Long-distance in relationships can be hard, tiresome, and downright discouraging. They can create extra tension, which can lead to over-the-phone arguments, going to bed upset, and waking up the same way the next day. And, these are situations that are not easily mended miles apart.
These tumultuous relationships can easily become stressful and eventually fall apart over time, which is super unfortunate if you and your boo have worked hard to create your initial bond. They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, but the stress of an LDR can quickly eliminate that belief from your head and your heart.
But, does it really have to be that way? We are here to tell you that there are some ways to make long-distance in a relationship a little bit easier. However, you must be committed and you must want the LDR to work. Because, hell, it takes a lot of time and effort. So, put your best foot forward and get ready to change your mindset about those dreaded miles. Here are…
6 Ways to Beat Long Distance in A Relationship:
Communication
Communication is key in every relationship. But, in an LDR it’s even more important. And, sometimes it can be tricky. Especially, if you and your bae are living in different timezones. When this happens you may be just getting out of work when your SO is getting ready to hit the hay for the night. That doesn’t leave much time for virtual quality time together.
But, we are lucky that we live in a modern age of technology, where there are various ways to talk to each other. We have Skype, FaceTime, texting, and of course, ‘ol fashioned phone calls, which really never go out of style.
The hard part about all these options is choosing the one that’s right for you and your SO. In a long-distance relationship, obviously, you both live your own lives so being on Skype 24/7 is not an option. And, sometimes either you or your partner may have plans and not be able to chat on the phone before bed like you always do. The key is to schedule these virtual dates accordingly and do your best to mix up the way you communicate in order to make it work for both of your lifestyles. And, of course, to make sure you both feel well taken care of.
Prioritize Each Other
Even though you and your bae are not in the same city, it’s important to still be apart of each other’s everyday lives. It’s vital that you check in on your SO throughout the day and keep the communication flowing. It doesn’t mean you have to text all day, but a nice ‘good morning’ text and an ‘how are you?’ text during the day can really do wonders to keep your relationship strong and secure.
If you are unable to text during the day due to work or other circumstances, just make sure your boo knows so that they don’t feel unwanted or unappreciated. Again, communication is key and vital in all aspects of the relationship. There is no reason why your loved one should feel alone, even when they are all the way across the country. Love doesn’t care about distance. But, when you lose the idea of prioritizing your farway SO, then distance doesn’t care about love. So, make your choice and adjust your mindset.
Think Positively
LDRs can really be the perfect situations to focus on YOU. It’s an opportunity to take time for yourself, which in this day in age, happens way less often than it should. Also, it’s a time to reflect and to improve. And, a time to align your mind, body, and soul and be the best YOU that you can be.
A good way to do this is by taking a class that will teach you a new skill maybe a pottery class or a fitness class to stay toned and feeling great during your stressful LDR. Or, if you are more of a soloist you could delve into some art, some painting or drawing. And, classic journaling is always a good trick to keep you centered and well-grounded. The trick is to keep your mind busy with healthy activities that will benefit YOU.
When deliving into new activities, that will certainly keep you busy, just be sure to keep your relationship in mind too. You don’t want to compromise that special bond with your partner. Being a little selfish is OK, but if you care about your SO, make sure they can feel it. Let them know that you’re thinking of them too.
Trust Each Other
Trust is mega huge in an LDR. Obviously, in a long-distance arrangement, you don’t have the luxury to spend time with your partner every day, so you must be able to trust the choices that they are making when you’re not around. Sometimes, this can be difficult to do. Letting go of worries is a tough challenge, but if you see the bigger picture and you care about your partner, you’ll need to do your best to trust them fully.
Likewise, it’s important for you to feel that your SO trusts you too. If you are constantly being questioned by your partner about your whereabouts or about who added you on social media, then you will start to feel suffocated even when miles and miles away. Nobody wants to have a relationship full of nasty accusations and guilt-trips.
The issue of trust can bring up so many arguments during long-distance in relationships, so addressing it before you enter one of these tricky arrangements is best. Set boundaries and expectations prior, and you’ll feel the weight lift off your shoulders.
Make Sure You Have The Same End Goal
Having the same end goal in an LDR is extremely important. What we mean by this is, why suffer through a long-distance relationship if you know you want to be two different places in five years? It doesn’t make any sense. Some relationships are not meant to go on the LDR train and that’s ok. Don’t let each other suffer hours and hours apart just to have a nice day here and there. It’s not worth it.
If you and your SO know that you want to go in different directions, though it may be hard, find a way to end it civilly. You and your partner must do your best to act as adults and make a logical decision to protect your sanity and mental health. Because, the LDR path is a tough one, so why go down it if you don’t have to?
The actual discussion of the future is definitely a hard one, but it’s necessary to determine the outcome of this dreaded LDR situation. Maybe, you havent’ been seeing each other very long, but you really like each other- how are you supposed to bring up your 5-year plan?Thankfully, when you do your partner will probably understand because of the long-distance situation. And, if you both have common goals that you’re working toward, then hopefully you’ll decide that the distance is totally worth it. Again, if you have completely opposite end goals…then, you might want to think twice.
Stay Intimate
So, obviously, there are some physical activities that you can’t do when your partner is miles away. But, there are still some ways you can keep things intimate between you and your bae. It’s all about being creative and catering to your loved one’s needs, as well as your own.
For starters, try out phone sex, dirty texting, or the occasional nude to help your SO feel wanted and appreciated. These forms of love-making are actually super sensual and can definitely make you feel wanted and excited. You’ll even be able to explore different sides of your partner. If your bae is usually pretty quiet in the sack, then having them engage in dirty-talk over the phone might send you some new tingles you’ve never felt before. It’s sexual experimentation!
The build-up from this technology foreplay will be so fiery. You’ll catch yourself thinking of your SO throughout the day. And, when you finally get to see each other, we guarentee you won’t be able to keep your hands off of each other.
