I thought there was no way a long-distance relationship could last... Until I met the one who makes the wait worth it. This past year my boyfriend and I have gone from living 400 meters away from each other on a college campus to living 1200 miles away from each other. I have recently discovered that it's not long-distance-relationships in general that don't work; it's the people in those relationships.
First, you have to be committed. There's no way long-distance relationships work unless you are both committed to each other. Agreeing to make it work when you're that far away from your significant other for an extended period of time means you're in it for the long haul. So get ready to coordinate what day you're going to FaceTime!
If you're ever feeling down, the communication with your significant other has been a little off, or if you just miss them a little extra one day, just remind yourself that the frustration will be worth it once you all see each other. As soon as you lay eyes on each other, you'll forget about that countdown app reminding you how many days are left until you see them and attack them in a bear hug. (That's what I'm going to do at least.)
Share everything. This may be a gross example, but this is important in long-distance relationships. When your significant other asks you about your day, they literally want to hear everything that happened that day. It makes it seem like they were part of your day and it's something to talk about when there's a lull in the conversation.
Always support one another. You and your significant other may say, "I'll always be there for you no matter what." But this is easier said than done when you're apart most of the time. Sometimes life may get overwhelming, whether that means midterms seem impossible, or your significant other is having a rough day at work, and words of encouragement are just what they need. Always reassure them when they are doubtful and listen when they need to vent.
After finally spending time together, saying goodbye is the last thing you want to do. You're dreading the flight back home and convincing yourself that the next two months until you see each other are going to drag on. You may already be planning things to do next time you see each other. You may even be crying (hey, it happens). But, along with the damper of being away from you significant other for the next couple months is the excitement of seeing them the next time and confidence in your relationship. Even though being apart so much sucks, you know you've got a great teammate waiting for you at the arrival gate in two months.
