So you find yourself in a long-distance relationship or you are considering being in one. Relationships in general are hard, long-distance relationships can be even more challenging. It takes determination and love to be able to make long-distance relationships work. Many people are not big fans of long-distance relationships because of the extra work that goes into it, but that doesn’t mean there haven't been many successful long-distance relationships.
Before you get into a long-distance relationship, you must ensure that you are ready for it. Yes, you may not want to give up on that loved one but if you rush into a long-distance relationship there is a high possibility that it will fail. You should make sure that you can handle what goes into it in case it is for an extended period. Due to the distance, the physical contact needed in every relationship is mostly absent in a long-distance relationship. You will miss your partner and feel lonely at times but if you love your partner that shouldn't prevent you from going through with it.
Even though it can be challenging there are a few tips you can use to stay emotionally connected to your partner despite the distance.
How to stay connected in a long-distance relationship
Communication should be regular
We all know that in every relationship communication is crucial but it is more crucial in long-distance relationships. In a long-distance relationship, communication has to be a necessity. You have to lay out your needs and what you are willing to do communication-wise, and be honest with your partner to avoid confusion. The amount of communication has to be discussed on what each partner needs, what will make each of you feel more secure and at peace in the relationship, and not just about what makes you happy.
On several occasions what makes people feel insecure in this kind of relationship is when you do not speak out about what you need from your partner. For instance, if you will want your partner to text or call you every evening before they go to sleep you should let them know, be honest and make sure you are both on the same page to get this working. Also, let your partner know what you are prepared to also give. This needs to be laid out from the start.
Create a structure by knowing when to talk and avoid disappointment. If your partner may be very busy, you should both sit down and discuss a time in a day or a week or whatever will work for you and dedicate it to communicating or talking and catching up on each other day. That creates structure and understanding allowing both of your needs to be met whether emotional or personal needs.
Be full of surprises
Being spontaneous in a relationship can bring you and your partner even closer together and make the relationship even more exciting. You have to add a bit of dynamic to the routine and with the right amount of creativity and endeavor you will be able to keep the excitement in the relationship. Even though you may have Facetime or texting you can try the old-fashioned way and write a romantic letter to your partner, you can surprise your partner with a visit, you can play online games together when you are both free, send gifts, you can sext each as well to maintain intimacy in the relationship. Studies have shown that sexting does improve sexual connection in a relationship so you can try it with your partner since you are miles away from each other.
Do stuff together
Even though you may be millions of miles away, thanks to technology we can connect and stay in touch no matter the distance. With this, you can plan and do stuff together example, movie night, plan your phone calls, when to get intimate, etc. You must do things that you both enjoy doing. You must make the extra effort to make your partner feel part of your life no matter the distance so that it can flourish.
Be optimistic
Long-distance relationships are hard, it requires a lot of work. For the relationship to succeed, it is all about your mindset. If you sit around always imagining ways that the relationship could fail, you begin to nature an insecure feeling which will eventually cause the relationship to die but if you are very optimistic and confident that your partner no matter the circumstance will be faithful to you, you get rid of the doubts and the negativity and it becomes easy to keep it going.
Set rules and boundaries
Couples ought to be able to talk about dos and don'ts and establish limits with one another. To protect what you both have, you should be able to communicate with your spouse and set boundaries or restrictions if, for example, you do not want them to host friends of the opposite sex who spend extended periods of time in their homes. Although it may come across as a bit controlling, if you can establish the guidelines intelligently and without being overbearing, you will be successful. It lets your partner know how you really feel about various issues and what gives you the most comfort.
Have a plan
What do I mean by having a plan? I mean know how long the long-distance part is going to take because you will both need physical contact at some point or how the relationship is going to progress. Not having a plan about how long it will take could create doubts, insecurity, and anxiety you name it which could make you feel less determined causing less connection between you and your partner. This makes it very difficult.
So discuss with your partner how long it will take before you can both get physical. It is very important to discuss if you will be willing to move to where your partner is in case they are not coming back or if they will have to move to you. You must discuss all these with your partner so that you both know what to do or in case there is a change of plan, for instance, if your partner agreed to move to you but then she gets a promotion you can discuss it and decide on what the next move will be together. If you are both looking to make this a long-term relationship maybe marry each other then you both have to make decisions looking towards the future in terms of coming together.
Make each other a priority
You must make your partner feel loved and needed not in a problematic way but in a way that reminds them that you love them. Prioritize each other. Making each other a priority prevents any doubts or insecurities because being miles apart itself is difficult so to make your partner feel comfortable in the relationship you should show them how much the relationship means to you and that no distance can come between you two.
Maintaining intimacy in a long-distance relationship
Because of the distance, you are not able to get physical with your partner and you are looking to keep the intimacy in the relationship because let’s face it, it can be hard to keep a relationship in which there is no intimacy going. You can try this with your partner.
Even though there is no physical contact between you two, you can try being mysterious a bit with your partner to make it more exciting and dynamic. So for instance maybe it is time to Skype or video chat with your partner, and you are alone at home or in a hotel. You can do the call in a bath or whiles you shower. The fact that your partner does not expect that, creates a romantic vibe that gets your partner thinking about you.
You could deliver something romantic to them where they are. You could deliver something like strawberries or chocolates with a love letter attached to it anything romantic to let them know you are thinking about them. You should be spontaneous and know what your partner likes in terms of being intimate and surprising them.
Long distance requires a lot of effort and commitment from both partners in order to maintain a healthy and successful relationship. Communication is key in a long-distance relationship as it helps to maintain intimacy and closeness despite the distance
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