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Long distance relationships can be daunting, but they’re often a necessary part of a busy life. Whether you’ve just connected and haven’t had the chance to meet in-person yet, or whether you’ve been together for years but have demanding careers in far-off places, our long distance relationship tips can open up new facets of your relationship. With a few simple strategies, you can transform the extra miles from a bearable time to an opportunity to explore and develop the depth of your love.
Long-distance Relationship Tips to Strengthen Your Connection
1. Schedule date nights
Whether you’re living together or on opposite sides of the world, spending meaningful time together is a cornerstone of any healthy relationship. Think of the things that you love to do together, and then find a way to translate that over the distance. If you’re a fan of romantic meals, try cooking the same dish and then video chatting over dinner. If your style is more Netflix and chill, pick a romantic series and schedule regular nights to watch an episode together.
The key is finding the perfect balance of activities so that you can spend time together without having it feel like work. One of the biggest changes when entering a long-distance relationship is that you can feel like you’re missing out on the little things – cooking together, chatting while you clean up, just cuddling and not saying anything at all. Remember that it’s not just romantic date nights – you can Skype to share time just doing the simple things.
2. Embrace technology
Long-distance can be tough, but it’s easier today than it’s ever been before. Between FaceTime, messenger, and one-day Amazon Prime shipping, we can send our love and care across the world in seconds. Technology can open up new aspects of your relationship as well – the lack of physical contact means that visual and auditory elements take center stage, offering up a fun opportunity to explore new communication skills. Try dressing up a little extra for your next FaceTime date, or leaving them a supportive voicemail while they’re at work. Coming home to a considerate, personal surprise strengthens your bond and reminds your partner that no matter where you are, you’re always there for them.
Intimacy tip: Use video date night as an opportunity to try something you wouldn’t normally do. Complicated lingerie or playful outfits can feel impractical in person, but they’re perfect for long-distance. Let your creativity out to play, go bold, and leave your partner with a mental picture that will last until they see you in person.
3. Tell them how you feel
When you share a physical space with your partner, you can gauge their mood or tell if they’ve had a rough day. Sometimes that can be harder over the phone, so it’s important to be able to clearly and openly talk to your partner how you feel. If you’ve had a bad day at work, don’t be afraid to ask for extra support. Chances are they’ll be more than happy to give it to you, and they’ll feel more confident knowing that they can be there for you when you need them.
Bonus – Developing these communication skills now creates a strong framework for your future together. Even when you’re back in the same place, being open and communicative with your partner will build trust, love, and support.
4. Make time for real life
As much as technology works wonders for long-distance relationship tips, it isn’t a substitute for real life. Whether it’s once a month or once a year, making the time to physically connect and renew the intimacy in your relationship is essential to keeping it thriving.
Try taking short vacations together, or spending a week in each other’s cities. It’s perfect for bringing back the spark, but it’s also a valuable opportunity to see how you feel spending longer periods of time together. Long-distance doesn’t have to mean putting your relationship on hold – these vacations can be the best time to let your relationship grow. You may not be able to move in together, but spending a week or two living in the same space can give you a sense of what a future together will feel like.
Intimacy tip: If you’re not able to visit in person, send your partner a care package with physical objects that connect you together. Maybe it’s a favorite scarf that smells like you or a home-cooked recipe. When it doubt, a classic mixtape of songs you love is a personal, thoughtful touch with a cute vintage feel.
5. Plan for the future
One of the best things about long-distance relationships is that they’re more than just the moment – they’re a promise for the future. Whether it’s a concrete plan like getting engaged or simply the feeling that you want to be with this person, you’re both motivated to put in the time and effort to create a serious bond.
Planning your future together creates something to look forward to. Particularly if you’re in a situation like a military relationship where regular visits aren’t always an option, having a concrete plan can help ease the strain of not seeing each other for long periods of time.
6. Remember the basics
Long-distance love may have its challenges, but at its heart, it follows the same rules as any close relationship. You can still do almost everything you would do if you lived nearby, it just might require a little extra creativity. If you can’t be there to deliver flowers in person, order a bouquet to your partner’s office with a personal note. Maybe you can’t arrive at their door to make up after a fight, but you can still record a video message that sincerely captures the way you feel. Remember the basics of all long-distance relationship tips – small gestures, quality time together, and open lines of communication. Find ways to translate those gestures across the miles, and you’ll create a strong, healthy relationship that can take you anywhere.
Looking for more long-distance relationship tips to feel closer together? EliteSingles helps you discover a few of the benefits of loving someone on the other side of the world, including how learning another language can increase your attractiveness.