Long-distance relationships are complicated, and it’s no wonder why so many people say that they don’t work. But with the right mindset and some effort on your part, you can ensure that your long-distance relationship is thriving and healthy. Learn how to keep your long-distance relationship strong with these 10 tips and tricks!
Long-distance relationships are complicated, but that doesn’t mean you should give up on them without trying to make them work. While there’s no one surefire way to make your long-distance relationship last, there are plenty of techniques and tools you can use to keep your relationship going strong when you’re not able to be physically present with your partner. These 10 steps will help you make your long-distance relationship last, even if it requires some hard work and patience on both of your parts.
How Do You Keep Your Connection In A Long-Distance Relationship?
Keeping your relationship strong while you’re apart will take more than a little hard work, but luckily, there are many simple ways you can do it. From staying in touch through technology to finding fun things for both of you to do without each other’s physical presence, there are lots of tricks that long-distance couples use every day! Check out these tips and keep your LDR from falling apart.
What Kills A Long-Distance Relationship?
Many people have a hard time maintaining a long-distance relationship because they never create strong enough ties in the first place. Sure, it’s easy to talk on Skype every night, but you will eventually fall out of love with your partner without a real connection. So you must stay connected in more ways than one if you want to make sure that your relationship doesn’t fizzle out over time.
Ways To Maintain A Long-Distance Relationship
Long-distance relationships (LDRs) can be complicated, no matter how much you love your partner or are committed to making it work. Maintaining that relationship can be even more complex when a significant distance separates you, and you do not get to see each other as often as possible.
This guide will help you maintain the best long-distance relationship possible by outlining ten ways to keep your LDR strong while living apart from your partner.
Talk Every Day
It’s easy for you and your significant other to get wrapped up in work, school, friends, and family when you’re apart. You might feel like you do not have time to stay connected. But talking with each other every day makes it easier for you to keep on top of things back home. It also helps you fight off homesickness. And even if you can only talk for a few minutes at a time, make sure it happens daily.
A long-distance relationship is hard enough without adding extra distance between you and your partner. Don’t forget about physical intimacy: Sure, you miss being able to see each other all the time. But that does not mean you should stop having sex! There are plenty of ways to express love and affection through touch—and sex is one of them.
So take advantage of technology (Skype, anyone?) or schedule a visit so that you can enjoy some face-to-face time together.
Understand The Challenges
Before starting a long-distance relationship, make sure you know what you’re getting into. Many couples assume that distance will not be an issue because they love each other and share a desire for commitment. But for your LDR to work, both of you have to invest time, energy, and trust into making it successful.
Be aware of some of these challenges that could affect your relationship before deciding whether or not an LDR is right for you. Approximately 10% of all relationships are considered long-distance at any given time (National Science Foundation). If you want to cancel one of these statistics, you need to plan and set yourself up for success.
So if you’re going to stay connected with your significant other while apart, try following these tips:
Communicate Your Feelings Openly
Even if you’re in a long-distance relationship, you should always feel comfortable expressing your feelings and thoughts to your partner. Communication is a crucial part of any relationship, even if you can’t be physically present. If something’s bothering you or you want to tell your significant other how much they mean to you, try picking up that phone call or sending them a quick text message.
You might be surprised at how much better they make you feel just by knowing they care. It’s also essential to realize that there are ways for you and your significant other to stay connected without relying on technology. For example, set aside time every day where you can talk about what happened during your day—even if it was only one small thing.
This way, no matter how far apart you are from each other, it will feel like you were together throughout your day; it will help you feel closer despite being apart.
Don’t Lose Yourself In Your Partner
Just because you’re in a relationship doesn’t mean you have to stop being who you are or lose your sense of individuality. A long-distance relationship doesn’t exist in a vacuum; keep your other friendships and interests alive. And don’t forget about yourself: spend time on hobbies that bring you joy, whether they involve meeting new people or keeping up with old friends back home.
You can also use these extra hours for self-improvement—whether learning a new skill or simply taking some time for exercise. The more independent you feel when you’re apart from your partner, the easier it will be to stay connected when you’re together again.
Get Help If Needed
If you’re struggling with a long-distance relationship, there are plenty of options. Help is available if you need it. If you aren’t getting enough support from friends and family or your partner isn’t pulling their weight, consider finding a couples counselor who can help keep things on track. You can also reach out to your local library for book recommendations on overcoming LDR challenges.
Don’t try to go it alone! As difficult as they may be, distance relationships can be fulfilling—if you put in some effort. The key is communication; make sure you stay connected even when apart. A little bit of planning goes a long way. Whether that means sharing calendars,
Skyping regularly, texting when possible, or writing letters (old school!), use every tool at your disposal to keep each other close even when apart. Plan trips together; schedule regular check-ins; make time for one another. Technology makes it simple than ever to stay connected—don’t let geography get in the way of maintaining a meaningful relationship!
Spend Time Apart To Miss Each Other
This may sound counterintuitive, but you mustn’t spend every waking moment together—it will be much easier for your partner to break up with you if you’re constantly underfoot. Schedule plenty of alone time for each other so that it’s quality time—not just laundry or TV sessions when you are together. Get on a schedule:
We all have busy lives these days, and keeping separate programs can help bring you closer. If you know what your partner is doing at any given time, you’ll feel less anxious about them and more secure in your relationship. For example, knowing they have a class during their lunch hour will make them less likely to run into their ex-boyfriend at Chipotle.
Make sure they understand what you’re doing, too; setting up regular check-ins ensures both parties are happy with how things are going among them. Don’t hide anything from each other: Honesty is critical in any good relationship, especially one that spans multiple states or countries.
Communication will keep you honest (and sane) throughout your long-distance love affair, so plan out some time to talk regularly (Skype dates work well) and be as transparent as possible about where you are and what you’re doing. Communicate by phone/text/email: It doesn’t matter how often you talk or text—do it regularly!
Use Social Media Wisely
Learn how to use social media wisely. The internet is a fantastic thing and can be an excellent way for you and your partner to feel closer even when you’re apart. Social media can also have its drawbacks, so learn how to make sure it works for you rather than against you.
For example, if you know that seeing your partner’s face on Facebook every day will only lead to feelings of jealousy or resentment, don’t follow them! Instead, find another outlet—for example, sending each other silly pictures or funny links via text message.
This way, you won’t feel like you need constant updates from one another to stay connected, instead of using social media as a backbone that keeps you from actually talking on the phone or video chatting more often. Also, remember that sometimes, less is more: Turn off push notifications so you aren’t tempted to check your phone every time something happens.
And remember: It doesn’t matter what people think of your relationship. If some friends disapprove because they believe you should break up already, then they aren’t worth having around anyway.
Trust Your Gut Feeling
If things do not feel right, then it probably isn’t. One of you may have second thoughts about your long-distance relationship. Some people can hide their emotions well, so don’t rely solely on words. If you want to know what someone else is thinking, look at their body language and facial expressions. Take a long walk together or share a meal; doing things together will help get you in sync.
This can be hard if you do not see each other often. In that case, consider talking by phone every day as part of your daily routine. When one person feels stressed out or unhappy, talk about it with each other. Don’t keep secrets from each other just because you are far apart physically. Communicate how much time you need to miss each other before your feelings become resentful.
Try not to spend too much time alone. Make sure you also spend some quality time with friends and family nearby. You might feel like spending all your free time together when away from home, but it is vital to take care of your body and maintain relationships with those around you.
Learn From Others’ Mistakes
The more you learn about others’ mistakes, whether through personal experience or by reading articles and studies, the better you can avoid them yourself. If you want your long-distance relationship to last, you must minimize mistakes and maximize growth. We have composed together a list of our top 10 ways for doing just that: keep reading for tips and tricks on keeping your distance relationships alive!
Celebrate Alone Time
So you’re in a long-distance relationship—congratulations! Now comes a significant challenge: remembering that your partner is not actually with you all of the time. If you constantly think about them, take advantage of some alone time and don’t feel guilty about it. You can have fun celebrating your own life by doing something nice for yourself, or even just relaxing on your own at home.
Remembering that you are an individual helps keep things in perspective when you start to miss your partner terribly. This doesn’t mean you should spend every day apart like two ships passing in the night; it simply means taking opportunities to get back into your routine and having a little me time.
It will help you remember that there is more to life than just being in a relationship, which will make you appreciate being together even more. And, who knows? Maybe you’ll enjoy spending some time by yourself so much that you won’t want to see your partner again. That would be a problem… but we digress.
Final Point On 10 Ways to hold Long Distance Relationships Strong
The best way to keep your long-distance relationship healthy is, to be honest with your partner. Let them know how you’re feeling and how they can help make it better. If you communicate well, you’ll be able to avoid many common issues that plague most relationships, even if they’re not in different cities or states!
Do you think you have enough or too few ways to hold long-distance relationships strong? Leave your thought in the comment section below!
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