8 Things to Do With Your Boyfriend That Don’t Involve Staring at Your Phones

You’re scrolling through your phones again, sitting inches apart but feeling miles away from each other. I can tell you from experience that this pattern kills relationships faster than most couples realize. Your connection weakens when screens become your default together-time activity, and I’ve never seen a thriving partnership built on shared silence and blue light. The solution isn’t complicated, but it requires intentional action. Here are eight activities that’ll transform your relationship dynamic completely.

Cook a New Recipe Together From Scratch

When you’re both tired of scrolling through endless feeds, nothing beats rolling up your sleeves and creating something delicious together from scratch. I can tell you that couples who cook together build stronger connections through shared accomplishment and teamwork.

Start with meal planning strategies that excite both of you. Pick cuisines you’ve never attempted, like authentic Thai curry or handmade pasta. I’ve never seen a relationship suffer from discovering new ingredients together at farmers markets or specialty stores. The adventure begins before you even reach the kitchen.

Choose recipes with multiple steps that require coordination. One person handles prep while the other manages timing. You’ll laugh at mistakes, celebrate victories, and create memories that last far longer than any social media post ever could.

Create Art or Craft Projects Side by Side

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Two paintbrushes, one canvas, and zero distractions create the perfect recipe for genuine connection. I can tell you that creating art together transforms ordinary evenings into meaningful experiences. You’ll discover sides of each other that daily conversation never reveals.

Consider these engaging projects that build intimacy:

• Paint small figurines from hobby stores, comparing your different artistic approaches
• Make handmade greeting cards for upcoming birthdays or holidays together
• Try watercolor landscapes while discussing your dream vacation destinations
• Sculpt with clay, laughing at your imperfect but heartfelt creations
• Design matching t-shirts using fabric markers and stencils

I’ve never seen couples argue when they’re focused on creative expression. Your hands stay busy, your minds stay engaged, and your phones stay forgotten. Art reveals personality in ways words can’t capture.

Explore Your City Like Tourists

Although you pass the same streets every day, chances are you’ve never truly explored your own city together. I can tell you from experience, playing tourist in your hometown creates deeper connection than you’d expect. Visit local landmarks you’ve ignored for years, read those historical plaques you always walked past, take photos like you’re documenting vacation memories.

The real magic happens when you discover hidden gems tucked into familiar neighborhoods. I’ve never seen couples more engaged than when they’re hunting for that hole-in-the-wall café or stumbling upon street art they’d missed hundreds of times before. Take public transportation to areas you normally drive through, wander without destination, ask locals for recommendations. You’ll rediscover your city while rediscovering each other, creating genuine intimacy through shared adventure and curiosity.

Have Deep Conversations Under the Stars

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Nothing transforms surface-level relationships into meaningful bonds faster than conversations that stretch beyond daily routines, and stargazing provides the perfect backdrop for vulnerability. I can tell you from experience, there’s something magical about lying beneath an endless sky that makes opening up feel natural, effortless.

Something about the vastness above makes even the most guarded hearts feel safe enough to share their deepest truths.

When you ponder life’s mysteries together, you’re building intimacy that phones can’t provide. Here’s what works:

• Share childhood dreams you’ve never spoken aloud
• Discuss future goals without judgment or pressure
• Ask about his deepest fears, then listen completely
• Talk about what love means to both of you
• Wonder together about your place in the universe

I’ve never seen couples connect faster than when they’re vulnerable under stars, creating memories that last decades.

Challenge Each Other to Board Games or Puzzles

Why settle for mindless scrolling when you could be discovering who your boyfriend really is through friendly competition? I can tell you that nothing reveals someone’s true character quite like watching them lose at Monopoly or strategize through chess.

When you play competitive strategy games together, you’ll witness his problem-solving style, his grace under pressure, and whether he’s a gracious winner. I’ve never seen a couple bond faster than when they’re huddled over a challenging puzzle, working as a team against the game instead of against each other.

Try classics like Scrabble or Settlers of Catan for strategic thinking, or complete complex logic puzzles that demand patience and collaboration. These activities create genuine connection while keeping your hands busy and minds engaged, building memories that last far longer than any social media post.

Plan and Execute a Surprise Date Night

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While board games spark immediate connection, planning a surprise date takes your relationship investment to an entirely different level. I can tell you that nothing beats the anticipation in his eyes when he realizes you’ve crafted something special just for him.

Here’s how to create unforgettable moments:

• Plan a scavenger hunt through locations meaningful to your relationship
• Organize a themed picnic based on his favorite movie or hobby
• Book that cooking class you’ve both mentioned wanting to try
• Arrange a stargazing session with blankets and his favorite snacks
• Create a home spa experience with massages and relaxing music

I’ve never seen couples bond faster than when one partner puts genuine thought into surprising the other. The key isn’t spending tons of money—it’s showing you’ve been paying attention to what makes him smile.

Learn a New Skill or Hobby Together

Something magical happens when couples step outside their comfort zones together and tackle a completely new challenge. I can tell you from experience that learning side-by-side creates an intimacy phones can’t replicate. When you’re both beginners, you’re equals again, laughing at mistakes and celebrating small victories together.

Take a class that interests both of you – pottery, cooking, dancing, or rock climbing. I’ve never seen couples bond faster than when they’re fumbling through salsa steps or trying to center clay on a wheel. The key is choosing something neither of you has mastered.

Try new activities monthly to keep this momentum alive. Learn photography together, start a garden, or tackle woodworking. These shared learning experiences create inside jokes, common goals, and memories that strengthen your connection far beyond any digital distraction.

Build Something Physical as a Team

The satisfaction of creating something tangible with your hands beats any digital achievement, and doing it together transforms a simple project into relationship gold. I can tell you that couples who build together develop unshakeable trust and communication skills.

When you make furniture together, you’re investing in your shared future while learning each other’s problem-solving styles. Start with these manageable projects:

• Floating shelves for your bedroom
• A simple coffee table using basic tools
• Raised garden beds for your patio
• Custom storage solutions for closets
• A headboard designed exactly how you want it

Design home renovations as a team, even if you’re just painting walls or installing new fixtures. I’ve never seen partners argue about small things after they’ve successfully navigated measuring twice and cutting once together.

Conclusion

You’ve got eight solid ways to ditch those screens and actually connect with your boyfriend. I can tell you from experience, these activities create bonds that scrolling through social media never will. Pick one tonight, put your phones in another room, and watch what happens. You’ll rediscover why you fell for each other in the first place. Your relationship deserves this kind of intentional attention, and you’ll both feel the difference immediately.