Tips for Maintaining a Healthy Long Distance Relationship*

In the age of Internet dating it’s inevitable that a lot of us will at one point of our lives end up in a long distance relationship. Some of us might start out in a long distance relationship while others may have to adapt to one later on in their relationship due to work or other commitments. A lot of people automatically think the relationship is doomed from the second you put miles between you, but in the age of instant connection through texts, emails and social media that doesn’t need to be the case.

Many years ago people coped with long distance relationships due to war, or simply because they could find a better job further away and all they had back then was the trusty pen and paper. If our ancestors could cope. So can we.

If you’re just starting on the road of online dating and you’re not sure you’re ready for a long distance relationship it’s worth checking out local dating sites, for example if you’re looking to date Guernsey singles you should try the Guernsey Dating Site. Or if you’re looking for someone a bit more age specific why not try Mature Guernsey Dating?

But if you know you’re going to be long distance now or even if the future, here are some tips to help you maintain a healthy long distance relationship;

Set Some Ground Rules

From the start you need to set some ground rules. You have to put faith and trust in your partner to avoid going crazy with worst case scenarios. Set aside a time a day where you talk, be it through a phone call or face to face through Skype. Try to pick a time you can easily stick to so you don’t end up letting each other down. Manage you expectations. It’s unfair to expect your partner or your partner to expect you to be in contact every second of every day.

Do “Things” Together

When I was in a long distance relationship we tried to do stuff together.. like listen to the same music (we had a playlist) or watch a movie at the same time and text each other. It made us feel like we were together even when we weren’t. You could take a walk together by video calling while out and about or make it more risque and video call while taking a bath!

Be Honest

Nothing destroys a relationship faster than lies and deceit and that’s all relationships, not just long distance. If you won’t be around to reply to messages or answer calls, discuss and reassure, if you’re going out talk it over. You have to be honest about your feelings and communicate things clearly as it’s so easy for things to be misconstrued. If one person feels insecure things will start to unravel fast.

Plan in Your Physical Time Together

The most important thing in a long distance relationship in my opinion is planning the time when you’ll see each other. Be it every weekend, every other weekend, once a month. Make sure you plan it so you can count down together. Knowing when you’ll see each other next is so important for keeping the relationship alive. If they are visiting you, plan something special. It’ll really heighten the excitement.

Long distance isn’t a death sentence for your relationship, with honesty and open communication, it can survive anything.