Meaningful Things You Can Do As a Couple

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I don’t know about y’all, but in this day and age, life seems to be moving fast.

Work, appointments, school, phone calls, errands, messages, and more keep us constantly on the go.

And with all the noise, it can be hard to get meaningful time with our significant other. Sometimes the default is just “Let’s turn on a show.”

But the truth is, dating and marriage is meant to be so much more than that (you’re supposed to be best friends!), so here’s a list of 25 activities that anyone can do with their significant other to help keep your spark burning strong.

1. Go For A Walk

This sounds really basic (and it sort-of is), but it’s also a great way to bond and catch-up with your partner (whether your dating or married).

I knew a couple growing up who went for a walk every morning, and they swore it was what had kept their relationship strong through 11 kids and many ups and downs.

If you have little ones and don’t feel like you can leave them, try just taking the baby monitor out and walking a couple houses down one way and back the other.

Some of my favorite memories with my husband are when we’ve taken walks in the snow together and watched the flakes shimmering in the lamplight on their way down.

2. Take turns sharing songs with each other

This sounds ridiculously simple, but it has the bones of a good bonding experience.

Sit down with a snack and take turns showing each other new songs you like.

You’ll have fun with the music, and connection will ensue as you discuss them.

3. Have a dreaming session

Happy couple planning together with a notebook surrounded by moving boxes

This may sound weird, but it can be a blast to sit with your significant other and dream together of what you want from the rest of your lives.

Talk about your dream home, your vacations, your hobbys–all the fun things. Don’t get hung up on the nitty-gritty (I tend to do that because I’m a planner–do that part at a different time). Focus on the fun of it.

You may be surprised by the things you both hope for. (If you’re older, it may have changed since you dreamt together when you were young!)

4. Go site-seeing locally

Every town has its treasures, and going to find them is a great way to bond with your spouse or partner.

Check to see if there are any special gardens, museums, or monuments in your area, and go enjoy them!

5. Turn on music and dance

This is an oldie but a goodie. There aren’t many things as romantic as dancing together.

You can do some swing or a waltz if you want to make it more technical and engaging–or you can just keep it simple and slow dance.

(Try upping the ambience with a few candles!)

6. Work on hobbies together

Hobbying together lets you do your own thing, while also giving you the chance to just hang out.

One of my favorite dates ever with my husband was when we went to Hobby Lobby and got craft supplies together for our own projects. Then, we came home and worked on them.

We both got to do things we loved, but we got the bonding aspect of giving feedback on materials and ideas. It was great!

7. Look at the stars

Couple stargazing together with a telescope on the sand at night

This is one of the simplest but most romantic date ideas. You can dress it up with a fancy truck-bed set-up, or you can keep it as simple as a blanket on the grass.

Either way, something about looking at the stars seems to spur good conversation (and, let’s be honest, it’s fun to cuddle while doing it too).

8. Play a board or card game

This is a default for my husband and I. Whether dating or married, games offer a great bonding opportunity.

You get to enjoy the shared experience of the game, but you also have plenty of time to talk about other topics and catch up.

Two of our favorites are this one and this one.

9. Take a hike

Okay, this is exactly what it sounds like.

Go for a hike with your sweetheart. Get out in nature, and go for an adventure.

I love hiking because you get to see the beauty of the natural world while having lots of time to talk.

10. Go on a scavenger hunt

This is one date idea that can be dressed up or down.

If you want to go all out and make it really romantic for your partner, try creating a customized scavenger hunt based on your relationship. I found these adorable custom cards on amazon for only $10 that you can use to make personalized, scratch-off scavenger hunt clues!

Alternatively, you can just search for a scavenger hunt on google (try terms like “free nature scavenger hunt” or “free bookstore scavenger hunt”). There are tons out there, and then you have a fun activity with basically no planning!

If you think you might do this on a regular basis, you can try buying this pack of scavenger hunt cards off Amazon.

11. Listen to a podcast

Couple sitting close together sharing earbuds and looking at a phone

This is a good activity for when you need to get some work done but still want to bond. Just turn on a podcast in the background and listen together! Then pause now and then to chat.

My husband and I do this with wireless earbuds if we need to be up and about (that way we can both always hear). And, every now and then we have fun pausing to exclaim about something or say our thoughts.

12. Learn a new skill

This can be as simple as learning how to juggle from YouTube videos or going out and taking a ballroom dance class.

Tailor it to your likes, dislikes, and budget, and have fun!

13. Do puzzles

This is a simple, low-cost activity that can give you hours of bonding. I haven’t done this as much as an adult, but I remember having Thomas Kinkade puzzles (similar to this one) out on a designated “puzzle table” for our family. Sometimes I would creep out of bed and find my parents working on it and talking.

No stress, no planning, just some brain power and a chat.

14. Go for a drive

This is as simple as it sounds. Hop in the car, and start driving. You can have a destination (local food place?) in mind, but you also don’t have to.

When my husband and I do this, we have fun taking roads we’ve never driven before and seeing what we discover.

15. Play the minute game

There are many variations and kinds of minute games out there, but let me explain our version of it.

You both need a blank sheet of paper and a pen or pencil. Then, you decide if you’re going to write stories or draw pictures.

Once you pick what you’re doing, you set a timer for one minute and start drawing or writing (depending on what you picked).

Once the timer goes off, you swap papers. Then the timer starts again and you write/draw until it goes off again.

With each passing minute, the drawings gets more complex or the stories get added to until you decide it’s time to finish them up.

I find this game works best if you’re both willing to be a little out there in what you write or draw.

It’s great because you never know what you’ll end up with, and you often find yourselves laughing by the end!

16. Build a fort

Maybe it sounds childish, but it can also be romantic. Grab some chairs, blankets and pillows, and throw together a tent.

Want bonus points? Watch a fun show and have some snacks inside when you’re done.

17. Cook together

Couple cooking a meal together in the kitchen with fresh vegetables

This is a great date idea for all ages. Find a meal that you and your partner are both excited about but that requires some prep, and turn that prep time into bonding time.

My first pick? Something like potstickers or sushi (I usually use imitation crab since fancy raw fish is out of my budget, haha). They both take a bit to assemble, but are fun to put together and super tasty when you’re done.

18. Go camping

This is a great option if you’re both outdoorsy people and you like to get out and about.

Make the experience as simple or as complex as you want. Bring a tent, or use a simple double hammock. Cook food on-site over the fire, or bring ready-made snacks (but be aware of food safety for raccoons and bears in your area!).

19. Do a workshop

You might be surprised by the number and variety of workshops available in your area.

I looked up workshops in our town and was surprised to find ones for fitness, welding, tye-dye, pottery, and more!

There are also more serious ones out there for things like emotional management or couple communication.

Pick what most interests you and what you think would best strengthen your relationship.

20. Go thrifting

I personally recommend this one only if you have items you need to find thrifting (too easy to build up a lot of clutter).

However, it can be a ton of fun as a couple to check out the local estate sales or thrift shops and see what things turn up!

21. Give service together

Couple volunteering together packing food donations at a community pantry

This is a meaningful way to build your community and yourselves while also growing closer together.

If you’re unsure where to go to serve in your community, try reaching out to food pantries (they sometimes need people to help manage inventory while they’re open) or check with nursing homes. They almost always have people who could use a visit and a chat.

22. Play a sport

This can be as simple as grabbing a ball to kick around in the yard or attending a chair yoga class together.

Tailor it to your likes and dislikes and your abilities as a couple.

23. Read a book

This is one of the simplest but also most fun date ideas ever–and it keeps giving as long as you are reading the book!

Have fun looking in your library or local bookstores (or just on Amazon, haha) for something that interests you both, and get reading!

24. Go to a local festival

You might be amazed by the festival options in your area (I am!). From tractor to renaissance to strawberry festivals, there are lots of options out there!

If you’re not sure where to find out about upcoming festivals in your area, try using Facebook to look up local upcoming events!