1. Keep in touch – but not too much.

It’s important to remind your boyfriend or girlfriend that you’re thinking of them and haven’t forgotten all about what brought you two so close to begin with. Just a simple message or phone call, even once a day, can help things move along much more smoothly and make your time apart seem a little less drastic. But it’s even more important to keep calm – don’t smother them. If they don’t answer the phone right that instant that you call, they’re not ignoring you or screening your name. They are just as busy as you with everything else going on in their day. Don’t take it personally.

2. Remember your distance, literally.

Let’s say you’re in one country, and your significant other is across the globe. In this case, keeping close contact with each other will be pretty important. Seeing each other’s faces even through video chat will be more than worth it. But if you’re only an hour or two away? Don’t take it so seriously. Remember that, circumstances willing, you’re probably each pretty capable of driving over and seeing one another every now and then – maybe even a couple times a week. So don’t panic if you didn’t chat too much in one day. Keep in mind that in just a few days more, you’ll probably be seeing each other in the flesh. And what could be better than that?

3. Keep each other updated.

Don’t just go through the motions. If you two were once used to seeing each other day in, day out, you’re used to not saying much about what you’ve gone through. And that’s partially due to the fact that everything you’ve done, you probably had actually done it together. Now that you’re apart and living on your own schedules, don’t forget to say more than just “Hey, what’s up?” and “I miss you." Keep your loved one informed on what you’re actually up to: how your classes were that day, which old friend you met up with, or what have you. Making sure that you have at least a general idea of what you’re both doing will make things seem less distanced between you.

4. Say, “I love you."

It baffles me why some couples don’t even do this very often. It’s like the phrase itself is sort of taboo, as if it’s so meaningful that it doesn’t really merit being said all the time. But it’s one of those things that can’t be said enough. There’s nothing rude or intimidating or overwhelming about frequently telling your significant other that you love them. It’s a much needed reminder that we all long for, no matter by whom the words are said. So when you feel it – which, I hope, is pretty much all the time – just say it.