It's no secret that couples can do a lot of really weird things together. However, there are also a number of things every couple should do together — and yes, some of them are still weird. Wondering what they might be? Good news: People all over the world are happy to share their thoughts with you. Isn't the Internet great?
Redditor ashultz95 posted a thread to AskReddit the other day, simply titled, “What is one thing every couple should do together?” There's no explaining how some Reddit threads take off and others don't, but this one most definitely gets filed under “Threads That Took Off,” because it's at over 7,000 comments right now, and still growing.
And not only that, but it's actually full of good advice. True, when you get far enough down in the thread, you start seeing a lot of repeats. But hey, maybe that just goes to show how sound those pieces of wisdom are in the first place. Some of the suggestions are practical, some are goofy, and a ton of them make great date ideas, but they all generally have one thing in common: They're about fostering communication. I would argue that good communication is the most important thing required for a functional relationship, so any activity that works on either building or maintaining it is probably something worth doing.
Here are 19 of my favorite responses. Head on over to AskReddit to see many more.
1. Try Each Other's Hobbies
You don't have to make them your own hobbies. Heck, you don't even have to like them after you try them. But it's worth giving them a shot at least once — it might help you understand or see your partner in a whole new way.
If you've either already tried this or know for a fact that you both hate each other's hobbies, though, you can also …
2. Try a New Hobby Together
That's fun, too.
3. Go On a Road Trip
I thought about labeling this one simply, “travel together” — but the kind of traveling makes a difference, too, so I'm sticking with road trip. You never really know someone until you've been stuck in a car with them for days on end.
4. Work on a Puzzle
Cooperative problem solving is a beautiful thing. And hey, if puzzles aren't your jam, you could also try this:
5. Use Your Kitchen Table For Its Intended Purpose
Confession: My SO and I don't do this. We used to when we first started dating, but it's kind of fallen by the wayside in the intervening years. We do, however, have dinner out once a week, which kind of accomplishes the same thing. While it's true that the depth of those dinner conversations is sometimes dependent on where we go (Two-for-one burger night at the noisy pub? Not so good for talking. Awesome pizza at the Italian place down the street? Surprisingly chill and quiet), it does make a nice change from eating at the coffee table while we catch up on Game of Thrones.
6. Just … Exist
We may be terrible at actually using our kitchen table, but at least we're awesome at this one. The best relationships — romantic or platonic — are the ones where you can just sit quietly together without feeling like you need to fill the silence.
7. Snuggle
If it leads to some physical action? Awesome. If it's just snuggling? Also awesome. It's a win-win situation.
8. Play a Co-op Game Together
I can confirm this. Portal 2 co-op with your partner is the best. It's even better if you're not in the same room with each other — it makes you communicate in some really unique ways.
Speaking of communication ...
9. This:
I love this. It's such a great idea, and since communication is key in any relationship, it offers an unconventional way to do it. You might also try something like this:
It's the stuff romance is made of.
10. Do Something Spontaneous
I get anxious whenever I go into something without a plan, but I'm trying to work on that. It's kind of like what Lana Molodtsova is doing with her “100 Days of Trust” project — this one is putting your trust in the two of you as a couple to figure it out and have a fun time, no plan required.
11. Improve Your Home
Of course, this one also requires you both to actually care about the color of your walls — but you can sub in just about any type of home improvement project for painting, too.
12. Get Caught in the Rain
Bonus points if you have pina coladas before, during, or after the rainstorm together, too.
13. Let Your Imaginations Run Wild Together
You. I like you.
14. Unplug
If you have the kind of job that requires you to be reachable at all times, this one might be a little trickier to pull off. But it's definitely worth trying if you can swing it. Uplugging is good for us.
15. Go Canoeing
When you think about it, life is really just one giant canoe trip, isn't it?
16. One Word: IKEA
Some say that IKEA can make or break most relationships. Never underestimate the power of Swedish flat-pack furniture in contemporary yet timeless designs.
Want more proof? Here you go.
17. Read to Each Other
Sure, you could just watch TV together. But sometimes it's more fun to be your own entertainment.
18. Work on the Practical Things
Things like creating a budget together may not be the most romantic of activities. They are, however, essential. In addition to playing into that whole "communication" thing we keep talking about, it also helps you figure out whether your priorities — or at least, the ones that really matter when it comes to longevity — are in tune with each other. And that's definitely worth figuring out sooner, rather than later.
19. This:
You know you're absolutely comfortable together when you can fart in each other's presence without it being cause for alarm or embarrassment.
The other prime dating expert besides Reddit? Why, your local bartender, of course. Watch below for five dating tips only your bartender knows (and be sure to subscribe to Bustle's YouTube page for more videos):
Images: Dragunsk/Flickr; Giphy (6); Confessions of a Bad Chemist/Tumblr
