College is a great opportunity to meet many new people from all over the place and form close bonds that can last a lifetime. Some of us are even lucky enough to meet a special someone that captures our heart, and a great relationship blossoms. Having a relationship in college is great, but at the end of the semester the thing that we all dread happens: the long-distance relationship.
It sounds scary, and I’m not going to lie: Being in a long-distance relationship is hard sometimes, but if you really see yourself being with this person long term, it will all work out in the end. When my boyfriend and I first started long-distance, I absolutely hated it. It was hard for me to go from seeing him every single day to not seeing him for sometimes up to three weeks. I envied couples who got to spend every single day with each other.
Eventually I learned that long-distance isn’t that bad at all, but doing certain things to make the distance seem shorter helped a lot.
1. Don’t freak out!
I know at first it can be stressful and you’re going to miss your significant other a lot. It’s important to not stress about it, though. Take the time you are apart to do things for yourself. Spend time with your friends and don’t sit and dwell on the fact that you aren’t together.
2. Download Skype (or use FaceTime).
This was the biggest thing that helped me. Skyping with my boyfriend gave me a way to see him and know that he is still there and isn’t going anywhere. Videochatting is nice because you can see them and it’s kind of like you are there together even when you’re miles apart. My boyfriend and I would Skype as much as we could, and I found myself looking forward to times when I got to call him and just talk instead of texting.
3. Make the time to keep up communication, but realize that you both have busy schedules.
The worst thing to do in a long-distance relationship is to not communicate. There is no rule saying that you have to be in contact 24/7, but each relationship is different so you have to find what works for you. That being said, you have to realize that your significant other might have a really busy schedule and might not be able to talk to you as much as you like. Just remember that being busy isn’t a bad thing, and at the end of the day, I’m sure you will get that call you have been waiting for.
4. Schedule trips to visit.
I spent most of my summer on the road and I enjoyed it so much. Going to visit my boyfriend was so fun, and I would make a new playlist each time I made that drive to see him. Visiting your significant other can be such a fun adventure. You can do things and go places that you normally wouldn’t if you were with each other every single day. Some of my best memories of summer were when I took those fun adventures.
5. Value the time you have with each other.
Cherish the time that you do get to spend with each other. Those weekend visits will fly by but you have to hold onto every single memory. The time apart will only make the time together more special, and you’ll see how much you really do appreciate your significant other.
6. Know that all long-distance will eventually end.
Whether you’re in between semesters or doing long-distance for a more permanent period of time, all long-distance will eventually end. The time apart will only be a small chunk of the years you will have together. Don’t stress the small stuff, and just know that there will be a time eventually when you can be with you significant other every day.
Long-distance doesn’t have to be this huge, dreaded thing. It is a lot easier to manage now than it has been in the past. With a little perseverance those long-distance days will fly by, and you will be able to life happily with your significant other close by.
