10 Creative Date Ideas for Couples Managing Chronic Illness

Dealing with chronic illness/pain is no joke. It’s stressful, exhausting, expensive, and makes minor things take what seems like monumental effort to accomplish. I’ve been fighting a “common cold” for over 3 weeks now that’s turned into bronchitis. Mix that with my autoimmune issues and it’s been rough!

It got me thinking of fun date ideas you can do together to keep having fun and keep your relationship strong even when feeling terrible. 

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Why Plan Dates When Dealing With Chronic Illness

Life doesn’t stop when we feel like crap, and that means your relationship doesn't get to take a pause either. But that doesn't mean you need to go all out and suffer through! There are TONS of fun date ideas you can do even when you're having a rough day.

10 Fun Date Ideas For When You're Not Feeling Great

Puzzle Date Night

A puzzle date night is almost always our go-to for when we're just feeling a little blah and want to sit and do something fun together. Puzzles are low-pressure, work our brains, and we have fun doing them!

If you like doing small puzzles, you can start with 250 piece puzzles that can be done in an evening. If, like us, you prefer larger puzzles, they can be a bit much to tackle in one night.

We break it up into many mini-dates and go with how we feel. Sometimes it's a two-hour marathon session, other times it's a 30 min quick connection break. Whatever works with your bodies and keeps the bond going!

DIY Spa Date

We all could use a little self-care, and it's even better when done together in a DIY spa date. Set up romantic candles (or LED ones if you prefer) and add some aromatherapy with a diffuser and lavender essential oil. Add some spa music and you've got yourselves one of the most romantic dates!

Take turns giving each other 5 minute back massages with lotion or massage oil, then pull out sheet face masks or make your own from Pinterest recipes. If you want snacks, cucumber finger sandwiches and strawberry mint infused water are perfect additions to your date. You could even slice the cucumber for your eyes for total relaxation.

Bird-Watching Date

I never really thought of bird watching as a date activity until we had nesting magpies move in! We have baby magpies now and we're literally obsessed with watching them. We moved our Blink camera from our backyard to a safe spot in the tree and when we zoom in we can see them and it's such a fun activity!

All you need for your bird-watching date is a blanket and some birds, of course! If you want to get even more into it, pick up a local birdwatching guide book so you can tell what birds are common in your area, and some binoculars so you can see them even better.

Stargazing Date

Watching the stars go by is like the most classic of date nights, for good reason! It's simple yet romantic and can be done with no prep work. If it's a clear night out, you can just grab a couple blankets and go lay outside and look up at the stars while keeping an eye out for shooting stars.

On days you have a little more energy, you can scale it up with a light picnic, soft music (or just listen to the wind in the trees) and a telescope perfect for beginners. Pour out a little bubbly or warm tea from a thermos and you've got a perfect date night.

Virtual Travel Date

When dealing with chronic issues, it's not always easy to travel as much as we'd like. Plus, it's expensive! We work around it by having virtual travel dates.

We pick a place and do YouTube walkthroughs, check out TripAdvisor reviews of places we'd like to go, and research local food options.

This helps us decide if it's actually a place we'd want to travel to eventually. If we decide it is, a good part of the planning is already done and we have lots to look forward to!

Fondue Date

Melted cheese should really be in a food group of it's own, and a fondue date is an excellent way to enjoy it! Warm, gooey cheese with bread and other yummy dipping bits like meat, pretzels, and even fruit make for such a romantic date.

After dinner, switch to a sweet dessert fondue with melted chocolate and strawberries, bananas, marshmallows, and whatever speaks to your heart (and stomachs!)

Tea Tasting Date

When I'm feeling a little off, I find that tea is the most soothing drink. Dan will often make tea for us and we'll sit together and enjoy.

Pick up a few different types of tea – maybe a floral white tea, a robust black tea, and something herbal for variety.

Set up a little tasting station with small cups, some light snacks like crackers or cookies, and take turns trying each blend and share your thoughts with each other.

Coffee Date

A cozy coffee date was one of my favorite early dates Dan and I had. We sat for over an hour and just chatted and people-watched while enjoying each other's company.

You can head to your favorite coffee shop and sit outside if the weather is nice (or if it just feels nice to be outside, like the pic above when it was 40 degrees in Breckenridge), or you can have a fancy coffee date at home with syrups, fun toppings like creme brulee bits or chocolate sprinkles, or even add a spiky twist with Bailey's or Rum Chata (my favorites!)

Breakfast-For-Dinner Date

Even when you're not feeling like cooking, you still gotta eat, right? Having breakfast for dinner is much easier than planning a full meal. You can make it simple with eggs and bacon, or go for a sweet pancakes option.

We have a double waffle maker that's our go-to when neither of us want an elaborate meal. Grab some waffle mix and it's ready in a snap. You can get creative with mix-ins like blueberries or chocolate chips, or add some fresh strawberries on top to make it feel healthier.

Ice Cream Date

A personal favorite to close out the night is an ice cream date! If you have an ice cream shop nearby, you can head there for a sweet treat. Nothing nearby? Hit up the grocery store for your fave flavors (mint choc chip is mine, while Dan prefers vanilla) and some toppings to make it your own.

Get some bananas and see who can make the most impressive banana split then snuggle up in bed and enjoy your creations.