How To Make a Long-Distance Relationship

“In true love, the smallest distance is too great and the greatest distance can be bridged.”

-Hans Nouwens

Many people take on the challenge of dating in a long-distance relationship, maybe you’re one of them.

Or maybe your loved one moved away, and you vowed to NEVER GIVE UP! But a long-distance relationship won't be a walk in the park...

Don’t get yourself down, though. Oh, no. I want to tell you something. If you truly love your partner and are willing to work at it, your long-distance relationship can thrive!

It’s all about putting forth the effort. This effort needs to be put in by both parties in the relationship, and if you both fully dedicate yourselves to each other, things will work out.

I know you’re reading this and saying, “all I have to do is put some effort into my long-distance relationship? That’s it?”

You’re absolutely right, there is more to it, and I’m going to give you five solid tips for making your long-distance relationship work.

1. Love thyself

That’s right. If you don’t love yourself, how can you love anyone else?

According to psychologytoday.com, loving yourself is important to making any relationship work. The benefits of self-love for a relationship are certainly enhanced in the case of long-distance relationships.

So, while you’re dealing with not being able to see your loved one at any given time, don’t forget to do things that make you happy. Go out with friends, play your favorite video game, or stick to that workout plan you started six months ago and ended about six months ago.

Make sure you don’t lose who you are just because you can’t see your partner.

2. Avoid Jealousy

Trust is so important to make a relationship work and when you can’t see your partner every single day, trusting them might be hard.

So, yes, it can be hard, but it’s crucial. If you can’t find yourself trusting your partner, then every time they don’t answer your call, your mind is going to go bonkers.

Try to calm your mind in those situations. Make sure you talk to your partner about those feelings, don’t hold them in because…

3. Communication is key

Those feelings swirling around in your head might be scary, but you have to express them to your partner.

You should set up a schedule of when you two will call, like before bed, or after work. Try to keep that schedule and if you for some reason can’t call, send a text letting them know. You can always reschedule the call for later.

4. Sentimental gift giving

A good way to hold that bond you have with your loved one is to give each other gifts before you move away, or leave to go back home.

Then, you can always go back to that gift during the times when you miss your partner the most.

5. Plan for the future

You and your partner need to have a real plan for the future. A plan to move in together. A plan to get married, something that’s real.

If you don’t have a plan, like let's say you’ve opened your own pet hospital in New York City, yet your boyfriend is a career military man who’s stationed overseas and has no plan on coming back to the states in the foreseeable future…

That doesn’t sound like a good plan for a couple, does it?

So have a real plan, and if your partner can’t commit to one, maybe you should take a step back and look at your relationship. You don’t want to waste years of your life waiting for someone who’s never coming back.

These are just a few tips to help strengthen your long-distance relationship.

Just remember what I said, it takes effort from the both of you to make it work, and if it’s true love, that effort will be effortless.