Long-distance relationships. We all know how difficult they can be and how rewarding they can become in the end. They don’t come easy for any couple, and a lot of hard work is required to make it through this type of relationship with a smile on your face at the end.
Luckily – you have this article! We’ve compiled a list of 10 ways to survive a long-distance relationship – read them carefully and find out what works best for you!
Make every moment count.
When you are in a long-distance relationship, every moment is precious.
Every phone call, every Skype session, and every letter means so much more than they would if you were living in the same town – and you will only realize this once you’ve been through a long-distance relationship.
You will cherish those moments, and you will be very careful to make the most out of every single one. Try focusing on these times of togetherness rather than dwelling on being away from one another.
When you’re in a long-distance relationship, especially when it’s your first time experiencing one, you might tend to feel lonely and sorry for yourself sometimes.
To fight this, try making every moment count.
This means being positive and making the most out of the little things!
Whether it be watching a movie together over Skype or cooking dinner together even though you aren’t eating at the same time – these moments will get you through each others’ tough times!
Whether you have been seeing each other for a long or short time, this rule still applies. If your partner is still with you and will be away from you for a few months, make sure you make every moment count – they will most likely feel the same. You’ll both want to make up for all the time you’ve been apart, and trust us – it’s not hard!
This is the time when you should lay your cards on the table and tell your partner how important they are to you.
You can spend as much time as possible with them, learning as much as you can about their hobbies and interests, making new memories that will last a lifetime – because this way, you’ll keep those moments fresh in your mind when they are gone. It will also make that time fly faster when you look back on it!
Try not to take anything for granted. Appreciate every small gesture from your significant other, even if it is as simple as saying “I love you” before going to bed. The smallest gestures go a long way in keeping you connected to your loved one.
Have some form of contact every day.
It is very easy to lose track of time in a long-distance relationship, especially if it’s your first time experiencing one. Every day can seem the same as the next, and before you know it – a week has passed. I remember those days from my own relationship!
Our advice is simple: have some form of contact every day.
This could be done in many ways: you can play games online, send each other funny pictures and videos, and write letters; the possibilities are endless!
The most important thing is that you try not to go for more than a day without talking to each other for too long. You’ll find that it’s very easy to lose track of time and space if you stop speaking with one another – and this will only make the situation worse.
This tip is essential, especially in the early stages – when things aren’t always going well – as these constant reminders can help you realize that you still have someone who loves and supports you!
Even if it is just a text or two or an email – try to have some form of contact with each other every day.
Skype dates are the best dates!
Skype (or FaceTime, if your partner is an Apple fan) dates are a great way of making the most out of these precious moments. They’re fun, and you can do them almost anywhere!
Whether it’s sitting on the couch watching a movie or cooking dinner together, I’m sure you’ll be able to find something that works!
If you decide to cook together, it could be an excellent opportunity for you guys to learn new recipes and discover what the other one likes. This way, you’ll also get excited about trying them yourself!
Try to have at least one video chat date per week – not only does this let the person on the other end see who they’re missing, but it will also give your relationship a certain ‘spark’ that you can’t get over the phone!
Keep things simple at first.
If you’re planning on introducing the long-distance element into your relationship, you must keep things simple at first.
As mentioned before, having video chat dates is a great way to start this type of relationship – but don’t go overboard!
Along with this, try not to plan too many activities or outings in the early stages.
Wait until you’ve settled into this new relationship and are entirely comfortable with seeing each other again soon. Doing so means keeping some excitement up for when you finally get to see each other.
Don’t immediately jump into deep conversations about what each of you is thinking about while apart – start by just talking casually, but always try to leave on some good note where both of you are happy.
If one of you is generally more on the sad side, try to remember always to be positive and talk about how great it will be when both of you are together again.
Having the right mindset is vital in any relationship, especially when you’re so far away!
Be honest.
Be honest. Be open. Long-distance relationships are complicated. There’s no denying that. However, there are some rules to make sure they work out for both people involved: one of them being honesty.
There’s no point in not speaking about how you’re feeling with your significant other – if they care for you, it won’t change anything. It will only make things worse by you bottling up all the emotions inside of you and inevitably having a breakdown at some point!
Remember that there are people on the other end listening who genuinely care about what you’re saying. So, even if it is hard to express exactly how you feel sometimes, let them know, especially if things seem to be going wrong between the two of you.
Hiding feelings can cause more trouble than good in the long run.
It might be difficult for some people to resist temptation when they’re away from the one they love, but if you clarify that this is not acceptable before they go on their trip (or whatever it may be), there won’t be any miscommunications.
Even if it feels like something small, always tell your significant other what you’re thinking about and how you feel about specific situations or decisions that come up while apart. If something bothers you, don’t hold back!
If there is a lot of distance between the two of you (like an ocean), trust me – it will be better to talk about these things now than later on down the line. Trust builds up over time, and you mustn’t lose sight of what you’re trying to build up.
If you do, this will lead to more significant problems in the future – so always remember: honesty is key!
Enjoy your alone time.
After spending some time together, it will be normal for you to miss the other person. It’s natural for this to happen, and it can even get worse if you’re used to seeing their face and cuddling up every day before the long-distance period began. However: embrace the alone time! There is no need to feel guilty about wanting to have a bit of ‘me time’ when you’re in a long-distance relationship – it’s perfectly normal, so don’t worry about anything.
Use this opportunity to do whatever makes YOU happy without having anyone there with you. Whether that means going out with friends or just taking a bath with your favorite candles around, enjoy being able to relax without too much pressure.
In the end, this will make you a happier person, and it’ll be easier to deal with your significant other being far away.
Enjoy these moments of solitude! While your significant other is far away, take the time to discover yourself again!
Explore different parts of your city, read books or see movies by yourself – most importantly: do things that only YOU want to do! You must find something in your life (whether a job or hobby) that contributes to your happiness and well-being. This way, when the two of you are together again, you will have an even greater appreciation for each other, no matter what happens between the two of you in the future. Stop thinking about them every second and revel in what this freedom gives you. You won’t get these moments back anytime soon, so take advantage of them!
Keep yourself busy.
I’ve seen in my own relationship that people tend to get too comfortable while they’re away from each other. When you have someone who means a lot to you far away, it can be easy to sit around and wait for them all the time.
While this might seem like the best idea at the time, think about what happens when your significant other comes back! If you spent every single day doing nothing but waiting for them, chances are it’ll be harder to get back into a routine together again once they’ve finally returned. They will probably feel guilty about making you spend your entire month ‘waiting’ for them without working or having fun yourself.
Instead, stay busy!
Don’t sit around doing anything but thinking about your significant other. This will help you keep things in perspective, and it’ll give you something to look forward to. You can look forward to seeing them again after every day of being busy!
Being busy is also a great way to not think about your significant other that is far away – and it doesn’t have to be anything physical.
You can try to keep yourself busy by going out with friends or doing a class while you’re apart. Even if it’s something as simple as cooking or going through all your favorite videos on YouTube, this will help distract you from thinking about the one you love and make the time go faster!
It’s important to remember that the more you’re focused on them, the more upset and sad you will become – so don’t let your mind wander too much!
Having a distraction is a great way to keep your mind off of your romantic partner.
Set some rules.
While you’re separated, it’s essential to set some ground rules that both of you can follow. This might change depending on why the two of you are apart (Christmas vs. moving away).
Ensure that the other person doesn’t cross lines you don’t want to be crossed, whether physically or emotionally! I know this might sound harsh, but sometimes it’s necessary to make yourself clear even if there is love between two people.
You should never feel like your significant other has all the power in your relationship; only then will things go smoothly once they’ve returned home again. Don’t wait around for them just because you have feelings for them – instead, remember what is best for yourself. It’s important to set boundaries and stick to them.
For example, you can say that you don’t want them to spend money on you while they are away, or that you want to spend some time apart from them every once in a while, or that you want to go on a date with them while they are away. Whatever is important to you, make sure it’s clear!
The more specific the rules are, the easier it will be for both of you to abide by them. You’ll both feel better once the rules are set in stone and written down somewhere.
Don’t let your relationship turn into a dependency.
While you might miss the person while they are far away, you should never forget about yourself while they are gone! It’s very easy to fall into this trap while you’re apart; it could come disguised as needing them for different things (emotional support, mental assistance, etc.).
Ask for help when you need it, but don’t let it get out of hand. Don’t expect that other person to solve all of your problems or fix all of your issues. You can only depend on yourself most of the time, and if you feel like you need someone else to help solve something, then ask for help from a close friend or relative who isn’t involved in the situation at hand.
You can also remind yourself during the more challenging times that you’ll see your significant other again – it might help to look at photos or watch videos of them online. This will give you something positive and fun to think about and distract you from the fact that they are gone!
Don’t rely on your significant other too much.
While it’s essential to stay connected, you don’t want their relationship to become a crutch for you.
It might be tempting just to spend time texting and talking online when they’re away. You can do that, but not all of the time! Make sure that you also take the time to spend some quality time with friends or family while you still have this opportunity.
Spending so much time by yourself waiting for someone else will only make the transition back into a routine or separation even more complicated than it needs to be. You don’t want to develop an unhealthy dependence on your partner. You might push them away in the end when they’re finally back if you haven’t found other sources of support.
Take this time to recharge your battery so you can give them more when they return home! Make sure that you’re able to spend time with other people that care about you. It will do you good, whether you’re together or not!
Remember that this is just temporary!
Remember that your long-distance relationship is just temporary. Even though it may feel like forever right now, remember that distance apart will only last for a short period (relatively speaking).
With enough effort and positive thoughts thrown into your relationship, the next time both of you see each other again, it will be even better than before! It will be like a fresh restart for both of you, and the happiness and effort you throw back into it will make sure things go much smoother than before.
It might be challenging now, but once you’ve made it through those hard times, then things will seem much better. Sometimes love isn’t easy, but holding onto that person won’t seem as tricky as it appears right now if you work hard enough at it.
Conclusion.
There we go – 10 ways to survive a long-distance relationship! Be sure to share this with your loved one, and keep in mind that these aren’t just helpful for you and your partner but also for any friends or family who may be supporting the two of you. Good luck with whatever hardships come your way!
Remember to focus on the positive more often than the negative. This will help keep your mind off what you’re missing out on while they are gone and make the time pass much faster – and more smoothly – in the end!
Marcella Raskin is the founder & editor-in-chief. She is a passionate and articulate writer who has dedicated her life to studying human potential. She has studied Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Life Purpose Coaching, Group Life Coaching. She loves helping women (and men) explore themselves through writing, which allows for an exploration into one’s thoughts on entrepreneurship or personal development topics such as mindset-shaping techniques that can positively shape someone’s perspectives about themselves when they don’t think it could ever happen! She practices sports and has studied Exercise Physiology. She is married and the mother of two girls.
