The semester is over and summer is FINALLY here! Who isn’t looking forward to the warm weather, sun-kissed skin, and non-existent schoolwork? To those of you lucky ones out there who are in a relationship, you may have mixed feelings towards the season and be worried as to how your relationship will fare during the summer.
Anyone who has ever been in a relationship knows that it is not always easy. Everyone is different. Everyone needs their own space and no two people think exactly alike. So whenever you put two people together in a relationship, you have to put work into it. Relationships take time and hard work to be successful. Following that trend, college is no easy task either. College takes time and hard work, just like a relationship. Think of it like this: relationships take time and work, college takes time and work, therefore relationships + college = double the time + double the work. So, what could be more difficult than having a relationship in college? How about trying to have a college relationship last through the summer? Sounds nearly impossible, right? Wrong, nothing’s impossible if you have faith and a plan. I’m here to help you map out that plan. This is something you’ll have to be willing to work at, but in the end a college relationship that can last through an entire summer can basically last through anything. So where to start? We’re going to bring it back to relationship basics 101.
Communication:
Communication is the key to any relationship. This becomes really important with a summer relationship situation because you are no longer seeing this person as much as you have been at school; no more run-ins between classes or quick lunch dates. So, talk about what’s going on in your life. Fill them in on the little things. This will make them feel like they’re a part of your everyday life even if they aren’t with you each day. Ask them about their life, their day and their job. This will keep the conversation going and the more details you give, no matter how miniscule you believe them to be, the more it will help to make your partner feel as though they are with you.
Use technology to your advantage:
With infinite information at your fingertips, there is no excuse to not use it. What can you really do with an iPhone? You can FaceTime, iMessage, play games, Skype, talk on the phone, and go on Facebook. The options seem endless. For all the crap we get from constantly being attached to our phones, we might as well use them. Take advantage of sending a sweet good morning text to your girl, or giving your guy a midday lunch break phone call to see how their day is going. Skype or FaceTime are the best ways to be as together as you can while being apart. You get to visibly see the other person and talk to them. It’s almost like you’re with them!
Commit to a weekly date:
This is fun because it gives you something to look forward to after a full week apart. Maybe set it up so that every Thursday is movie night or try something exciting like have an unplanned adventure every Friday after work. A big part of helping to keep any relationship thriving is to make sure to keep a spark. Have unexpected adventures. Try new restaurants. If you always go out to eat, try a picnic. This makes it fun and even can help you learn more about your partner.
For long distance, try to visit as much as possible:
Long distance is hard, but unlike in high school, you have more freedom, less responsibility, and a car. Plan to visit your significant other as many times as you can. This can either be planned, or made into a surprise visit. Who doesn’t love surprises right? Especially when the guy/girl you’re dating shows up at your door unexpectedly. This can run into problems though, because it can’t just work one way. Both parties have to make an effort to see the other. This not only makes it fair, but also is a physical display that you want it to work as bad as your partner does.
Finally, don’t worry about it:
If your relationship takes a break at the same time school takes a break, don’t worry. It doesn’t mean your relationship won’t work out, it just means that it wasn’t strong enough yet to last through the summer. And although it may make you sad at first, it’s better to take a break and do your own thing until the semester starts back up, than to try and miserably fail and ruin something before it even has a chance to blossom into something great. Relationships are a lot of responsibility and sometimes, if you or the other person aren’t ready, it can be too much to handle. If it’s meant to be, you’ll fall right back where you were when the school year starts again.