading a book together.
It's fun to read next to each other, but you can make the experience more fun by reading to each other.
Pick a book you're both interested in, and take turns reading it aloud to one another. Add blankets and hot chocolate for an even cozier time.
You could start a board game tournament.
You'll likely be home together for a while, so it's the perfect time to start a long-term board game tournament.
Pick 5 to 10 board games, and play them throughout the week or all day on the weekend. Keep score of who wins more often, and the champion gets a prize of their choosing.
Schedule a virtual couples therapy session.
Many therapists are offering virtual therapy sessions because of the coronavirus, and you and your partner could take advantage of that for couples counseling.
Therapy can be helpful for couples under normal circumstances, so it's bound to be helpful amid a pandemic.
You can write each other love notes.
Your partner will probably start to annoy you if you spend 24 hours a day with them, which might make it harder to remember to affirm them.
Pause the monotony by writing your partner a love note. It will take you time to write thoughtfully about what they mean to you, and your partner will have a memento of what they meant to you during this time.
Try to become TikTok famous together.
If there's one thing you and your partner have time to do together right now, it's filming yourself doing TikTok dances.
Practice your moves, and share them on the platform to see if fame is waiting for you.
You should probably do your taxes.
Even though the federal income tax due date was delayed, you might as well do your taxes while you're home with your partner, particularly if you file together.
It will take something off your to-do list.
Or you could make your own bar crawl.
Make mini bars in different rooms of your home, and create themed drinks for those spaces.
You can hop from room to room throughout the night, sipping on different drinks, and it'll feel like you're adventuring around town even though you haven't left home.
Have a wine tasting night to make a dent in the quarantine supplies you purchased.
Odds are wine is one of the things you stocked up on before settling into your new shelter-in-place life, so you might as well put it to good use.
Taste a few different wines, and pair them with an assortment of cheeses. You'll feel like you've been transported to a winery.
Take a bubble bath together.
Take a page out of Meredith Grey and Derek Shepherd's book and enjoy a bubble bath as a couple, "Grey's Anatomy"-style.
The bath will be a nice change of pace, and it can light a spark of romance as you get in the routine of staying home.
All you need to make it happen is bubbles and your partner, but candles are highly encouraged.
If you have a backyard or outdoor space, you can have some fun with water.
Whip out an inflatable pool, and make a beach day in your backyard. Bring books, sunscreen, and water toys.
It will feel like you went somewhere new even though you're staying put, as recommended.
Plan themed date nights based on cuisine.
To make your date nights feel special, choose to theme them around whatever you're eating.
If you're having spaghetti, transform your home into an Italian bistro for the night. If it's taco night, make homemade margaritas to go with your meal.
Trade off cooking and planning with your partner, so you can both enjoy feeling pampered.
Make sure you're spending some time apart.
It's healthy to spend time apart from your partner, but it can be harder to do that naturally if you're self-isolating or quarantining.
Try scheduling one weekend day where you and your partner spend time doing your own thing.
Then, you can eat dinner together and talk about how your days were without already knowing the answer.
You can bring the fun of s'mores into your home.
You don't need to go to the woods or even outside to make it feel like you're camping.
You can roast marshmallows over your fireplace or stove, or you can even microwave them. Add chocolate and a graham cracker, and you're good to go.
Build a pillow fort for a movie marathon.
You likely will want to Netflix and chill while you're at home with your significant other at some point, but you can take the movie time to the next level by making an old-fashioned blanket fort to watch some movies in.
The cozy space will be fun to build together, and it will make movie time even more of a blast.
Crosswords or puzzles are more fun to do as a team.
Crosswords and puzzles are great home activities because you can put your full focus on them, or you can do them passively while you watch Netflix.
Plus, there are many crossword apps, so you can enjoy brain teasers without lifting a finger.
If you're a first-time crossword user, you can check out tips on how to ace them here.
Collect your old family photos into albums.
Scrapbooking can be time-consuming, particularly if you're trying to get things in chronological order.
But it will be easier to do with the help of your partner. It's a good way to spend a Saturday, and it will be fun to get a glimpse of each other's ancestry.
It's a good time to clean out the closet.
Even spring cleaning can be fun if you have the right buddy. Grab your partner and spend an afternoon transforming your closet into your dream space.
You can look at these organized closets to inspire your project.
Arrange a "Great British Bake Off"-style baking competition, where the loser has to do the dishes.
Many people are baking to pass the time during the pandemic, and adding the fun of competition will just make it more enjoyable.
Use ingredients you already have at the house, and see what creations you can make.
Quarantine presents a good opportunity to rearrange your furniture.
You and your partner will be at home during the pandemic anyway, so you might as well test out the different furniture arrangements you've been daydreaming about.
It will be easier to try with a partner, and you can always switch it back if you don't like it.
You can schedule a virtual double date to connect with friends.
Spending time with your partner is great, but you probably miss your friends at this point, which is why arranging a double date via Zoom will be a welcome change of pace.
You can spend quality time with your partner and connect to your friends you haven't seen all at once.
Even if it's not usually your thing, playing video games together can help to pass the time.
The great thing about video games is that they help you escape reality, so you can enjoy some time together without feeling anxious about the state of the world for a few hours.
You can play whatever game you want, but the newly released "Animal Crossing: New Horizons" is great for stress relief.
Creating an exercise routine together has multiple benefits.
Not only will working out together keep you both physically healthy, but it can also help you maintain your mental health, as exercise is proven to decrease anxiety.
Doing any kind of safe workout with your partner can be beneficial, but something like yoga would be particularly helpful, as it's designed to be calming.
Use the time to hang new pictures in the house.
Whether you've lived together for years or just started sharing a space, hanging new photos can freshen up your space.
Give each other at-home massages.
You can't get a professional massage right now, but that doesn't mean you and your partner can't help each other relax.
Light candles to set the mood and use lotions to make the massages feel legit. You'll both feel relieved and closer after the experience.
READ MORE ARTICLES ON
Popular Right Now
Advertisement