Although long-distance relationships are not always ideal, now more than ever, many couples are finding themselves dealing with these tough circumstances. The amount of people torn away from their significant other has dramatically increased since the pandemic first occurred, and although at first, it may be difficult to comprehend, most of these situations are not permanent. Dr. Randy Schroeder, author of ‘Simple Habits for Marital Happiness’, stated that ‘“The goal of every gratifying relationship is to have a strong ‘oneness.’ Long distance relationship couples must understand that it will require more work to stay connected in order to prevent even small cracks in their [relationship’s] foundation.”To make it just that little bit easier, this article will explain 5 tips which may help make the distance work.
Communication is Key
In order to be confident in the relationship, both parties should be able to talk openly and honestly with one another, as bottling in doubts may cause even more tension which can be detrimental to an LDR. Having the skill to express your feelings without being face to face is important.
Make The Most of Technology
Technology certainly has its downfalls, but it can be great for couples when they are apart. Taking the time out of the day to FaceTime one another will enable you to feel a sense of closeness to your partner that cannot be achieved through texting or calling. It might be an idea to even cook, eat, clean, or watch films together through video chat in order to make the distance feel as little as possible.
The Time Frame
In order for an LDR to be successful, both must have the mutual desire to stay together long term, and thus it is important to recognize how long the distance may last as it is rarely sustainable permanently. By doing so, you and your significant other will be able to plan for the future and set goals, which can motivate a relationship to get through the difficulties of not being physically together.
Boundaries
Every LDR couple is different, so where one might be happy with 2 calls a week and a few texts a day, some may expect multiple FaceTimes and continuous updates. Work out how often you want to stay in touch before the distance starts, as having different opinions on this can make a relationship hard.
Don’t Live Life on Pause
Although it is easy to just live for the rare weekends where you may be able to meet up, it is important that this long-distance doesn’t consume you. Both parties should make an effort to continue their own lives as normal as possible instead of mourning about what times may have been beforehand. It is normal to be excited to see each other again, but don’t let the countdown consume you.
