Long-distance can be hard. Whether it be a significant other or even a best friend, being apart—such as if you’re away at college—can make keeping up that relationship hard. Between letters, visiting, care packages, Skype dates, phone calls and more, both you and your loved one (and your wallet) can certainly begin feeling the strain.
But, a long-distance relationship doesn’t have to be all bad. Long-distance relationships are a challenge, but not all challenges are damaging! In fact, you may come out of the long-distance portion of your relationship as a stronger person and a stronger partner. Here are a few benefits to being long-distance!
1. Independence
It’s far easier to depend on your loved one when living together or being in closer quarters. Being long-distance can help you work on being independent and exploring things your partner may normally do or something you guys normally do together. That can range from killing a spider by yourself or going out to dinner by yourself! Not only will you be learning things about yourself, you’ll also be strengthening your relationship. Where being too far dependent on a partner can end up damaging your relationship, learning independence from one other can help you find a balance in your relationship once you come back together.
2. More Time for You
Let’s be honest: when you’re not long-distance you totally want to hang out with your loved one…A LOT. While all time with your loved one is good time, that time can cut into your personal time. Being away from a partner allows you more time for yourself, time you can use to discover personal preferences for different things. If your partner is a romantic or sexual one, you now have some more “me” time. Treat yourself.
3. Resilience
Long-distance can make or break a relationship. Assuming you’ve made it through a bout of long-distance successfully and know you absolutely want to maintain a relationship with your loved one, congratulations! You’ve both shown your ability to be resilient. Not being able to physically be with your loved one can be hard, but if you were able to do it, you and your loved one can do anything.
4. A Larger Support Network
Your loved one may be your support network when you’re together. While you can still always connect with them while you’re away, sometimes you just need a shoulder to cry on. Being long-distance will encourage you to build up a larger support network and form closer relationships with more people. Likewise, you may become part of someone else’s support network as opposed to just your partner’s one.
5. Physical Intimacy Isn’t Everything
There are tons of benefits to cuddling, holding hands, speaking face-to-face, kissing and so on and so forth. However, physical intimacy isn’t everything. Getting by without a hug from your loved one can be hard, but it can show you a lot more to a relationship than just physical intimacy. Talking for hours on the phone with a loved one can be just as intimate as lying in bed with them.
6. Better Communication
Being long-distance means you have to learn how to communicate. As you can’t speak face-to-face, in an intimate setting, you have to learn how to virtually create that. Over text or sometimes phone, it’s hard to come across as genuine and sometimes your meaning may become muddled. Furthermore, while it’s always important to be honest and direct with a partner, it’s even more crucial that you are when you’re long-distance. Learning how to effectively communicate is an important skill to have both in and out of an intimate relationship!