Think dating is dead in the wake of Coronavirus? Guess again! 

Despite social distancing and quarantine life, dating apps like Tinder and Bumble have seen a marked increase in use, some reporting numbers as high as over 20% more active since the efforts to slow the spread of COVID19 have been put into place. In fact, as a long-time dating coach and relationship expert, I’m encouraging my audience and clients to use this time of social distancing as an opportunity. Sure, dating may look a little different for a while, but great dates can still be had by all– virtually, of course..

Virtual dates are a great chance to get to know potential partners and new people on a much deeper level than your traditional meetups might offer. Without the distractions of a bar or coffee shop, not only will both of your communication skills and personality be on display front and center, but you’ll get to see your date’s willingness to be creative and engaging first hand.

If you’re still swiping and wondering how to make meaningful connections from the comfort and safety of your home, here are a few of my favorite virtual date ideas:

1. Virtual Happy Hour

Of course, you can always hop on Facetime, Zoom, or any other video chat platform and have a drink together– the novel atmosphere and lack of external stimulus will still make the conversation and time spent more quality than your standard bar date. But you could also make it a touch more interesting with just a small amount of preparation. Consider teaching each other to make your favorite drinks, seeing who can come up with the most unexpected or interesting new drink combination, or better yet, get in touch with your favorite bartender – who’s probably out of work right now – and offer to hire them for a virtual mixology class. You’ll both have fun, learn something new, and after your virtual  bartender leaves the chat, the ice will have officially been broken.   

2. Try a New Recipe Together

There is nothing more swoon-worthy than a man who knows his way around the kitchen, and as they say, the way to the heart is through the stomach, right? In either case, hopping on your favorite video chat platform and cooking together – yet apart – is a fun way to bring a little something extra to what could be just another virtual conversation. Choose two different recipes, or the same one, and chop, sing, dance, laugh, boil, and braise together. You’ll still get the benefit of (hopefully) great conversation with an added layer of interest. 

This is a great opportunity to get a little silly, tell your favorite food jokes, and lip sync your favorite songs into a spatula all while making a new connection. Then, when the cooking is over, you both get to sit down and eat your meals together. If the connection is good, your conversation will have benefited from the light hearted time spent doing something together and evolved into something a little deeper and a little more intimate. Besides, who doesn’t want to tell their future children that their first date took place during a quarantine and consisted of learning to cook chicken parmigiana over a video call that lasted hours into the night?

Not much of a cook? No worries! Exchange addresses (if it’s safe to do so and you know each other well enough) and have your favorite takeout delivered to each other’s address. Just select a mutual time, send your favorite dishes, and experience each other’s favorite foods and best local spots. Plus, this is a great way to support local businesses.

3. Test Your Connection

Find a few of your favorite personality tests, attachment style quizzes, or astrology chart generators and take one or a few of them together. Not only will it provide an easy route to some interesting conversations, but it will also provide a practical pathway to getting to know each other on a more intimate level. You and your potential new connection can chat about compatibility, major personality traits and how they’ve affected your life path, pet peeves, values, and more. You’ll each have the opportunity to learn more about yourself and about a potential match– it’s a win-win! Oh, and did I mention that these assessments are often easy and provide fantastic conversation starters?

Here are a few of my favorite resources for insightful assessments: 

Sixteen Personalities: a short, easy personality assessment based on the Meyer’s Briggs profile: 

The Typefinder Personality Test: a more detailed personality assessment with free basic insights.

Love Language Quiz

Remember that there is no better or worse personality type, attachment style, sign, or love language– these tests are only meant to be a fun way to get to know another person and explore potential compatibility.

4. Social Distance Walk

I’ve always loved the idea of dates that involved great conversation, a to-go cup of coffee, and a good wander through my favorite parts of the city.  The good news is, these kinds of dates are still possible. If you feel comfortable and trust the person you’re meeting, to-go coffee and a walk (at least 6 feet apart) might be a good idea for you. Otherwise, each of you can grab your own coffee from your favorite place, or even from home, and take respective walks while on Zoom or Facetime over the phone.

Use it as an opportunity to have great conversations and show each other interesting or novel things along your walk. Consider sharing some of your favorite places or landmarks along the way, or even making plans for future dates if it seems to be going well. The upside of this kind of date is that it gets you off your couch (hey, Netflix) and provides easy topics of conversation if you’re the type of person who worries about knowing what to talk about on a phone call or video chat.

5. Watch a Movie or TV Show

While I don’t normally recommend movies as dates early on in a relationship, as they take away from time that could be spent interacting and getting to know one another, this could be a great virtual date plan if you’ve already invested time into the relationship. Use sites like Kosmi or Netflix Party  to watch your favorite or new movies or shows together. Get comfy, light a few candles to set the mood, and snuggle up with your favorite throw blanket and pillows – you can discuss and share your reactions to the movie during and after the showing!

6. Indulge in Some Virtual Culture

Take advantage of the many museums, artists, and performances available virtually during these unprecedented times. Plan your classiest date – virtually, of course – with shared cultural experiences like The Barne’s Foundation in Philadelphia, whose entire collection is now available to view online, or virtually walk through the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. Stream a virtual concert (you may even be surprised by similar tastes in music with your new match!). The National Theatre is uploading new, full length plays every Thursday and you can take advantage of Broadway HD’s free 7-day trial to watch your favorite Broadway performances with your new beau. Choose cultural experiences that reflect what you already love (it’s a great way to introduce a new match to something you’re interested in or passionate about), or opt for a new experience for both of you. 

7. Get Creative

Recreate some of your favorite creative date ideas from home! This is a great way to connect, share an activity, and maybe be mutually awesome (or awful) at something– either way, it’ll save you from having to worry about any awkward stretches of silence and give you a mutual experience to talk about for dates to come. Try a wine and paint night (you may need to order supplies in advance if you don’t already have them at home). You can either link up with your local paint studios for scheduled virtual events, or try a resource like Yaymaker Virtual Paint Events. Perhaps singing is more up your creative alley? Check out karaoke.camp – a 24 hour online karaoke party you can both join for free via zoom anywhere, anytime. 

The truth is, social distancing and quarantining during the COVID-19 pandemic is challenging for many of us, but your dating life doesn’t have to end in the meantime. There are endless creative ways to meet new people, get to know them better, and enjoy activities with other people. In fact, continuing to cultivate social connections, have fun, and curate new experiences can be an important part of coping with current events. While we all do our best to flatten the curve and stay safe and healthy, you can also use this as an opportunity to make new connections and explore ways of connecting with others that are new and exciting.

Have you had any virtual dates? Did you love it or hate it?