A lot of people on social media have been complaining or worrying about social distancing and self-quarantining lately. Let’s be honest though: it is important. This post is not meant to be a lecture. I am not a medical professional nor a politician, but I do understand and trust those who are. My plea to all of you is simple: make the best of it.

That is probably easier said than done, right? A lot of memes and photos have been circulating lately, such as this one:

While it is tempting to poke fun at the situation, or even satirically complain about being stuck inside with your family, try to make the best of it!

I created a small list of indoor date night ideas for partners that we are personally excited to try out.

Wine Tasting

We love wine, and we love going to wine tastings. Why not try to have a tasting in the comfort of your own home? If Frasier and Niles Crane can successfully have an indoor wine tasting party, so can anyone. Depending on the state that you live in, you may be able to have wine delivered right to your house. If you live in a state where alcohol cannot be delivered, the next time you brave the outside world to go to the grocery store or run an errand, stop by a local wine shop (or even just regular liquor store) and pick up a few bottles that you haven’t tried yet. Pair those babies with some cheese, and enjoy!

Rent a New Movie

We all have Netflix. Or Hulu. Or Amazon. Or just regular on-demand options. A very popular date night is going to the movies, so why not bring the movies to your home? This option is also relatively child-friendly if you have kids in the house and don’t want to wait until they go to bed. My husband and I have a goal to try and watch all the Oscar-Nominated films of the year. Find a film you haven’t seen yet (or even a film you have seen 100 times and just love), pop some popcorn, and relax!

Cook Together and Try a New Recipe

When my husband and I first got married, I swear we were given about ten cookbooks as presents. Certainly, I have not tried all of the different recipes in them. I do not know many people who have completed an entire cookbook, so why not try something new? Instead of having a weekly favorite, try something else. Have you ever had or made coq au vin? Even if you don’t feel like making a whole dinner, maybe try and bake something new together.

Romantic Candlelit Dinner

This one kind of pairs with the previous suggestion. After you make the new fancy meal, enjoy it! Cooking together is romantic and fun, but actually enjoying the meal together after cooking can be awesome, too. If you have kids, wait until they go to bed. Then, have dinner at 8:00 PM like you did when you were dating. Set up the dining room with candles, open a bottle of wine, and enjoy each other’s company over the fancy meal that you just made together.

Have a Game Night for Two

I’m sure that there are men out there who would be super interested in this indoor date night idea, especially if video games were involved. However, even if you’re not interested in video games, there are plenty of two-player games that couples can play. Mancala, chess, Monopoly, and Scrabble are all great games that really only require two people.