Long Distance Valentine's Day Ideas: 8 Ways To Make Feb. 14 Special Even If You're Miles Apart

If you're not in the same city as your partner for Valentine's Day, you're not alone. There are entire online communities dedicated to long distance relationships, and 75 percent of American college students reported being in a long-distance relationship at some point, according to statistics site FiveThirtyEight.

Still, not being with your special someone can especially stinks on Valentine's Day. Here are some ideas to help you feel less lonely and much closer (in spirit, although perhaps not in physical distance) with your loved one.

The classics:

• Enjoy a romantic dinner over Skype. You don’t have do a lazy fast-food dinner in sweatpants just because you’re in a long distance relationship. Wash your hair, light some candles, put on your new date-night outfit and cook dinner (or order in some fancy steak and pretend like you cooked). Then open the Merlot, flip open your laptop and ring up your significant other over Skype. It’s almost as good as the real thing.
• Have a movie marathon. Do you two have a favorite film or a favorite series? Start playing those "Harry Potter" flicks for the 37th time and share your commentary with your partner over the phone.
• Send a gift. It doesn’t have to be chocolates or flowers, although those will do just fine. Can you think of anything sentimental that your partner might want? An old movie ticket from your first date? A book that you know he or she loves? Or go above and beyond and give your significant other an entire care package: Food, wine, coffee, lotion — the works.

Get creative:

• Put together a mix tape. Or a mix CD. Or just a really good playlist, and send it your partner’s way. Remember to think about your partner’s taste in music, no matter how high-brow or eclectic yours is.
• Write a love letter. You may not be William Shakespeare or John Donne. But, hey, you can try to be. Check out Pablo Neruda or John Keats for inspiration.

Use technology:

• Surprise your significant other by ordering unusual or exotic food through UberEats or Seamless to his or her apartment.
• Download Snapchat, and send your partner some photos that you wouldn’t want your grandparents to see.

Or:

Postpone Valentine’s Day. Who said you had to celebrate on Feb. 14? Celebrate March 14. Or May 30. Or August 5. It’s a day for you, after all, and there’s nothing more romantic than doing it your own way.