Why are educational dates recommended for long-distance relationships?

Educational dates help couples learn together, which strengthens their communication and understanding of each other's perspectives and experiences [1]. This process promotes empathy and helps partners feel closer [1]. Additionally, great relationships are described as being built on educational dates [1]. Engaging in shared experiences like learning helps build understanding and trust, contributing to a relationship that thrives [2]. These dates can also help a long-distance couple break away from the mundanity of their relationship and form a core memory [2].

What are some examples of educational date ideas for long-distance couples?

Based on the source, some ideas include enrolling in online courses together on various subjects like writing, editing, coding, or learning another language [3]. Another suggestion is to read together on a voice call, taking turns reading portions from books, which can help improve writing skills [4]. Couples can also get artsy by crafting together on a video call, trying projects like crocheting, digital painting, or sculpting [5]. Technology, such as video calls, is highlighted as helping to bridge the distance for these activities [1, 6].

How can learning new skills together benefit a long-distance relationship?

Learning new skills together can significantly benefit a long-distance relationship by strengthening communication, understanding, and empathy between partners [1]. When couples enter unfamiliar territory by learning something new, it can become a memorable moment as they support and cheer each other on through challenges [2, 7]. This shared learning activity promotes teamwork [8], helps build trust, and contributes to the relationship thriving [2]. Ultimately, it is about creating shared experiences, which the source emphasizes should be the main priority for long-distance love [9].

How should long-distance couples plan educational dates?

When planning educational long-distance dates, couples should first consider their mutual interests and willingness to try something new, communicating and compromising if necessary [10]. Secondly, it is important to allocate a reasonable budget for any necessary materials or subscriptions and agree on how to split costs, looking for workarounds if facing financial constraints [11]. Finally, couples must find the right time and mutually agree on a schedule when they can meet online without distractions, which can be tricky with time zone differences [11, 12]. Consistent communication about schedules is key [12].

Why are shared experiences important in long-distance relationships?

According to the source, shared experiences are crucial because they weave a couple’s love story [2]. They are fundamental in building understanding and trust, which are essential for a relationship to thrive [2]. While many virtual interactions count as shared experiences, learning new skills together is highlighted as a way to go beyond the mundane, helping couples form core memories [2] and create memorable moments by navigating new challenges together [7]. The source underscores that creating shared experiences with your long-distance love should be the main priority [9].

Educational Date Ideas for Long-Distance Relationships

A couple executing one of our date ideas for long-distance relationships

Who says learning together isn’t romantic? Try these educational date ideas for long-distance relationships.

Why do we learn skills? Often, it's to survive and further our careers, right? We rarely associate it with romance.

But great relationships are built on educational dates.

As a couple learns together, they strengthen their communication and understanding of each other's perspectives and experiences. This promotes empathy and makes them feel closer.

If you’re miles apart, don’t worry; technology helps bridge the gap. With this, here are some educational date ideas for long-distance relationships.

Entering Unfamiliar Territory

International speaker Tiffany DaSilva says shared experiences weave a couple’s love story. They build understanding and trust, making a relationship thrive.

You may say, however, that long-distance relationship activities like video calls and virtual dates already count as shared experiences. What makes learning new skills better?

Gaining knowledge helps a long-distance couple break away from the mundanity of their relationship and form a core memory.

In an article in SUCCESS magazine, Jaime Friedlander shares that, as part of wedding preparations, she and her husband took dance lessons to muster up their confidence.

Unfortunately, the rhythmically challenged couple still struggled on their wedding day, stumbling in front of their guests.

But Friedlander has never regretted taking those lessons, nor all the other moments she and her husband decided to step out of their comfort zone.

Entering unfamiliar territory can be a memorable moment for couples as they struggle and cheer each other on.

Educational Date Ideas for Long-Distance Relationships

A single video call is all you need to start learning together.

Technology has improved so much that video call platforms simulate more than face-to-face communication.

You can now do video playback, take notes, and record conversations. Use these features to maximize your learning experience in the following activities.

Enroll in Online Courses

The internet gives access to thousands, if not millions, of educational materials. Among them are virtual educational programs to learn various in-demand skills. Who says you have to be in a physical classroom to get a degree or certification?

Enroll in online courses, from writing and editing to coding and even speaking another language. Short courses usually last from hours to a day, while full-blown ones last from weeks to months.

If you and your partner don’t have anything specific in mind, you can explore these sites for options:

Coursera
Udemy
Skillshare
LinkedIn Learning
Masterclass

A woman on a video call with her long-distance love

Let your long-distance love thrive by learning something new together.

Read Together

Most things to do long-distance require facing a screen. This can get tiresome.

Take a break from the digital world. Instead of watching movies or playing cooperative video games, go on a voice call and take turns reading portions from books you love. This can help in one particular skill: writing.

Roselyn Petelin, the author of How Writing Works, mentioned that reading improves sentence structure, paragraph patterns, diction, and more.

You might not be aiming to be an author or poet. But you’ll learn how to convey messages more efficiently and creatively.

Don’t limit yourself to narrative books, though. Self-help books, essays, memoirs, and magazines are all fair game.

Get Artsy

Are you and your partner the creative type? Go on a video call and start crafting.

Art is a wide spectrum, so you have plenty of project options. Learn to crochet, paint digitally, or sculpt something out of clay.

After taking your pick, do your research, acquire the necessary items to create the artwork, and watch the instructional videos together.

You don’t have to finish it in one sitting. Take your time, but set a deadline for yourselves. Avoid having unfinished projects that will never see the light of day again.

Then, present your works to each other and act like art critics. This might surprise you, considering the distance, but this activity promotes teamwork, as you compare each other's work, offer compliments, and give advice.

And perhaps the best part about this activity is that your artworks can serve as memorabilia. Whether or not you exchange them with each other is up to you.

How Should You Plan Your Long-Distance Dates?

Learning requires motivation, but a bad mood easily hinders it. Plan your dates to avoid things that can negatively affect your and your partner’s spirits.

#1: Consider interests

You have all these ideas for long-distance dates, but will you and your partner enjoy them?

It's natural to have different preferences. Your partner might not be into arts and crafts as much as you are, and that's okay. But consider their interests and willingness to try something out of their comfort zone.

Communicate and compromise if necessary.

#2: Allocate a budget

Unfortunately, you'll have to shell out some cash to buy books and art materials or pay for website subscriptions.

Allocate a reasonable budget and agree on how to split the bill. If you're facing financial constraints, find workarounds.

You don’t have to buy a new acrylic paint set if you already have an old one in the bottom of your drawer.

If a book you want to read costs hundreds of dollars, you can always download its e-book version. You don’t have to purchase two of them either. Share an account and individually pay half the total amount, so it’ll financially hurt less.

#3: Find the right time

Scheduling can be tricky when you’re in different time zones. You may still be at work when your partner is free.

Mutually agree on a time and day when you can meet online without distractions.

You can schedule it as a weekly or monthly activity. The important thing is that both of you can give your full attention. If changes to your personal schedules might affect your quality time, communicate beforehand.

*****

These educational date ideas for long-distance relationships can benefit you in various ways. But you should approach them with the right mindset and attitude.

Remember that you and your partner aren’t in a competition. We all have different learning capacities, so it’s perfectly fine if one is ahead. You may also experience petty arguments, but don’t let these affect your relationship.

Creating shared experiences with your long-distance love should be the main priority.

References:

DaSilva, Tiffany. 2023. “The Importance of Shared Experiences in a Relationship.” flowjo. https://flowjo.co/blogs/pitter-patter/the-importance-of-shared-experiences-in-a-relationship#:~:text=Shared%20experiences%20in%20a%20relationship%20are%20more%20than%20just%20%22things,addition%20to%20your%20love%20story.

Jaime, Friedlander. 2019. “The Power of Learning New Things Together.” Success.com. https://www.success.com/the-power-of-learning-new-things-together/.

Petelin, Roslyn. 2024. “How Reading Will Help Your Writing and Add Pleasure to Your Life.” Routledge Blog. https://blog.routledge.com/humanities-and-media-arts/how-reading-will-help-your-writing-and-add-pleasure-to-your-life/.