Long distance relationships are one of the toughest things that couples might have to go through. Whether it be because you start off the relationship while on a visit to the same country or one couple lands a job far away, you might find yourself in a long-distance relationship right now. If you do, then you might be wondering just how you can deal with this tough situation. You definitely want to stay with your partner, but you might find yourself super frustrated and even angry at some points in this relationship.
That’s why this article is here to help. Below, you’re going to find the top tips for finding out how to make a long-distance relationship work. You should be getting as much advice on this as possible and getting tons of resources if you want to make this work. Read down below and share this with your partner to ensure you’re on the same page!
1. Realize Just How Beneficial Living in Different Time Zones Can Be
It might seem like a curse at first that you and your partner are living in separate time zones. It might be tough that the only time that you can find together to talk is late at night or early in the morning when you’re both awake. However, you should understand the great benefits that come with living in different time zones. You are going to learn a ton about patience and not pressuring your partner when you have to wait for them to wake up to talk. While you wait you will be able to contemplate over what brings you together. And when you do have those windows of time together, you are going to cherish it even more because it’s such a short amount of time.
2. Be Sure to Know When a Crisis Might Be Happening and What Kind of Response You Should Give It
There are tons of “crises” that might happen when you’re in a long-distance relationship that aren’t really true crises. You should be able to understand what a real crisis is and what kind of response it constitutes. If you think that every time you are a jealous about something your partner is doing constitutes a crisis, then this is going to make the relationship very rough.
3. Start Thinking About What Your Couple Identity Is
One of the best things that you can do for a long-distance relationship is determine what your couple identity is. Now, this might seem a bit weird at first, but as you go through a relationship, you will start to form an identity that’s a bit separate from your individual identities. You start to make up a person that’s the combination of the best parts of each of you. When you recognize what this identity is on a regular basis, you are more likely to stay together in the long-run.
4. You Might Have to Start Thinking About How Unreliable Communication Might Be
Sometimes it might be tough to get in touch with each other. Whether this be because you each have your own lives to look after or you just have unreliable methods of communication or Internet connection, this is something that you’re going to have to expect and get used to. The sooner you do this, the easier it’s going to be when you can’t reach your partner for a day or two because of spotty Wi-Fi.
5. Be sure Not to Communicate Too Often
It’s easy for every couple to think that they should communicate all the time when they don’t live close to each other. This would be the most common-sense thing to do, right? Wrong! You should try not to communicate with each other all of the time. That way, when you do communicate, you are going to cherish those moments even more. Those Skype dates you have every once in a while, are going to be super special.
6. Always Set Ground Rules to Manage Expectations
The first thing that you need to know when you enter a long-distance relationship with someone is to set ground rules which will help you manage expectations. These rules are going to help make sure that you both are on the same page and you don’t have higher expectations than one another. If these rules aren’t set, then someone is bound to get disappointed or angry/frustrated. These could be anything from when you will have your Skype dates to how often you’ll try to get together.
7. Do Things Together Whenever You Can
As much as you can, try to get together and do something special. This may be tough if you are a plane ticket away from each other, but if you can get together on a regular basis, be sure to do this and make it special! Go on a date to a place you’ve never been, go to an exotic location, just hang out and Netflix & chill, or you can order a wine basket to share between the two of you.
8. Send Over Personal Gifts on A Regular Basis
Another great thing that you can do for each other in a long-distance relationship is to send over personal gifts on a regular basis. This is something that’s going to keep that flare going like no other. When you surprise that special someone with a basket of their favorite chocolates in the mail, then they are going to love that so much.
9. Think About What Your Goal as A Couple Is Going to Be
You should always have a goal as a couple if you’re going to be getting into a long-distance relationship. This could be the goal of just getting through another year of this distance and then getting together again in a new city. Or it could be the goal of marrying each other within a certain amount of time. Make sure that you both have this goal together. That way, you’re going to be able to reach for it together and have the same expectations.
10. Don’t Be Afraid to Enjoy Your Time Alone
Your time in a long-distance relationship is your time to enjoy your time being alone. You don’t have the pressure of always being with your boyfriend or girlfriend. You can feel free to go out on a walk by yourself, spend time reading a good book, or spend some quality time with your friends and family members.
There you have it! Long distance relationships can be one of the toughest things in the world, but they can also work out in the end. If you put work into it and really believe in you both as a couple, you can definitely get through it!
