Whether you are a college freshman who is trying to maintain your high school relationship or a mother of three who is in another state from her husband due to work-related restraints, long-distance relationships can be one of the most satisfying yet challenging relationships to maintain! From daily issues, such as constantly missing your loved one, to larger obstacles, such as planning trips to visit each other a couple of months beforehand, long-distance relationships require much more time and effort than “local” relationships do. The people who are involved in these types of relationships must be commended for their efforts, as they are both emotionally and physically draining, yet fulfilling relationships. In order to make this process for an ‘x’ amount of time easier, here are 3 tips to keep both your partner and you sane:
Communication
When issues arise or when you have happy news, communicate! It is the best way to both share joy, as well as avoid future issues. It is important to address what boundaries need to be made during this time away in order to avoid arguments or misunderstanding in the initial phase of your long-distance relationship. Simple communication tips could include not bottling up your feelings and speaking when your significant other, friend, or family member does not address your needs. This can significantly reduce the tension that is already present due to the distance between you two, and therefore this can be a HUGE tip for those who struggle to maintain their long-distance relationship!
Know the ‘End’ of Your Long Distance
This tip may apply more for those who are in a long-distance relationship with a partner, but can also work for those who have family or friends as it can truly ease the stress on both of you! Usually, someone who travels far away or chooses to live away will continue to keep in contact if they believe that they will one day live in the same vicinity again with you. Therefore, it is imperative to know when that day will be. This is especially important in times of stress, as distance can truly test the strength of a relationship due to hardships caused by the distance itself. It is comforting to realize that one day, this person will be reunited with you and the issues that seem impossible to solve due to the distance will be resolved! There will be something to look forward to, get excited for, and also allow you to cherish the bond between you two.
Pictures, pictures, and more pictures!
Long-distance relationships truly have a bad reputation amongst the general public due to their failure rates. But, this doesn’t have to be the case! In fact, these types of relationships can often be the best outlets for two people to grow as individuals and maintain their hobbies as they grow within their relationship — something that local relationships often put a strain on, as they require more “in-person” time. Therefore, since you cannot sit down and enjoy a meal with your long-distance partner, pictures are the way to go! Videos or pictures can often provide the gratification that is not usually there when there is a large amount of distance present between two individuals. So, videos and pictures are the answer because it can feel that you really are there with your partner and can increase the connection between you two. Whether it is a boring picture of your weeks old laundry piled up and waiting to be finished or a historical landmark you are visiting that day, send a picture to your long-distance buddy and bond over it!