Long-distance relationships require effort; there’s no getting away from it. A survey published on MyLongDistanceLove.com found that 40% of long-distance couples separate, which highlights the need to put in the effort to make it work.
If you can’t meet up and be intimate with the person that you love on a regular basis, it can be really tough to keep the spark in your relationship. Read more from Love Dignity to know more.
That being said, there’s absolutely no reason why your long-distance relationship can’t thrive! You just have to think outside the box and go the extra mile to make your partner feel special.
For those that make them work, long-distance relationships can be super rewarding and create a strong bond between lovers that actually brings them together.
In this post, we share seven tips on how to make your long-distance relationship work.
#1 Agree on how and when to communicate
This is a super important place to begin. Communication is vital to making your long-distance relationship work. If you’re in a different part of the world from your partner, you need to agree on the best way to keep in touch.
WhatsApp or Facebook messenger? Zoom or Skype? The great news is that, in the present day, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to keeping in touch online, so choose a platform that you’re both comfortable with using.
If your partner lives in a country in a different time zone, you need to be mindful of that when you’re planning to keep in touch.
#2 Organize date nights
Just because you’re not together, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t plan date nights. Many of the things you can do in person with your partner can be done online via Zoom or Skype.
For instance, you can arrange to watch your favorite movie at the same time while on a Zoom call. Or you can both order your favorite food and sit and enjoy a romantic meal together.
While it’s not perfect, it’s so important that you make an effort to enjoy dates in a long-distance relationship, just as you would if you were together in person.
#3 Surprise each other with gifts
Everyone loves a surprise, particularly when it’s from the person that you love! Thanks to Amazon and all the other e-commerce sites at our disposal, it’s never been easier to order a gift online and have it delivered to your loved one.
Don’t just save gift giving for special occasions like birthdays, either. In fact, often, the most appreciated gifts are those that are received with no strings attached and for no specific reason.
Surprising your partner with a LDR gift shows them how much you care about them and is crucial to making your long-distance relationship work.
#4 Make plans to meet each other
Regardless of the distance between you and your partner, you need to make plans to meet each other. Whether it’s every weekend, every month, or even every couple of months, it’s important that you put a date in the diary.
This gives you both something to look forward to and breaks up the long stretches of time between seeing each other. If you agree on a date to meet up, you can also arrange exciting plans to make the most of your time together.
If you don’t know when you’re next going to see your partner, it can be tough to stay positive and excited about your relationship.
#5 Keep things interesting sexually
Sex is a huge part of any relationship. When you’re physical and intimate with someone you love, the distance between you both can be really difficult to deal with.
Therefore, you should try a few things to keep your long-distance relationship sexually interesting. With video calls, you can enjoy each other from the privacy of your bedroom, and you can enjoy things like phone sex or even fun messages that remind you of your passion for one another.
Be sure to try different things with your partner, and don’t underestimate the importance of maintaining intimacy in your relationship, even though you’re far apart!
#6 Don’t get jealous and possessive
Jealousy and possessiveness are awful characteristics for anyone to have in any type of relationship. But when you’re not with your partner, it can be tempting to become jealous of the plans they’re making with everyone but you, particularly if they’re spending time with the opposite sex.
You need to try really hard not to get jealous about the plans they make with other people, and remember that trust is a vital component of any long-distance relationship. If you can’t trust and respect your partner, your relationship won’t work.
If you have concerns about who your partner is meeting and what they’re doing, it’s okay to talk to them openly about it instead of becoming jealous and possessive and making them think you don’t trust them.
#7 Talk about your future together
While you might not be physical with your partner right now, you can plan your future together. Whether you intend to move in together or just be in the same city or even country as your partner, it can be really exciting to talk about all of the things that you can do together when the time comes.
Also, if you’re hoping to commit to your partner in the long term, consider talking about your future family or making a home together.
If you’re constantly talking to your long-distance partner about a future that doesn’t include them, they will begin to wonder if it’s all worth it and may look elsewhere for a partner.
Closing thoughts
Although they’re not easy, there’s absolutely no reason why a long-distance relationship can’t work, providing you put the effort in.
As you can see, many of the tips we’ve shared in this post are just common sense, and they will help to ensure that you build a long-distance relationship that is resilient and has a good chance of standing the test of time.
After all, if you’ve agreed to a long-distance relationship, it’s clear that you have strong feelings for your partner, or you wouldn’t be willing to go to all of this effort!