By Jim Duncan, MA

After a year of staying at home and quarantining due to COVID-19, many couples are getting restless. While the idea of staying in and doing nothing with your partner may have been exciting at first, the routine is starting to wear a little thin. Has the romance in your relationship plateaued? You aren’t the only one.

With so much emphasis on going out for romantic dates, it can be hard to find the same romance at home. Fortunately, with a little creativity, you can recharge the spark in your relationship and find romantic things to do at home.

Enjoy an At-Home Date Night

One of the easiest ways to bring romance back into your relationship is by having a nice date night. It’s completely possible to have a romantic date night right in the comfort of your home — some may argue that it’s even more romantic than going out. The biggest difference between date night and any other night at home is intention. Intentionally tune out other distractions and tune into your partner. Sure, you may eat dinner together most nights, but you can go out of your way to make a special one. Light candles, make a nice meal, and spend quality time together. Spend part of the evening face to face looking into each other’s eyes. By the end of the night, you’ll remember how much the little things can bring about romance in a relationship.

Start a New Hobby Together

There’s something intrinsically romantic about devoting yourself to a new hobby — so why not do it with your partner? Whether it’s cooking, knitting, crafting, and learning a new language, your new hobby will be much more enjoyable with your partner by your side. Once the pandemic is over, you can look back on quarantine fondly, knowing that you learned something new with your significant other.

Organize a Virtual Double Date

Sometimes it’s nice to have a date night with friends. Though the pandemic may prevent you from doing so in-person, you can still make a double-date happen virtually. Ask a couple of friends to join you and your partner on a fun date night via video chat. Not only will you feel good from the socialization, but you’ll remember how fun it is to enjoy mutual friends with your partner.

Have a Game Night

Forget the notion that you need lots of people for a game night — plenty of games are playable with just two people! Even if you and your partner aren’t big gamers, you may still find a board or video game that you both enjoy. Games are not only good for fun nights with your partner, but they’ll help boost your morale in general and help cut the boredom of being stuck at home. You may find that you and your partner make a weekly habit of having game nights once you discover how fun they can be!

Plan a Movie Night

While watching movies or TV has likely already been part of your quarantine routine, you can still make it romantic. Find a film that neither of you has seen and enjoy a cozy movie night. You can get creative with it, too. Get a bunch of snacks, change into your comfiest clothes, and cuddle up for a good film. While you may have enjoyed going to a movie theater for past date nights, watching a movie in the comfort of your own home can be quite a treat!

Attend a Virtual Counseling Session

Quarantine has not been easy for many of us, and couples are no exception. Too much time together can lead to tension, which is the last thing you want in a romantic relationship. Consider a virtual couples counseling session to address any issues that have come up over the past few months. If there are issues, you and your partner can work through them with the help of your counselor.

It’s completely normal that your relationship may experience some tension because of the quarantine. Don’t panic, and don’t assume that romance is dead in your relationship. Stay proactive and work to find creative ways to keep the romance alive, even when you’re stuck at home.

Jim Duncan, MA, LPC Associate, works with couples at the Relationship Counseling Center of Austin who may be struggling with the pressures of the pandemic. If you find that you and your partner have been struggling to connect while stuck at home during quarantine, Jim can help. Reach out by calling him at (512) 270-4883, ext. 117, or request an appointment with him online through the RCC Austin Scheduling page.