Many people think that long-distance relationships can’t last. One of the reasons for that opinion is the fact that romantic relationships usually imply building both emotional and physical intimacy, which is often done by simply spending a lot of time together. This is why being in a long-distance relationship can be very challenging, as there is no way to become fully intimate and learn all the details that define one’s personality. Therefore, it’s safe to say that maintaining such a relationship is never easy – but it’s far from impossible. So, to help you keep your love alive, here are a few things you should do.
Communicate every day
Communication is key to any healthy relationship regardless of your distance. So, you should make an effort to talk every day. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should be texting each other 24/7; many couples try to compensate for the distance by communicating more, but it’s not what makes the relationship last. In this case, quality matters more than quantity. So, feel free to share interesting details that happen to you that day, talk about things that reminded you of your partner, send each other photos, tease each other late at night, etc. Keep it natural and interesting, and you’ll never run out of things to talk about.
Do things together
Besides talking regularly, it’s also important that you do things together – and your options here are not as limited as some people think. For example, you can have a movie night and Skype while watching the movie. You can go on a hike and show your partner what you see. Moreover, you can always play video games together, as there are many online multiplayer games that you might enjoy. Shared experienced are a great way to spend some quality time together, so make an effort to include each other in your daily lives as much as you can.
Spice up your private life
Speaking of physical intimacy and doing things together, just because you’re not physically close, it doesn’t mean you can’t be involved in each other’s sex life. You can always tease each other via text messages or phone calls, but once your relationship becomes stronger and more intimate, you can also experiment with adult toys together. Of course, doing this via Skype does require a lot of trusts, but if you do have it, it would definitely bring you even closer.
Recommend things to each other
Related to the previous tip, you can also recommend each other things, like books, movies, TV shows, food, songs, etc. Even if your partner doesn’t like what you recommend, it would still give you more topics to talk about, and it would also help you get to know each other. There are always things you are yet to learn about your partner, and recommending things – as well as actually paying attention to the things recommended to you – shows that you are interested in your partner and their hobbies.
See each other as often as possible
As mentioned, communication is extremely important, and it can help you develop a deeper bond. However, if communication is all there is to it, it might not be enough to make your relationship last. Spending some time together is essential, so depending on how far you live, try to schedule visits as often as you can, even if it’s only once or twice per year. It would give you something to look forward to, and it would allow you to achieve that physical intimacy as well.
Discuss the future
Assuming that your ultimate goal is to eventually be together, this is something you should be talking about. It would be much easier and less stressful to keep the love alive with all the above-listed ideas if you know when the “long-distance” part of your relationship will end. It would also show that you are both on the same page and equally serious about your relationship. Of course, you shouldn’t start asking this question after only being together for a month or two. You should let your relationship grow for some time, and once you’re certain that you do want to spend your future together, you should slowly start talking about it.
It’s safe to say that keeping the love alive in a long-distance relationship is a lot more challenging than it would be in a “regular” relationship. Therefore, consider the listed ideas, apply them to your relationship, and with enough effort, it can be just as satisfying, stable, and “real” as any other relationship.
