How To Keep Relationships Going Long Distance

Long distance relationships can be difficult. There’s often a lack of physical intimacy and depending on both of your schedules, you may not always be able to talk to your partner when you want to. If it’s a new relationship, the distance can also make it challenging to get to know each other. Despite these challenges, long distance relationships can work. Here are a few tips to keep your relationship going long distance.

1. Be creative and have dates online. You can have creative dates even though you’re not physically together. Try a virtual date idea, such as cooking the same meal together or going on a virtual museum tour. Since the pandemic, there has been an increase in the number of virtual activities offered by different companies. You can even try a virtual escape room. These sorts of activities keep your relationship exciting and gives you something to look forward to. There are some things you’ll have to plan in advance, but you can also be spontaneous about it.
2. Plan to meet up in person every so often. Long distance relationships don’t mean that you never see each other. Depending on how far you are from each other and how expensive it is to travel to each other, you can plan visits every so often. If it’s very costly for one person to travel all the way to the other, you can make plans to meet in the middle or to meet at a completely different destination, where you can go on vacation together.
3. Don’t spend all day talking to each other. When you’re far away from each other, you should definitely make time to catch up via text, phone call, or FaceTime. However, you don’t need to do it all day and you definitely shouldn’t! It’s important to give each other space and do your own thing. That way, you’ll have more interesting things to talk about when you do talk. You’ll also miss each other more, so talking will be that much more special. Relationships taking place long distance need space just like ones taking place in closer proximity.
4. Give each other a gift to hold onto. You may not be able to hold onto each other as often as you’d like, but you can gift each other something that you can hold onto. This can be something that reminds you of the other person or just a sweet gift. Some ideas are a digital photo frame with photos of the two of you together, a teddy bear or a piece of jewelry. There are even special long distance gifts, such as a pair of touch bracelets which vibrates when one person touches theirs.
5. Have an end date in mind. If you have an end date in mind, it may make your relationship a bit easier. Knowing that it won’t be long distance forever can motivate you to make your relationships work. Discuss how and when you might be able to close the gap, whether that means that one of you has to make the move or you both move to a different location.

More ways to keep relationships going long distance

1. Communicate in different ways. It can feel routine if you’re only communicating using one method. To spice things up, try communicating in different ways. If you’re always on the phone, try video calling instead. Or, go the old-fashioned route and write each other love letters. It gives your relationship variety and keeps things exciting.
2. Know each other’s schedules. It’s important that you know each other’s schedules so that you can optimize your communication. This is especially true if you’re very far apart and there’s a time zone difference. You don’t want to be disturbing each other up at 3 a.m. or in the middle of a business meeting for no good reason. This can get frustrating and is a guaranteed way to bring the relationship to an end faster.
3. Keep track of each other’s social media profiles. Seeing someone else’s photos and videos can make you feel like you’re right there with them. So, post on social media and keep track of each other’s profiles. Also, post about each other to show the other person that you care about them and that you want the world to know you’re together.
4. Be honest and open with each other. This advice works for any relationship, but it’s especially important in long distance relationships. Talk about your feelings of fear and jealousy (there’s bound to be some when you’re physically apart). Don’t try to deal with things on your own. Give your partner the satisfaction of helping you when you need it.
5. Have a relationship bucket list. One way to keep your long distance relationships going strong is by having things to look forward to. Maybe you want to try a particular virtual date, read the same book, or travel somewhere together. Add it to your bucket list and start checking things off.