Quality time is important in maintaining connection in relationships. But what makes quality time different from any other time together?
Quality time is intentional, distraction-free, and offers both partners an opportunity to share and expose themselves, while the other offers them their time and focus. In other words, quality time is time spent together where you can give each other your full selves and your full attention. And though a special date or vacation can certainly count as quality time, there are also plenty of opportunities every single day for quality time. Just sharing dinner, learning something new together, or having a conversation can count as quality time.
And just to prove to you how easy quality time can be, I’m rounding up some ideas for spending time together that you don’t need to spend a lot of time or effort on. For some of them, you don’t even need to be in the same place – which is great for long-distance couples and couples who don’t live together. Read on for all the ideas.
Have Deeper Convos
OK for Long-Distance?: Yes
Just talking together is such an easy way to have some quality time, but if you wanna get a little deeper, this book offers 201 questions about love, sex, boundaries, values, and more. If you have Kindle Unlimited, this book is totally free – start a free trial here if you haven’t already.
Get Tipsy Together
OK for Long-Distance?: Probably better together
I love watching The Cut on Youtube, so I’m not surprised they came out with a genius drinking game that is perfect for couples (and friends too!). It’s like truth-or-dare, but the “truth” are high-stakes questions, and the “dare” is to take a drink. In short, this is a fun way to get real with each other. See the game in action here.
Use Teamwork
OK for Long-Distance?: No
I’m not gonna lie: I didn’t think I would ever care about puzzles as an adult. But they’re not just for kids – I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard someone I know say that they like spending time at home doing puzzles. It might seem like a strange thing to do with your partner, but it requires a lot of collaboration and teamwork. Plus, it’s a laidback way to spend time together that doesn’t require anything fancy.
Netflix & Chill
OK for Long-Distance?: Yes
I know what you’re thinking: is watching TV together really quality time? When you can bond over a TV show or movie by talking about plot twists or discussing what you think might happen next, it definitely counts! Terrace House on Netflix is a personal favorite. It’s a Japanese reality show with cast members that are so real and, well, average that it’s super relatable. My Japanese husband and I get so into talking about the characters and their actions, and it’s easy to compare them to how we think we would act if we were in their shoes. And yes, this show does have English subtitles.
Cook (and Eat) Together
OK for Long-Distance?: It’s possible!
Get cooking and share a nice meal together. This is a classic way to spend quality time together, but you can make it a bit more interesting with something like Recipe Roulette, which gives you a random recipe to try based on your main ingredients and dietary restrictions. Even if you’re long-distance, you can make a cooking competition and compare your final dishes.
Learn a New Skill
OK for Long-Distance?: It’s possible!
Quality time allows time to learn more about each other, but you can also learn more about a new skill that interests both of you. On Skillshare, you can take classes on everything from tending to houseplants to watercolor to journaling. Find a topic you like and go through the course together, seeing your progress along the way. It might even inspire a new shared hobby!
Get Moving
OK for Long-Distance?: Probably better together
If you’re staying indoors but are still craving some movement, why not work out together? Websites like YouTube have tons of options for couples’ workouts, as well as standard workouts that you can do side-by-side. It’s like having your own pilates or yoga class in your living room.
Bonus: QT Bingo
At the time of this writing, many are finding themselves in quarantine due to covid-19. Just for fun, I created this Quarantine Quality Time Bingo card with a few more quality time ideas (plus some practically-inevitable ones, like “surviving at least one fight”). If you can do four in a row, bingo!
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