Going back to school can be a bittersweet experience for many. If you are leaving your significant other for a few months while you attend different universities, there is a good chance that the days leading up to departure are filled with excitement and tears. Whether this is your first time separating from your boyfriend or girlfriend for more than a few days, or you’re a long distance relationship (LDR) pro, here are a few things to remember as you embark on the fall semester separately:
Don’t give up your college experience.
Although you may miss your significant other and you want to just lie in bed and feel alone, don't. College is about having fun, studying hard, and meeting new people. Even though it feels like the end of the world without your significant other (SO) by your side, you need to live your own life. Don't hermit yourself waiting for your phone to ring; go out with your new friends and live your life. Down the road, you'll be happy you embraced your college experience, and your SO will, too.
Even though you are far away from your SO, you should still be their #1 fan. Congratulate them on doing well on a test or just remind them that you’re proud of them. I promise, knowing that your SO is proud of you is one of the best feelings in the world. Encourage your partner to work their hardest and go to that Thursday night class. And offer to help them with that dreaded term paper. They will be grateful that you are their extra push to do their best, and it will make you a stronger couple.
Communication
is key.Being unable to be face-to-face with your SO will make communication the most crucial element of your relationship. Not only will you cherish those few cute late night texts, but being in contact with your partner will make it easier on both of you. I’m not saying you need to constantly talk to your SO every 30 seconds and send them your location every hour, but talk to them. Check in at the end of the night so they know you’re safe, and talk to them when you can. You both are going to be busy, but taking time out of your day to have a genuine conversation will make you both happy.
You can still do "couple-y" things.
Thanks to technology, if you have WiFi or a hefty data plan, you and your SO can have date nights regardless of the miles separating you. Set up a block of time once a week - or once every few weeks - for you two to spend together. Surprisingly, video chatting allows a full menu of date nights to offer your relationship. You can have a movie night, binge-watch a TV show, or even have dinner together, all over Skype or FaceTime. It wont be the same as being together cuddled up on the couch, but it will give you time alone for you and your SO to be a couple.
Surprise!
Whether it is a cute text message at night, flowers in the mail, a care package, or the best: a visit, surprises can keep your LDR exciting. There is nothing better than having a long week at school and going back to your apartment and having a package waiting for you at the desk from your SO. That doesn’t mean that every single week you need to buy your boyfriend or girlfriend a present or you need to go buy the most expensive bouquet of roses, but once in a while a little surprise will keep your partner happy and excited that you’re thinking of them.
It's not going to be easy.
The distance between the two of you is going to be hard. There are going to be days where you miss your significant other like crazy and just want to be cuddled up on the couch watching SVU together. It’s going to be difficult to spend lonely nights apart and embark on new aspects of life without him or her by your side. However, just because there may be thousands of miles separating you at times, doesn’t mean that your relationship has a death sentence. Being apart won’t be easy, but the light at the end of the tunnel (i.e. when you get to be together again) will make it worth it.
Therefore, reunions are the best.
After months apart, there is nothing better than finally being reunited with your SO. Weeks and weeks have gone by and you finally get to be a real life couple again. The feeling that you will have when you get together again will be unsurpassed. Finally you can get your slow motion "Notebook"-esque hug and catch up on your TV show together (even though you already watched the new season without them. Sorry, hun). Don’t worry! While you may feel alone now, seeing your SO’s face for the first time in a long time will give you butterflies again.
It's worth it.
I know you may be sad now. Goodbyes will never be easy - take it from someone who has been in an LDR for three years of college now. It will be hard, but it isn’t impossible. If you find someone you love and want to be with, be with them no matter how hard it is right now. It doesn’t matter if you’re 10 minutes or 10 hours away from each other. I guarantee if you want it bad enough, you can make this work. So my advice: if being with your SO is what you really want, embark on the LDR, and surprisingly, you can come out stronger than ever. I promise, it can be worth it.
