Six Fun Things To Do At Home As A Couple

Many couples go on regular date nights to maintain their relationship, spend time together, and catch up with one another. While venturing out of the house on a date can be fun, there are many things you and your partner can do for entertainment without ever having to leave the house. You may want to stay home because it’s raining, to save money, or because you’d like to try something different. Whatever the reason, here are six fun activities for you and your partner to try at home whenever you’d like to spend some quality time together.

Watch movies and TV shows

While it can be fun to head to the theater for a movie, you can also use your TV at home for endless entertainment. Pop some popcorn or grab some snacks and then curl up with your significant other on the couch and choose a TV show or movie to watch together. Maybe there’s a TV series you’ve both been wanting to watch or perhaps you opt for a movie marathon day and watch several in a row. Rather than traveling to a movie theater and spending money, you can enjoy your time together with everything you need already in place. 

Cook together

In many relationships, each partner takes turns cooking meals. However, some have one person doing all the cooking, or none at all; perhaps you both prefer to order food or dine out often. If you’d like to change things up a bit, you might find enjoyment in learning how to cook with each other. Not everyone finds cooking fun, but doing this activity with your partner could make it more entertaining than anything. Even if you make something that doesn’t turn out to be edible, you can get some good laughs in and make memories in the process. Being in the kitchen together can bring you closer, leading to increased intimacy and more effective communication. These can strengthen your relationship all while you’re having a fun time. 

Cooking together can also save you money. If you both find that you enjoy cooking as a hobby, you can avoid spending on other forms of entertainment outside of the home. This doesn’t mean that you must stop going out entirely, but if you think you can financially benefit from finding alternatives at home, you might consider cooking as one of them.

Play video games

Video games are a popular form of entertainment among kids and adults alike. Many people grew up with video games and watched them evolve over the years into what they have become today. According to the Pew Research Center, approximately 43% of all adults in the United States play games on their computers, on a console, or on a mobile device, like a phone or tablet. Although this is an estimate for all adults, the statistics vary greatly based on age groups. For example, in the 18 to 29 age group, 72 percent of men and 49 percent of women play video games, whereas, in the 50 to 64 age range, 34 percent of men and 29 percent of women do so. 

Despite these differences, these statistics show that gaming is diverse; no matter how young or old you are or what your gender is, it can be a popular way to have fun, and it can allow you to bond with your partner at home. Like music, there are many different genres of games, meaning you have lots of options when choosing something to play. Think about the things you and your partner both enjoy and try to pick a game based on your combined interests. 

Try card and board games

If you and your significant other aren’t typically big fans of video games, you can also opt for more traditional games like the card and board ones.

Card games come in various formats; for example, you have popular trading card games that you can choose from, or you can go for the ordinary playing cards used for games like poker and blackjack, to name a couple. There are plenty of 2-player games out there that can help beat the boredom. 

While there are board games made for two players, there are fewer of them than card games. Nonetheless, board games are often more enjoyable when there are a few players. If you’re having trouble finding a game that’s suitable for a couple, try finding something that you can do as a group; you could even have a double-date night at your house. Board games designed for a group of couples can be a ton of fun, and it’s something you can invite people over for regularly.

If you can’t find any two-player games, try a game of 20 questions, which doesn’t require any materials. You can also go back and forth with your partner and ask each other silly or deep questions. This can be a bonding activity that brings the two of you closer together. 

Create art and music

Some of the most rewarding activities people can do often involve some form of art. Art comes in many forms, meaning there are lots of options for you and your partner to choose from. Drawing and painting are common, especially if you’re looking for activities to do alongside your significant other. It doesn’t matter how talented each of you is at art; what can be important is enjoying each other’s company while doing something fun.

Like art, music is another activity that is often believed to be a solo effort, but it can be more of a collaborative effort than you might think. Although there are amazing pieces that are performed by a lone instrument, a duet, ensemble, or band can allow them to shine. Therefore, learning an instrument and playing together can be an opportunity for you to grow side-by-side and learn a new skill in the process. If instruments aren’t your thing, the two of you could write a song and sing it together. If you’re not interested in creating your own music, you can still take some time to sit back and relax while listening to tunes that you both enjoy.

Gardening and home decor

Gardening can have many physical and mental health benefits, and while this can be a relaxing activity to do solo, it can be even more fun alongside your partner. Gardening can reduce stress, boost your mood, and give you some exercise. If you’re growing edible foods, it may encourage you to eat healthier (and save some money in the process). If you have space at home to garden, you might be missing out on something you never thought you’d enjoy. 

If being outside isn’t really your thing, you can stay indoors and redecorate your home instead. Making your living area look nice and inviting can make it a space you want to spend time in. Even if you don’t live with your significant other, you can take turns sprucing up one another’s space. Redecorating can encourage teamwork and help you feel better about your space. 

Online counseling with Regain

Making time to enjoy the company of your significant other can be important. Laughing and creating memories together can strengthen your relationship and help lower each of your stress levels. However, sometimes fun activities alone aren’t enough when you’re facing challenges in your relationship, and maybe you and your partner have forgotten how to connect. In this case, working with a therapist could be beneficial. You can individual or couples counseling through Regain, a virtual counseling platform. Since you can participate in online counseling from the comfort of your home, you don’t have to spend extra time driving to an office or sitting in traffic. Instead, you and your spouse can use this extra time to plan fun things to do with one another and enjoy one another’s company.

The effectiveness of online counseling 

Research has shown that online couples counseling is just as effective as traditional face-to-face interventions. In one study, researchers discovered that an online integrative behavioral couple therapy (IBCT) program helped couples to identify the problems in their relationships and take steps to overcome them. Couples were able to understand each other on a deeper level because of the improved conversation skills that they learned in the program. This decreased their distress and allowed them to make concrete changes in their relationship. IBCT is a therapeutic approach that has two parts: acceptance and change. Couples learn how to accept their emotions while simultaneously working to change their behavior to improve their relationship.

Takeaway

Finding fun things to do at home as a couple can be tricky if you’re both accustomed to going out to have fun. However, you may have gained some new ideas from this article to help you and your partner pass the time while hanging out at the house. You don’t have to leave the house to have an enjoyable time, and in some cases, staying in can allow you to become more creative with what you do, not to mention more resourceful. You might even become closer to your partner in the process. No relationship is 100% perfect, and there is often something that can use some fine-tuning. If you’re looking to improve your relationship without having to leave your home, online couples therapy could be a useful resource to consider. A therapist can help you and your partner build a happier, healthier relationship so that you can cherish one another’s company whether you’re at home or out and about.