Tips on Surviving a Long Distance Relationship

 

I know, you’ve probably heard it a million times— don’t go into college in a relationship. They all say it, and while there may be logical reasons to leave your high school fling in the past, there are also plenty of reasons not to. Whether it’s your high school sweetheart or someone you just inconveniently met as you were packing up your life and getting ready to move on, why end a good thing because of bad timing? Here are a few tips on how to make a long distance relationship work.

 

This one is obvious, but it’s the most important nonetheless. You and your S.O. don’t have the luxury of face-to-face contact every day. This takes away all of the little things that help make up a relationship— such as the ability to see his/her facial expressions, body language, and those small, insignificant conversations you used to have in person. While these may seem unimportant, a lot of those details that help your partner stay connected to your life can get lost. It’s easy to get wrapped up in your busy lives and forget to make that extra time, but be sure to text throughout the day, talk on the phone as much as possible, FaceTime, and even plan date nights over the phone or through video chat!

 

This can be hard at times, especially if you are only able to see each other every few weeks or months, but don’t give up! Always remember why you’re doing this in the first place and don’t lose sight of your true feelings when things get tough. Keep in mind that the separation is only temporary.

 

Having something to look forward to always makes things a little easier. If possible, try to plan out the next time you’ll see each other and start a countdown! Talk about the fun activities you want to try when you reunite or plan to have a Netflix-bingeing session, stay cuddled up in bed all weekend and order takeout. We’re not judging. 

 

Amidst the crazy sequence of events called life, it may be easy to forget to make your partner feel appreciated. It’s important to remind them how much you love them and if they do or say something thoughtful, let them know you appreciate it! Send each other cards, fun packages, or a simple text in the morning to let them know you’re thinking of them or you hope they have a good day. Even the smallest of gestures can make his or her day! In the long run, these things really count.

 

Being in a long distance relationship can add a lot of stress to your life, but don’t let it! Instead of adding more pressure, it should be a way to wind down and get some relief from your busy lives. PSA: life doesn’t always have to be serious, so make sure you have those silly conversations and take any chance you get to make each other laugh. My boyfriend always sends me ridiculous texts while I’m in class that make me nearly explode from holding in my laugh, and we always send each other funny, ugly Snapchats and tag each other in funny Insta posts. It’s such a stress reliever and keeps me smiling! Remember, a few laughs a day keep the doctor away.