5 Things to do to Make a Long Distance Relationship Work*

In the year of 2021, there are so many different kinds of relationships that are completely normalised, one of which is of course, the long distance relationship. Long distance relationships can occur for many different reasons, different life paths, job ops that are too good to pass up, or just not in a situation, financial or other to move to be together at one point or another. Thankfully, we also live in the day and age where it’s much easier to maintain a long distance relationship, than it was say even 10 years ago. Thanks to technology, the internet and even social media, it’s much easier to stay in touch with your other half to the point that a relationship while being miles apart is completely feasible, at least on a temporary basis.

Here are 5 things to do to make a long distance relationship work;

Keep Communication Open

The number one thing to do is keep communication open. 99% of a long distance relationship is talking as you’re not in a position to sit in comfortable silence and simply be together. If you and your partner struggle to communicate with each other, even if that’s just the type of personality you both have, it’ll be harder to make work. It’s so easy for words and actions to be misconstrued when you’re not together in person so you have to be able to easily communicate with one another. You can’t shut down or shut someone out as it can lead to so much heart ache. Take it from someone who knows. But if you can be open and talk about absolutely everything, there is a good chance you’ll make this work. You have to remember, with long distance, everything has to be resolved through talking not actions. You can’t just leave someone or read, or dodge their calls when there is no chance of your partner seeing you, it’s just cruel.

Make Time For One Another

You have to make time for one another. Yeah sometimes the idea of sitting on the phone for hours on end, even Facetime can seem like a waste of the day, especially if you lead a busy life, but it’s important that it’s part of your day or your week. It goes without saying to keep your relationship healthy, you have to make time to spend together, just as you would in a normal relationship. Taking someone for granted that they’ll wait around for you is such a dangerous game to play even without the distance. You have to make each other feel wanted, even if you can’t be there physically.

Try Find Ways to Make Intimacy Work

And speaking of being together physically.. if you’re in the kind of long distance relationship where you don’t see each other regularly, you have to try and make intimacy work. It might feel embarrassing at first but couples need an intimate connection and again, thankfully we live in a year where there is a market for “do it yourself” sex. While it has been common practice for girls to have toys, whether they’re single or in a relationship, since that infamous Sex and the City episode about Charlotte and the rabbit these days there is a market for male masterbators too. Yes, getting yourself off while you watch your partner do the same probably isn’t going to be as exciting as being together, but it’ll be a time in your relationship you look back on and feel glad you did find ways to be intimate with each other, even while apart.

Don’t Skip Out on Dates

Make date ideas and keep them. Something I’ve found with a long distance relationship is making points to aim for. On this day we’ll do this, and on this day we’ll see each other. Don’t change the end point or skip out on these dates. Because after a while you will get bored and then that’s the end of things. Try to keep it interesting by doing different things while on call or video or planning things together for the future. At one point or another, you and your partner will start to feel tired and hopeless but if you think the end point is worth it, you have to keep each other going by making your time together special.

Reassurance Reassurance Reassurance

Yes, you might find it’s monotonous telling your partner day in and day out that you love them and want to be with them but when you don’t get to see someone even the littlest change in tone or withholding of affection can effect your partner and make them sick with anxiety. Don’t be that person. If you commit to a long distance relationship, be all in. Reassure them it’s worth it, reassure them you love them and don’t get mad if they ask for a little more reassurance. We live in a fast paced world where we consume so many opinions, it’s easy for couples to get swept up in the thoughts and stories of other people when at the end of the day, only the people in the relationship know it’s worth it and know how they feel. So tell your partner, be available and open to them about where you’re at, and remember.. a day will come where this part of your relationship is over and you’ll be together.