Don’t attempt to wing it – to help you make the most of your long distance Christmas Day, Garbutt recommends having a clear idea of how you’re going to celebrate together.

“Make sure that you have clear times set when you can meet online,” she recommends. “Between those times, give yourself something in common to talk about. Watch some fun stuff on YouTube, listen to a piece of music that means something to you or chat about your Christmas memories from when you were very young. Favourite toys, food or family traditions are also great topics of conversation.”

If you want to mix things up, why not have a go at playing a verbal game like 20 Questions or Pancakes vs Waffles? If you’re struggling to feel festive, it’s a good way to lighten the mood and take your minds off of things. 

It’s easy to feel disconnected when you’re not physically with your partner but doing things that unite you can help to strengthen that bond.

“You could choose to cook and eat the same food, watch a film together or read a book and tell each other about your feelings and reactions to it,” Garbutt recommends.

To make watching a film together that little bit easier, make sure you download the Chrome extension Netflix Party, which allows you to watch a show at the same time as your date via the internet. Not only does it remove the stress of trying to press play at the exact same time, it also means you can pause at crucial moments and discuss what you’ve watched.

Try not to hide away from how you’re feeling – being long distance at Christmas can be difficult, and it’s OK to verbalise how you’re feeling to your partner. In fact, Garbutt suggests setting aside a specific time in your day to share those emotions.

“Have sharing times when you just listen to one another without comment,” she recommends. “You might say what you’re missing about the other person or about anything you are experiencing. Just sit and listen or ask if there is anything else they have going on.”

Christmas is a time for celebration, so try to make some time in your day to focus on the positives, too. To do this, Garbutt recommends a simple exercise.

“Each time you meet, tell each other something that you’re grateful for, something you appreciate about the other person and something you’re patting yourself on the back for,” she says.

Not only can practising gratitude help to boost both your moods, but it’s another great way to connect with each other even when you’re apart.

One of the worst bits about being long distance due to coronavirus is not knowing when you’ll see each other again, so looking forward to a future where you’ll be able to do that is a great way to boost both of your moods.

“Make plans for when you are together,” Garbutt suggests. “These can be absolutely practical and obviously doable or you could share fantasies about things that you would really love to do in your life, both together and individually.”

If you fancy making it into a little activity, you could even put together a series of lists with ideas for things you want to do when the pandemic is over, such as dream trips and extravagant date ideas.