Long-distance relationships are anything but easy. Whether you’re a few hours drive apart or a plane ride- being apart from your significant other for long periods is tough. We all know the saying, distance makes the heart grow fonder, but long-distance relationships often leave us wondering if that’s the case. Relationships are complicated as it is and add in a far distance, and you’ve got yourself another whole situation. However, if you’re with the right person, distance shouldn’t mean so much. It’s not going to be any less stressful, but it’s going to be tolerable. Because at the end of the day you’re making it work with the person you love, and no distance can stop that.
There are a few ways you can go about making a long distance relationship work. First and foremost, communication is critical. Communicating with your partner when they’re hours away is just as important as communicating with them when they’re right next to you. Update them on your day, keep them in the loop, and be open and honest about how you’re feeling. The only thing that’s going to make long-distance harder is if you keep secrets and don’t communicate openly.
It’s also important to set some ground rules. It’s not fair if one person is always the one to make the trip over to see each other. So make a schedule so that you both are putting in equal effort to see one another. If there’s a time difference, figure out a plan at the beginning of the relationship, so you know when to talk and that no one is ever left hanging.
Set goals for your relationship. A long distance relationship with no end in sight is going to be difficult. If the long-distance is temporary, set a time goal for however long you’re going to be apart and make it a goal to reach the end. If you’re unsure of how long you’re going to be doing long distance, set goals for things you will do together that require spending more time together, such as vacations and holidays.
Learn to enjoy your time alone. If you’re going from spending all your time with your significant other to only seeing them once in a while, it’s going to be a tough adjustment. Learn to love doing things alone that you previously would have done with your significant other, such as going out to eat and shopping. If you don’t learn to enjoy the time you have to spend alone, it’s going to be that much harder to deal with the long-distance and being apart for more extended periods.
Surprise them. Little gestures can go along way in any relationship, but especially in long distance relationships. A simple card for no reason will give someone a reason to smile for the day, and flowers will make someone’s week. Better yet, a surprise visit will keep your relationship new and exciting.
Long-distance relationships are tough, but they certainly are doable. The saying goes: distance means so little when someone means so much, and it’s true. If you’re with the right person, it doesn’t matter how far apart you may be.
