A long-distance relationship is a romantic and intimate relationship between partners who are physically and geographically separated. It is a normal part of many relationships in the world that couples have to go through and challenge through. According to SurviveLDR.com, a support, guidance, and inspiration site for those experiencing long distances, approximately 14 million people consider themselves in a long-distance relationship. These 14 million are about 14 percent of all romantic relationships in the United States. A new term called “mid-distance relationship” is being thrown around social media and is defined as a relationship where two people find themselves in a relationship with just enough distance that they cannot see each other as often as they like. People frequently get into these types of relationships, whether it is because of their job, the military, school, family, etc. There are several reasons why people have to put their relationship in this type of ordeal. However, no matter what type of distance a couple may be defined by, long-distance and mid-distance relationships are not the ideal situation for most couples and often can be a breaking point for most who cannot stand being away from their partner. Distant relationships are not made for those in weak relationships and surely are a struggle for most.Â
According to a study from Stanford University, research shows that the average length of a long-distance relationship is about three and a half years. This is due to certain challenges that arise in these types of relationships where both sides need to be on the same page.
Some challenges of long-distance relationships include:Â
- Miscommunication
- Lack of physical and emotional intimacy
- Loss of interest in the relationshipÂ
- Trust issuesÂ
- Personal insecurity issues
- Missing milestones (anniversaries, birthdays, Christmas, etc.)
- Uncertainty of the future
The list of challenges of long-distance relationships can go on for long periods and typically vary between each relationship. Challenges such as these can break up a strong relationship because two individuals cannot figure out a way to make it both work and make each other feel secure.
However, the hardships that threaten long-distance relationships do not prevent their success. There are many stories of these types of relationships working out for the better. According to TheInvisibleMan.com, 60 percent of all long-distance couples are successful. As shown in the statistics, many couples are successful in their long-distance relationship and find that distance is not a reason to break up. After reflecting on my accounts, and my experience of currently being in a long-distance relationship and examining other couples, I have come up with a list of tips to overcome long-distance challenges. These include:
- Communication. Communicate about LITERALLY EVERYTHING, no matter how dumb or uncomfortable it may seem.
- Be honest with yourself when considering whether this person is someone you REALLY want to be in a relationship with. If you are unsure of this person, it is not worth it to continue.
- Plan trips to see your significant other. This will ease the strain of the stress of distance and motivate you to keep going, easing the thought of seeing your partner again.Â
- Forecast an end date. Talk with your partner and come up with an approximate date when the long distance will end. Knowing when a long-distance situation will end will ease the stresses of being apart and remind each other that these circumstances won’t last forever.Â
- Prioritize Facetime over text. Communication is a definite priority in a long-distance relationship. Luckily, in the technologically advanced world we live in we can talk to people in real time. Facetime provides a convenient substitute for physical proximity by letting users contact their person without physically being with them. Facetime is a better way to communicate with your partner because you can see their face and reactions. Even better, Facetiming once a day can create more conversation between each other by giving a couple more things to talk about.
As a partner in a long-distance relationship right now, I have experienced the numerous challenges that come with it. However, that doesn’t mean it cannot work. With both people on the same page, long-distance relationships can work out. Both partners just have to be truly invested in it and willing to face the challenges that may come up because there will be problems that arise and feel like the end of the world. A strong base creates a strong relationship that can handle any of the challenges that it may face. With the right steps, your long-distance relationship will work out.Â