Whether it is work commitments, family obligations, time zone differences, or school and university responsibilities, there are plenty of reasons why you may in be a long-distance relationship.
To ensure you don’t lose contact with your loved ones, there are plenty of things you can do to strengthen the bonds between you and ensure your relationship lasts, as we detail here.
Technology is your best friend
Technology is a great asset to have when in a long-distance relationship. It allows us to stay connected in more ways than ever before. From traditional text messages to video calls and FaceTime dates, you can get as creative with technology as you want!
Sharing parts of your day with your loved ones in real-time is often the glue that helps to keep a relationship together. It also enables you to feel part of their life on a regular basis, even when you are a long way apart.
Be committed to the relationship
Make sure you are both committed to the relationship. Trust issues can really affect those in a long-distance relationship, especially if one of the individuals has moved away to pursue a new career or study.
The last thing you want to do is resent the person you’re going out with, especially if it means you’re missing out on carefree nights and meeting new people. If you’ve decided to give long-distance love a go, it’s important that you’re both on the same page and you’re both working towards the same goals.
Take time to sit down and discuss these goals and to make plans for the future, as this can strengthen the bond between you.
Plan an end date
Long-distance love isn’t always a bad thing, especially if you’re an independent person who loves to spend time apart from your other half.
Of course, this distance must come to an end at some point and it is important to accept that. If you have always dreamed of living in a specific city, make sure your other half is on the same page.
Similarly, make sure you’re both on the same page about how long the distance part of the relationship will last.
Quality not quantity
When planning dates or weekends away, it’s important to do just that – plan! Instead of simply booking a train or plane to the city your loved one lives in, plan a break, an activity, or an intimate dinner in your favourite restaurant.
It’s not about how long you spend together, it is about the quality of the time spent together.
Plan online dates
Just because you’re not in the same city (or even the same country), this doesn’t mean you can’t plan a date together. From hosting a movie night over FaceTime to a romantic dinner where you both order in a selection of your favourite food, use online video chat to your advantage.
You can even binge-watch shows with your loved one, and this gives you lots to talk about! Of course, you’re free to put in as much, or as little, effort as you want to, as it’s the spending time together virtually that really counts.
Check in frequently
From a quick call to a text message or a photo of what you had for breakfast, it’s important to check in often when you’re trying to keep the spark of a long-distance relationship going. Flirty, cute text messages are a must and something that will make your boyfriend or girlfriend smile.
From sharing funny memes to videos of things you’ve done as a pair, little reminders can help them to remember why you’re together.
Surprise them
Whether you send a bouquet of beautiful flowers to your loved one’s place of work, or jump on a train and deliver them yourself on a whim, it’s important to keep the suspense of your relationship going.
Thoughtful gestures are a great way to do this and can take very little effort. You can even order blooms online, meaning you have no excuse not to send your loved one a special gift every now and again.
Doing so will show them how much you care, and can provide a much-needed boost if you haven’t seen each other for a while.
Talk openly
When you’re in a long-distance relationship, it is common to have some doubts and experience a few trust issues, especially if you both have different schedules or are in completely different time zones.
With this in mind, it’s important to talk openly and honestly about your feelings, and do this over FaceTime or over the phone.
A lot of what is said over text can often be misconstrued, and that’s the last thing you want if you’re longing to strengthen your relationship!
Sources: time.com, womenshealthmag.com
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