It’s a great time to be single right now. Coming out of the pandemic, online date ideas are booming and people are getting real about what they want and wearing their hearts on their sleeves.
There’s less pressure now too. Instead of trying to plan a casual-but-effortlessly-cool first date, we’re letting our hair down and having real conversations on our couches. This natural, more stripped-down approach got us out of our heads, into our slippers, and into the moment.
Quick “get-to-know-you” video chats have become the new normal. Online dates are great if you’re feeling nervous or aren’t sure what to say. Whether you’re single or in a long-term relationship, virtual dating is here to stay. Fancy giving this a try yourself? Check out these fun online date ideas on your next meetup. Don’t worry, none of them will give you the dreaded Zoom fatigue!
1. Take an art class
Activity dates are great because they help eliminate awkward silences. If you’ve got nothing to say (or aren’t having a great time), you can always bring it back to the task at hand. Art classes especially are a great way to get to know another side of someone.
You can find virtual art classes for everything from drawing and painting to ceramics and photography. Introduce your date to your favorite medium or go outside your comfort zone and try something completely new. Bonus points if you exchange masterpieces when the date ends.
2. Go on a virtual museum tour
Before the pandemic, going to a museum was a classic date activity. Now they’ve opened their virtual doors in a whole new way. Google Arts & Culture lets you visit the Guggenheim Museum in New York City, the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, and the Bradman Museum in Australia, all in one afternoon. It’s the perfect first date because it has endless built-in conversation topics, like: “So, what do you think this piece means?”
3. Do a jigsaw puzzle
Jigsaw puzzles were all the rage at the start of the pandemic. Thanks to online puzzles, you don’t need extra counter space to start solving. You don’t even have to be in the same room as someone to do a puzzle with them.
Jigsaw Explorer lets you solve a puzzle together, online, in real-time. You can even create your own puzzles. May we suggest a cute photo of the two of you or a picture of your next dream date? Best of all, you get to skip the pain of flipping over all the pieces.
4. Start a book club
Two people are enough for a virtual book club. A week or two in advance of your date, decide on a book to read and discuss together. Mark your favorite passages, save the quotes that move you, and jot down interesting topics. (Resist the urge to talk about the book before your date!) Then, have an evening dedicated to sharing your thoughts. It’s a smart way to get to know the intellectual side of your date. Reading is sexy!
5. Go house hunting
Did you get the urge to buy a house during the pandemic? You’re not alone. A lot of people browsed property listings and watched real estate TV shows as a form of escapism.
Even if you’re not ready to buy a home together, it’s fun to have a look! It’s not every day you get the chance to peek inside a massive beachfront mansion in Monterey or a charming six-foot-wide flat in New York. Save your favorites and search for what you like together.
It’s an exciting new era of dating. A few years ago, you might’ve scoffed at the idea of going on a virtual date. But now that we’ve had to rethink how we meet, connect, and go out, virtual experiences are the norm.
Most online date ideas require minimal planning but make sure to share the responsibility. Take turns coming up with first date ideas so it doesn’t always fall on one person. Be open to trying new things, mix it up, and have fun!
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