We all have a person or two that we just have a hard time being without. They might be our childhood best friend, our significant other, our older/younger sibling, niece/nephew, etc. No matter what, extended periods of time apart are difficult and being away at college, for many of us, means these times apart are common. So how to you deal with it when all you want to do is be with them, but you can’t?
I often struggle with not being able to see my boyfriend during the week and having weekends cut short by work or school. I also struggle to properly deal with the emotions that come along with missing him. Fortunately we live in a world equipped with FaceTime, Skype, and plenty of other video chatting technology. This, while not the same as physically being face-to-face, helps a lot. Videochatting works not only for missing your SO, but for family and friends as well. Being able to see the smiles that you love so much and hear the voices that make you happy can change your outlook on the situation immensely.
But what about when you can’t get that virtual face time? Everyone is in a different situation, maybe your person works a lot, is in class when you have free time (or vice versa), maybe they are your 3 year old cousin who (hopefully) doesn’t have a phone they can use to call you. Regardless, we can’t always have the conversations we want or need, so I suggest finding something that you enjoy doing and takes a lot of your attention. Find a grown-up coloring book with intricate designs or another crafty project. Puzzles and books are great options too. Anything that can get your mind off of missing your loved one.
Above all else, don’t neglect the relationships you have with those near to you because you are missing someone at a distance. Your friends are your friends for a reason so don’t take for granted the time you have together. One day we will all graduate and move on to careers or our own, and they may become the people you miss most.
Distance relationships of any kind are tough. Whether it’s days, weeks, or months that you go before getting to be with your people, the time drags on and on. But don’t let it get you down, make the most of every minute you have so that when you are finally reunited you have nothing else to worry about but having a blast. You can do it, Spartans.