Best Tips On Making A Long Distance Relationship Work
Many
people believe that long distance relationships are never going to work
out. Your family may discourage it, and some of your best friends may
advise you not to take it too seriously, in case you get your heart
broken.
Nobody says it is going to be easy — the extra distance
makes many things unachievable. Things could get complicated, and you
could get sad and lonely at times. However, the extra distance also
makes the simplest things the sweetest, being able to hold the other
person’s hand, eating together at the same table, feeling each other’s
touch, taking a walk together, smelling each other’s hair… these small
wishes could suddenly mean so much more in a long distance relationship.
Long distance relationship may be tough but it has its own surprises too. To keep your love alive and strong, here are the 18 tips to make your long distance relationship work:
It
is unwise to be overly “sticky” and possessive. You two don’t really
have to communicate 12 hours a day to keep the relationship going. Many
couples thought that they need to compensate for the distance by doing
more. This is not true. And it might only make things worse. Soon you
would get tired of “loving.” Remember: Less is more. It is not about
spamming — you are only going to exhaust yourselves. It’s really about
teasing at the right moments and tugging at the right spots.
Both
of you need to be clear with what you expect of with each other during
this long distance relationship. Set some ground rules so that none of
you will do things that will take the other party by surprise. For
instance, are you two exclusive? Is it alright for the other person to
go on dates? What is your commitment level? It’s better to be open with
each other about all these things.
Sexual
tension is undoubtedly one of the most important things between
couples. Sexual desire is like a glue that keeps both parties from
drifting apart. Not only is sex a biological need, it is an emotional
one as well. Keep the flames burning by sending each other teasing texts
filled with sexual innuendos and provocative descriptions. Sexy puns
work pretty well too.
Also, It could be easy for you to fall into the trap which you, unconsciously or not, set up for yourself by “hanging out” with your office eye-candy after work, or going out with a girl or guy from your past who has been flirting with you. You need to recognize the dangers before entering into the situation. Don’t just listen to your heart. Listen to your mind too.
Play
an online game together. Watch a documentary on YouTube or Vimeo at the
same time. Sing to each other on Skype while one of you plays the
guitar. “Take a walk together” outside while video-calling each other.
Go online-shopping together — and buy each other gifts (See #13). You
really have to be creative and spontaneous about it.
Recommend
books, TV shows, movies, music, news and etc. to each other. When you
read, watch and listen to the same things, you get to have more topics
in common to talk about. This is a good to create some shared
experiences even though you are living apart.
Visits
are the highlight of every long distance relationship. After all the
waiting and yearning and abstinence, you finally get to meet each other
to fulfill all the little things like kissing, holding hands, etc. which
are all common to other couples but so very special and extra intimate
for people in long distance relationships. It will be like fireworks,
glitter bombs, confetti, rainbows and butterflies everywhere.
So make a plan with each other. Do up a timeline, marking down the estimated times apart and times together, and draw an end goal. It is important that you two are on the same page and have the same goals. So that even if you are not living in the same space and the same timezone, both of you are still working together in the same direction towards a future that includes one another.
You
are alone but you are not lonely, unless you choose to feel like it.
You don’t have to let your world revolve around your partner — you still
have you, your friends and your family. Take this time apart to do more
with your friends and family. Go to the gym more often. Get a new
hobby. Binge-watch shows. There are plenty of things for you to do that
doesn’t involve your partner.
It’s
helpful to know when the other person is busy and when he/she is free,
so that you can drop a text or make a call at the right time. You
wouldn’t want to disturb your partner when he/she is in the middle of
class or halfway through a business meeting. Know the small and big
events that are taking place or will take place in each other’s life
e.g. college mid-terms and exams, important business trips and meetings,
job interviews and etc. This is especially essential when the both of
you are living in different time zones.
Like
each other’s photos on Facebook and Instagram. Tweet each other. Tag
each other. Share things on each other’s walls. Show that you care. Be
cool about stalking each other.
There
is power in a memento. Be it a small pendent, a ring, a keychain, a CD
of songs and videos, or a bottle of fragrance. We often attach meanings
to the little things and items found in our everyday life, whether
knowingly or not. This is what we all do — we try to store memories in
physical things, in hope that when our mind fails us, we can look or
hold on to something that will help us remember. This is why something
so simple can mean so much to a person, when others may see little or no
value in it.
Personally, I use this messaging app called LINE. I find it highly effective because it has a huge reserve of playful and very funny “stickers” that are free for its users to use. You can also go to the app’s “Sticker Shop” to download extra stickers of different themes (e.g. Hello Kitty, Pokemon, Snoopy, MARVEL and etc.) at a low price. From time to time, the app also gives out free sticker sets for different promotions. This messaging app is cute and easy to learn to use.
Mail
each other postcards and hand-written love letters. Send each other
gifts across the globe from time to time. Flower deliveries on
birthdays, anniversaries and Valentine’s Day. Shop online and surprise
each other with cool T-shirts, sexy underwears and such.
Because gossips and scandals are always the best things to go on and on about.
Long distance relationship may be tough but it has its own surprises too. To keep your love alive and strong, here are the 18 tips to make your long distance relationship work:
1. Avoid excessive communication.
2. See it as a opportunity.
“If you want to live together, you first need to learn how to live apart.” – Anonymous
View
it as a learning journey for the both of you. See it as a test of your
love for each other. As the Chinese saying goes, “Real gold is not
afraid of the test of fire.” Instead of thinking that this long distance
relationship is pulling you two apart, you should believe that through
this experience, the both of you will be bound together even stronger.
As Emma says it to Will in season four of Glee,“I would rather be here, far from you, but feeling really close, rather than close to you but feeling really far away.” – Emma, Glee Season 4
3. Set some ground rules to manage your expectations.
4. Try to communicate regularly, and creatively.
Greet each other “good morning” and “good night” every day — this is a must. On top of that, try to update your partner on your life and its happening, however mundane some of the things may seem. To up the game, send each other pictures, audio clips and short videos from time to time. By putting in this kind of effort, you make the other person feel loved and attended to.5. Talk dirty with each other.
6. Avoid “dangerous” situations.
If you already know that going to the club or going drinking with your group of friends late at night will displease your partner, then you should either 1. Not do it or 2. Tell your partner beforehand so as to reassure him/her. Don’t be careless about this sort of matter because your partner is only going to be extra worried or extra suspicious, and of course, very upset, because you are putting him/her in a position where he/she feels extra powerless/lacking in control.Also, It could be easy for you to fall into the trap which you, unconsciously or not, set up for yourself by “hanging out” with your office eye-candy after work, or going out with a girl or guy from your past who has been flirting with you. You need to recognize the dangers before entering into the situation. Don’t just listen to your heart. Listen to your mind too.
7. Do things together.
8. Do similar things.
9. Make visits to each other.
10. Have a goal in mind.
“What do we want to achieve at the end of the day?” “How long are we going to be apart?” “What about the future?” These are the questions you two need to ask yourselves. The truth is, no couple can be in a long distance relationship for forever. Eventually we all need to settle down.So make a plan with each other. Do up a timeline, marking down the estimated times apart and times together, and draw an end goal. It is important that you two are on the same page and have the same goals. So that even if you are not living in the same space and the same timezone, both of you are still working together in the same direction towards a future that includes one another.
11. Enjoy your alone time and your time with your friends and family.
12. Stay honest with each other.
Talk about your feelings of fear, insecurity, jealousy, apathy, whatsoever. If you try to hide anything from your partner, that secret will sooner or later swallow you up from inside out. Don’t try to deal with things all by yourself. Be open and honest with each other. Let your partner help you and give you the support you need. it’s better to look at the problem during its initial stage than to only disclose it when it’s all too late.13. Know each other’s schedules.
14. Keep track of each other’s social media activities.
15. Gift a personal object for the other person to hold on to.
16. Get a good messaging app.
This is extremely important because texting is the most frequent and common way of communication the two of you have. You need a good messaging app on your phones that allow interactions beyond just words and emoticons.Personally, I use this messaging app called LINE. I find it highly effective because it has a huge reserve of playful and very funny “stickers” that are free for its users to use. You can also go to the app’s “Sticker Shop” to download extra stickers of different themes (e.g. Hello Kitty, Pokemon, Snoopy, MARVEL and etc.) at a low price. From time to time, the app also gives out free sticker sets for different promotions. This messaging app is cute and easy to learn to use.
17. Snail-mail it!
18. Stay positive.
You need to be constantly injecting positive energy into the long distance relationship to keep it alive. Yes, the waiting can be painful and you can sometimes feel lonesome but you need to remind yourself that the fruits at the end will be sweet as heaven. One good trick to staying positive is to be grateful all the time. Be thankful that you have someone to love — someone who also loves you back. Be thankful for the little things, like the hand-made letter that arrived safely in your mailbox the other day. Be thankful for each other’s health and safety.19. Keep each other updated on each other’s friends and family.
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