So you fell in love with your S.O. and you both are as happy as can be in the relationship. Nothing could go wrong because you are invincible. You have the same taste in music, love the same comedians, and fan over the same television shows. You two were basically made for each other, there is just one thing: you go to two different colleges. Do not be discouraged; this is only a minor inconvenience! Being in a long distance relationship is nothing to stress about, especially when you are willing to try. But in case times get tough here are some tips on how to make the relationship work:
1. Communication is key
You do not get to see your S.O. whenever you want, so talking or communicating in some form is the biggest way to keep things rolling. Tell your boyfriend or girlfriend about your day, what is on your mind, and what you have going on at the time. Tell them everything! There’s no point in leaving out details. But hey, don’t forget to ask them about their day too; you should want to know as much about what they’re going through as if it was a new episode of your favorite TV drama. Bad communication can break a relationship faster than you would like it to, especially if that relationship is long distance.
2. Address problems head on
Just like in any other kind of relationship, if you don’t let your partner know why you’re upset, or that you are upset in the first place, it can become extremely problematic. Nothing is more frustrating than having your partner not tell you what’s wrong. This leads to paranoia and a lack of security with oneself. Constantly wondering what you did wrong can drive a person up the wall. It’s better to talk it out than to passively aggressively text for a day or two.
3. Let your partner know you miss them
It doesn’t matter how you do it, be like Nike and "Just Do It". Send a text, a card, or a small care package to let them know that you love them and can’t wait to see them again.
4. Set aside time to video chat
It doesn’t have to be on a set schedule but definitely make some time to either Skype or FaceTime. This is the next best thing to actually seeing your partner. By doing this you can hear their voice, see their cute face, and laugh with them. You can also have FaceTime dates; grab some take out, set up your computer, and talk about anything and everything.
5. Go visit
Visiting is so important! Go! Find a way to see them in person! Whether you are a few hours away or a whole state, there are ways of seeing your partner's smiling face. Take a bus, train, plane, or maybe you have a friend that lives close by and can hitch a ride. However, don’t make promises you can’t keep; saying you can visit every two weeks or month is a big promise to uphold sometimes life gets in the way. Set a specific date in advance, then make the trip.
I’m writing this to hopefully help new couples in this type of relationship. My boyfriend and I have been together for almost a year now. He lives in Michigan while I go to school in Indiana. I’ve known him for years before we started to catch feelings for each other. He wanted to make things official, but I will admit that I was uneasy about not being able to see him whenever I wanted to; making the decision to go long distance was a difficult one, but knowing that I wouldn’t want to go through this with anyone else helps. Even though we’ve been together for almost a year, it feels like we haven’t left the honeymoon stage yet. I love when I get to see him after weeks of texting and snap chatting. If you follow these tips it will make it all worthwhile.
