The short answer is yes. But, they can be a strain and leave you feeling lonely. But, there are ways to deal and have success. Check out the following tips and navigate the rough waters of long distance relationships with confidence.
Having long distance relationships can be stressful and put a lot of strain on both parties involved. Being with someone without actually being with them is never fun. Whether it is because of work, school, or whatever, having to go a long time without seeing your loved one is tough. However, you do not have to let the strain of being apart ruin your relationship. There are many ways to overcome the distance. Here are our top 5 tips to help your relationship continue to thrive and take loneliness out of the equation:
1. Establish Communication
Communication is even more important for long distance relationships so you need to make sure you have a reliable way to talk to your love. Snail mail with letters is one way and can be romantic in some cases. But thanks to the advancements in technology, video calling and phone chats are great. Try to talk daily. For example, Francisco and I talk everyday, but I also send him care packages every now and then with things I think he’ll love inside. Even though we talk everyday, it’s a nice change for him to receive a little long distance love from me, especially since he never knows when they’re coming. Try mixing the methods you use and keep it interesting. Have dinner or watch a movie “together”. It's not the same as actually being in each other’s presence, but it helps.
2. Plan to Meet
Having something to look forward to can help pass the time, and planning to meet up when you are both available is important. In a lot of long distance relationships, the two parties involved are able to meet up at least a couple times each year. Meeting up will help remove the loneliness of your relationship and also make dealing with it a lot easier. Make sure you use this time to enjoy each other's company and appreciate the few moments you'll have together. If you do need to discuss something serious, don’t discuss as soon as your boo gets off the plane. Let them soak in their environment first (whether it’s home or not).
3. Build a Hobby
Having something you can do together is a great way to keep your relationship strong, regardless of the distance. If you’re in a long distance relationship, it should ideally be something you can do over the internet. However, more conventional hobbies can still be used and you can talk to each other about the progress you have made. In the beginning of this year, Francisco and I spent a couple weeks planning our goals. It’s nice because we can keep each other accountable, and we always have things to talk about.
4. Surprise Each Other
When in a long distance relationship, it can be difficult to maintain the spark that brought the two of you together. Routines hurt a lot of relationships, and in a long distance one, it is even more difficult to break up those routines. So plan to surprise your partner. If you are able, take a trip and give them a visit. Just be sure to find out your boo's schedule (secretly of course) so they're not too busy when you get there.
5. Capture Moments
Even if the two of you are not together, sharing important moments of your life is a good way to keep your relationship strong. Share photos of occasions that have happened, and keep your partner in the loop about your life. Even if they are not physically with you, they can still be a part of your life through these shared moments. While social media has made this easier, you don’t want your partner to see it online. Send them the photo yourself via WhatsApp or iMessage, and say something cute.
Being in a long distance relationship is a challenge, far more so than a normal relationship. But like all other issues in a relationship, distance is still nothing more than an obstacles to overcome, something to strengthen your bond so that when you finally do get back together, you will both be happier.
These tips may not help with all the problems associated with your relationship, but they should help ease them by making it easier to cope with the distance separating the two of you. As long as you keep on working at it, your relationship will remain strong.
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