Travel nursing enables you to explore various locations, meet people, and discover new sights. However, you can’t always do it with loved ones in tow. Most of the time, travel nurses go to their assignments without their friends and loved ones for weeks or months at a time, which can be a challenging and lonely experience: at times, you’ll miss milestones, holidays, and special occasions.

But being away from home doesn’t mean you have to miss out on quality family time. Thanks to modern technology and a dash of creativity, there are many ways to stay connected and make memories together, despite the distance.

In this article, we share some fun family activities that you can do with loved ones while you’re away on a travel nursing assignment. Cheers to keeping the love alive from afar!

Fun things to do with your family from afar

Discover the joy of playing an online game together

Playing games together can be a great way to bond with your family, not just to have fun but also to encourage learning through play, enhance problem-solving skills, and improve cognitive performance, which can be especially important for families with younger children. Gaming can also foster communication among family members, serving as a platform for positive encouragement.

If you’re looking to explore online gaming with your loved ones, find a game that you can all enjoy. Contrary to what non-gamers might think, gaming is not just for the young people in the family. There’s a plethora of games that you can explore, including online versions of classic board games such as Monopoly, Uno, and Chess, and newer (and popular) multiplayer games, such as Overcooked, Among Us, Minecraft, and Stardew Valley.

Send care packages

Create a tradition with your loved ones of sending one another care packages while you’re away. Sending a care package filled with items and knick-knacks for your loved ones is a fun and heartfelt way to express your affection and appreciation. Curating a care package for your family can be an enjoyable experience that encourages you to check out local shops to fill your box with items for your family. And imagine the joy and excitement you’ll feel when you receive a curated care package in the mail after a stressful day at work! If you decide to send multiple care packages for the duration of your travel nursing assignment, you can decide on themes for the care packages you’ll make. You can create packages with items in their favorite color, creating the perfect snack box, or items that can be used for a cozy night in.

Send handwritten letters

Travel nurses understand that staying connected, maintaining mindful communication, and being open are crucial to nurturing relationships from a distance. And something that perfectly signals that is a handwritten letter — a form of communication that allows the sender to sit down and put pen to paper. It’s an intimate form of communication that encourages you to share your thoughts and feelings with your loved ones, enabling them to feel valued and cared for.

Do an online class together

Doing an online class together can foster better communication and let you discover new things about one another. And the wonderful thing about it is that you don’t have to be in the same room to take a class together. You can take online classes with friends and family members on platforms such as Skillshare, Coursera, and even YouTube.

You can do an online cooking class as a couple to help you develop or enhance life skills (and expand your food prep menu), or do daily Pilates or Yoga on YouTube.

Make vacation plans

Studies show that the mere act of planning vacations can make you feel happy — sometimes, even happier than actually going on it. Plan an upcoming vacation with your family members by creating a board composed of specific places you’d like to visit in the country you’re going to, things you’d like to eat, and items you’d like to buy.