Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers for Rivals Season 2, Episode 5.Now almost halfway through its second season, Rivalscontinues to keep its fans on their toes with new twists that differ from the events of the Dame Jilly Cooper novel on which it's based. So far, Season 2 has seen the fallout of Cameron Cook (Nafessa Williams) and Tony Baddingham's (David Tennant) confrontation at the end of Season 1, as well as the very public fall of Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell). Season 2 co
Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers for Rivals Season 2, Episode 5.Now almost halfway through its second season, Rivalscontinues to keep its fans on their toes with new twists that differ from the events of the Dame Jilly Cooper novel on which it's based. So far, Season 2 has seen the fallout of Cameron Cook (Nafessa Williams) and Tony Baddingham's (David Tennant) confrontation at the end of Season 1, as well as the very public fall of Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell). Season 2 continues to adapt crucial scenes from the book, while also incorporating exciting new storylines into the series.
If you have ever felt like you don't belong, or you're not quite sure how you fit into a world that feels designed for others, there is BritBox's newest triumph, The Other Bennet Sister. For period drama and Jane Austen fans everywhere, The Other Bennet Sister is exactly the well-written and superbly acted masterpiece they didn't even know they needed. With an amazing 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and lots of love from fans, there is no doubt that this Regency-era limited series is a winner.
If you have ever felt like you don't belong, or you're not quite sure how you fit into a world that feels designed for others, there is BritBox's newest triumph, The Other Bennet Sister. For period drama and Jane Austen fans everywhere, The Other Bennet Sister is exactly the well-written and superbly acted masterpiece they didn't even know they needed. With an amazing 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and lots of love from fans, there is no doubt that this Regency-era limited series is a winner.
Movies about the two World Wars forever remain in fashion. The sheer scale of destruction, sacrifice, and loss makes for a great spectacle, with films like All Quiet on the Western Front and Dunkirk offering a visceral portrait of the wars. While WWII is more "popular" than its predecessor, which leads to more movies and TV shows, some creators also tackle the complicated events of WWI. At this point, it seems like there is nothing more to say, but Lukas Dohnt has another angle to explore.
Movies about the two World Wars forever remain in fashion. The sheer scale of destruction, sacrifice, and loss makes for a great spectacle, with films like All Quiet on the Western Front and Dunkirk offering a visceral portrait of the wars. While WWII is more "popular" than its predecessor, which leads to more movies and TV shows, some creators also tackle the complicated events of WWI. At this point, it seems like there is nothing more to say, but Lukas Dohnt has another angle to explore.
Long-distance relationships ask a lot of you. When you live in different cities, staying connected takes intention—especially during the days between visits. My boyfriend lives in San Francisco, and I live in Portland. While we’re lucky enough to see each other a couple of times each month, there are still long stretches when we’re living our daily lives in separate places.
Over time, we’ve learned that staying close from afar isn’t about doing something elaborate. It’s about finding simple
Long-distance relationships ask a lot of you. When you live in different cities, staying connected takes intention—especially during the days between visits. My boyfriend lives in San Francisco, and I live in Portland. While we’re lucky enough to see each other a couple of times each month, there are still long stretches when we’re living our daily lives in separate places.
Over time, we’ve learned that staying close from afar isn’t about doing something elaborate. It’s about finding simple ways to stay present in each other’s days.
A quick voice note on a walk home. A shared playlist that keeps evolving. Planning the next visit before the current one ends. These small habits make the distance feel manageable—and remind you that you’re still building a life together, even when you’re apart.
Long-Distance Relationship Ideas That Actually Help You Stay Connected
While every relationship looks different, the goal is the same: finding ways to feel present in each other’s lives even when you’re apart. Some are romantic, some practical, and some simply fun. The best ones become small rituals you return to again and again—the kind of habits that make the time between visits feel a little easier.
The truth is, long-distance relationships don’t have to feel like something you’re simply getting through until circumstances change. With the right rituals, they can deepen communication, create anticipation, and make the time you spend together feel even more meaningful.
Ahead, you’ll find our favorite long-distance relationship ideas—from romantic surprises to cozy virtual rituals to modern tech-friendly habits that help you stay connected from anywhere.
The Everyday Habits That Make the Distance Easier
My boyfriend and I have found a few small habits that make the distance feel easier. None of them are complicated, but they help us feel like we’re still sharing the everyday parts of life.
1. Send photos from your day. A quick photo from a morning walk, a favorite coffee shop, or your neighborhood farmers’ market helps your partner feel included in your everyday life—even when you’re in different cities.
2. Keep a shared playlist. Start a playlist you both add to over time. It becomes a running soundtrack to your relationship and gives you something to listen to when you’re missing each other.
3. Plan the next visit before saying goodbye. Before one visit ends, put the next one on the calendar. Having something to look forward to makes the time apart feel much more manageable.
Romantic Long-Distance Relationship Ideas
4. Plan a surprise visit. If schedules allow, an unexpected reunion can be one of the most memorable ways to reconnect.
5. Send something that brightens their space. Flowers are classic, but a favorite candle or fresh bread from a bakery you love can feel just as thoughtful.
6. Exchange your signature scents. Wearing or spraying your partner’s favorite fragrance can be a surprisingly comforting reminder of their presence.
7. Send a favorite book with notes inside. Mail them a novel, poetry collection, or essay book you love—highlighting passages that remind you of them.
8. Write a handwritten letter. There’s something special about receiving real mail that isn’t a bill (lol). A handwritten note instantly feels more personal than a text.
Relaxing Ways to Stay Connected From Afar
9. Share an end-of-day check-in call. Instead of texting throughout the day, set aside time in the evening to talk through your highs and lows.
10. Go on a walk and talk. Call each other while you’re both out for a walk. It almost feels like you’re exploring together.
11. Send a small “thinking of you” package. A favorite snack, a book you loved, or something that reminded you of them can make an ordinary week feel special.
12. Take a meditation or breathwork class together. Apps like Headspace or Calm make it easy to share a relaxing ritual, even from afar.
Long-Distance Dinner Date Ideas
13. Cook the same meal together. Choose a recipe you’re both excited about and cook while video chatting.
14. Send delivery from their favorite restaurant. Ordering dinner for your partner from afar is a simple way to show care.
15. Order the same coffee subscription. Signing up for the same subscription makes it easy to enjoy something together each month.
16. Take a virtual cooking class together. Many chefs now offer online classes, making this a fun shared activity.
Thoughtful Gestures That Show You Care
17. Gift them a plant. A low-maintenance plant becomes a living reminder of your relationship.
18. Create a shared watch list. Keep a running list of shows and movies you want to watch together so you always have something lined up for your next virtual movie night.
19. Plan your next trip together—even if it’s hypothetical. Pick a destination, research hotels, and build a shared list of places you want to try. Planning something together keeps the future feeling shared.
20. Stock their fridge before you leave. If you’re visiting, leaving behind a few groceries is a sweet and practical gesture.
Fun Long-Distance Activities to Do Together
21. Take a virtual workout class together. From yoga to dance workouts, moving together (apart) can be surprisingly fun.
22. Start a two-person book club. Pick a book each month and talk about it on your next video call.
23. Listen to the same podcast. Choose a podcast series and discuss episodes as you go.
24. Play an online game together. Whether it’s chess, Mario Kart, or a puzzle game, a little friendly competition keeps things light.
Tech-Friendly Long-Distance Relationship Ideas
25. Keep a shared notes app. Use it to jot down ideas, future plans, or things you want to talk about later.
26. Send voice notes instead of texts. Hearing your partner’s voice—even briefly—can instantly make the distance feel smaller.
27. Start a daily photo ritual. Send one photo from your day each evening. It’s a simple way to stay connected to each other’s routines.
Final Thoughts
Long-distance relationships aren’t always easy. There are missed dinners, quiet apartments, and plenty of moments when you wish you could reach across the couch instead of across a screen. But distance also has a way of sharpening what matters.
When you live in different places, connection becomes something you practice intentionally. You learn to communicate more clearly, plan time together thoughtfully, and appreciate the ordinary moments you might otherwise take for granted.
My boyfriend and I still count down the days until our next flight between PDX and SFO. But in the meantime, these small rituals help us stay present in each other’s lives.
Because ultimately, long-distance relationships aren’t about closing the miles between you. They’re about continuing to choose each other, wherever you are.
This post was last updated on March 18, 2026, to include new insights.
Over the years, animated cinema has proved to be the perfect medium for highly imaginative and visually striking stories that can only find their home in the admirably inventive limitlessness of animation. On plenty of delightful occasions, this medium has been the perfect vehicle for tales of sweeping romance, allowing for particularly creative stories with colorful characters that make the love story at their center really come to life.
Over the years, animated cinema has proved to be the perfect medium for highly imaginative and visually striking stories that can only find their home in the admirably inventive limitlessness of animation. On plenty of delightful occasions, this medium has been the perfect vehicle for tales of sweeping romance, allowing for particularly creative stories with colorful characters that make the love story at their center really come to life.
No doubt Jennifer Lopez currently is queen of the failing rom-com genre, a once-vibrant Hollywood staple that studios sadly relegated mostly to streaming in recent times. Of course there have been exceptions that made a splash in theaters, notably sleeper hit Anyone but You in 2024. Generally, though, this isn’t the case, at least for […]
No doubt Jennifer Lopez currently is queen of the failing rom-com genre, a once-vibrant Hollywood staple that studios sadly relegated mostly to streaming in recent times. Of course there have been exceptions that made a splash in theaters, notably sleeper hit Anyone but You in 2024. Generally, though, this isn’t the case, at least for […]
With the couples on either side of him as hot as the flames on his grill, our solo-dining yakiniku fan finds a mental escape.
Dining at a yakiniku restaurant in Japan quickly becomes a series of choices to make. Yakiniku menus consist primarily of a wide variety of different types and cuts of meat that you grill yourself, but per-plate portions tend to be small, so you’ll need to make multiple orders to get enough food to fill yourself up.
If you’re ordering a la carte, different kinds of meat
With the couples on either side of him as hot as the flames on his grill, our solo-dining yakiniku fan finds a mental escape.
Dining at a yakiniku restaurant in Japan quickly becomes a series of choices to make. Yakiniku menus consist primarily of a wide variety of different types and cuts of meat that you grill yourself, but per-plate portions tend to be small, so you’ll need to make multiple orders to get enough food to fill yourself up.
If you’re ordering a la carte, different kinds of meat have different prices, but many yakiniku restaurants offer all-you-can-eat options that give you unlimited access to certain types, and when our Japanese-language reporter Yuichiro Wasai opted for such a deal on a recent yakiniku outing, you’d think he would have then just ordered based on what kinds of meat he thinks taste the best. Things got a little more complicated, though, after Yuichiro sat down.
At most yakiniku restaurants, the majority of the seats are at tables with space for two, four, or more diners. At some, though, you’ll also find counter seating, and since that was an option on this day, Yuichiro had grabbed a counter seat. However, shortly after that a couple on a date sat down at the counter to one side of him, and then soon after that, another couple sat down on the other side.
In other words, Yuichiro was now sandwiched between two couples, and while they weren’t having full-on make out sessions, both pairs were in clearly lovey-dovey moods, scooched up against each other with their arms around each other as they ate.
Yuichiro found himself feeling increasingly self-conscious as he sat in what was a small buffer zone between the two amorous pairs, but because he was by himself, he couldn’t just focus on any dinnertime conversation of his own, and with his counter seat facing a wall, he couldn’t stare out a window either. However, it was at this moment that he realized that even though he was by himself, he could call on two allies to help him escape his feelings of awkwardness. Who were those saviors?
Beef short ribs and pork belly.
As mentioned above, at yakiniku restaurants you cook your meat yourself at a grill set into your table or section of the counter. Different cuts take different amounts of time to cook, but beef short ribs (kalbi) and pork belly tend to be two of the quicker ones to grill, which also means that they’ll burn more quickly than others. In other words, you’ve got to pay very close attention when cooking kalbi and pork belly, and the more Yuichiro was focused on his meat, the less he noticed the heat coming off of the couples on either side of him.
With kalbi and pork belly being fairly fatty cuts, they also produce a lot of drippings as they cook, which causes flames to flare up from the grill. Usually this is a startling, or at least annoying, part of the yakiniku cooking process, but Yuichiro welcomed the distraction. Sometimes the flames were so strong that he felt the need to put an ice cube on the grill to cool things down a bit, and again, he was happy to have a reason to concentrate on what was in front of him, rather than on his flanks.
Though they’re not the only dripping-intensive yakiniku menu items, in his experimentation Yuichiro found that kalbi and pork belly have the best combination of juicy drippings and quick cooking time, letting you keep your cooking tongs, chopsticks, and brain in near-constant activity. So even though the all-you-can-eat option he’d ordered allowed him to choose from a broader swatch of the menu, he kept up a heavy rotation of kalbi and pork belly for his entire meal, as they truly are the best choices for someone who feels self-conscious when surrounded by couples.
The 1990s were truly a golden age for inventive, gritty, and unforgettable films. Yet somehow, many of the quirky greats got lost in the sauce over the years. This can mainly be attributed to the bevy of more mainstream movies that dominate the 90s cinema conversation (Seven, Fight Club, L.A. Confidential, The Shawshank Redemption, etc.) — but the rare gems of the alternative filmic underworld need to be revisited and thoroughly enjoyed, all over again.
The 1990s were truly a golden age for inventive, gritty, and unforgettable films. Yet somehow, many of the quirky greats got lost in the sauce over the years. This can mainly be attributed to the bevy of more mainstream movies that dominate the 90s cinema conversation (Seven, Fight Club, L.A. Confidential, The Shawshank Redemption, etc.) — but the rare gems of the alternative filmic underworld need to be revisited and thoroughly enjoyed, all over again.
Login
