To say that COVID-19 has put a bit of a strain on your love life is a major understatement.

Either you and your sweetie have been cooped up together for months on end and you never realized just how loudly he chews his food, or if one or both of you are on the front lines working, you may be putting in tons of overtime and are rarely at home at the same time.

Whether you are seeing each other too much or not nearly enough, there is definitely a strain on your intimate lives. But here’s some good news: Despite the fact that we are living in a pandemic, you can get your usually-loving relationship back on track.

Consider the following practical, fun and flirty tips:

1. Go Visit Mother Nature

Getting out of the house and being together in the great outdoors is a great way for couples to reduce their stress levels while reconnecting. Take your dog for a long walk, ride bikes together, pull some weeds in the garden or jog over to that new coffee shop and get iced lattes to go. This literal change of scenery will be good for both you and your relationship.

2. Suggest Some New Bedroom Activities

If your intimate relations have felt a tad ho-hum as of late, it’s probably time to add some figurative spice to your love life. For instance, you recently recalled that your sweetie once mentioned that it would be fun to try your own cosplay costumes in the bedroom. Take this idea and run with it, and surprise him with some sexy role play costumes from an online retailer such as 3Wishes.com. The Pixie Tink or Wonder Lady costume will probably be very well-received and will help to heat things up again at night.

3. If You Are Apart, Focus on Communication

For couples who rarely see each other, you may miss seeing your sweetie on a regular basis. The silver lining to this situation may be an enhanced emphasis on communication. Instead of talking face to face, you may be able to take part in texting sessions while on a work break or scheduling a face time call when you can. You may find that spending this time communicating without a lot of physical contact will allow you to really learn more about your partner and bring you closer together as a couple.

4. Plan Your First Date, Take Two

Another fun way to rekindle your romance is by revisiting your first date. Start by making a list together about the many things you loved about that special afternoon or evening; you may surprise each other with what you remember. Then, try to recreate this first date as much as you can. Granted, you may not be able to go to the eatery if it is now closed or is in another state, and theaters may not be open, let alone showing the movie that you saw. But do the best you can to have a similar meal and rent the movie to watch cuddled up under a blanket. The memories of this great night and how it led to your current relationship will make for a romantic walk down memory lane.

Rekindling Love is More than Possible

Yes, this last year has been immensely difficult, including for your relationship. But any negative feelings you may be having about your partner do not necessarily mean anything is seriously wrong. By adding some flirty fun to your bedroom activities, getting outside together, re-doing your first date and focusing on communicating, the two of you will be back to normal in terms of your loving feelings in no time.