Is that love or sleep deprivation in the air?
Valentine’s Day is stressful for anyone, regardless of whether you are involved in a romantic relationship or have what feels like years of readings to catch up on. And relationships are hard—with friendships sometimes being the most difficult. So whether you are looking for some last-minute Valentine’s date ideas (Galentine’s and Guyentine’s dates also welcome), tips to keep the romance alive, or just fun things to do with a friend, I have you covered.
Tip #1 – Use Technology
This is an oldie but a goodie. Use Facetime, Messenger, or any other video calling service that you can get your hands on. Seeing your partner’s or friend’s face makes a world of difference—take it from someone who has done four years on and off-long distance. The call can be two minutes or two hours. Maybe you want to work together in silence (a handy trick for law school students who are too busy to make a trip), eat a meal, or catch up before bed. The point is that it allows you to communicate with a face, not just a text message.
Tip #2 – Spice it up!
No, I don’t mean spice it up in the way you’re thinking! Rather, take it in the literal sense. Cook in your kitchen. Everyone needs to eat, and spending time with someone important to you does not need to be unproductive. As a law student, these types of “double aspect” activities are right up my alley and are something my partner and I do often! Whether it is meal prepping or finding a new recipe, the kitchen is a great option. Want to up the ante? Open a bottle of wine, put on some good tunes (check out this issue’s UV playlist), add a novelty apron, and you are set!
Tip #3 – Add An Unknown Element
If you are doing long distance—which in my opinion might actually be the better way to have a relationship in law school (more on this later)—or living in the same city, an unknown element always makes things interesting. The best date idea (romantic or otherwise) I have heard as of late is to do a blind order for your partner on Uber Eats. Let me explain more fully: each person chooses a random dish from a restaurant on Uber Eats and ships it to the other person without telling them the cuisine. You then open the packages together, through Facetime or in person, and have a meal. You can pick a theme or set rules (such as the dish needs to start with the letter “V”), but it is a great way to try something new.
To end off this article, I have a hot-take. As I alluded to earlier, I believe that long-distance is the ideal relationship status in law school—or at least that there is a silver lining to it. Being in law school is exhausting. There is an endless amount of reading, review, and summary notes. Having time to shower, let alone be invested in another person, can be a lot to ask. The silver lining? The long-distance allows you to more or less schedule your “relationship time” to be in line with school and readings. So don’t let the distance stop you. Plus, it means you don’t always need to bring your partner to those insufferable law school parties we all know and love.
