It is no lie that long distance relationships can suck. But, that does not make them impossible. Here is a guide on how to avoid the turkey dump, and make your LDR last.
1. Relax
Starting a long distance relationship can be stressful at first. The best thing to do is take a few deep breaths. Do NOT get ahead of yourself and get worked up over something that is not necessarily a problem yet.
2. Stay positive
Staying positive is the foundation of making a LDR work out. If you are negative, everything will go downhill from there. Your significant other will also feed off of your positive energy and want to give the same back to you.
3. Communicate
Make time to talk. This is what LDRs rely on, since you aren’t able to see each other often. A short phone call on the walk to class can make a huge impact on you during a stressful week.
4. Get on the same page
Go over what you both want out of the long distance relationship. Decide how serious or how open you want to be when you are not able to be together. Staying on the same page is the only way to avoid those fights over the smallest things. If you understand what each of you expect from the other, this will avoid a lot of conflict that some LDRs have.
5. Plan trips
Obviously, only seeing each other on Thanksgiving and Christmas can get a little tough. Planning to meet at home or taking a trip to your significant other’s school can make those long periods of time more bearable. Visiting their school also gives you a chance to get to know their friends there. Becoming friends with their friends is a great way to stay connected.
6. Be creative
Sometimes LDRs can get a little stale. One way to mix things up is to plan surprises. Surprise trips or sending packages/letters are great ways to do this. Surprises are not only exciting for the person who doesn’t know about it, but they are also a lot of fun to plan out.
7. Learn to be okay on your own
Don’t rely on your significant other to dictate your happiness. It can be hard in relationships to not get caught up in wanting to do anything possible for them. Time apart is a great opportunity to become your own person while remaining in a relationship.
8. Be realistic
One of the most important things to understand about LDRs is that there are going to be times when not all of your expectations are met. School is obviously your first priority, which is why you are in the situation of a long distance relationship. So don’t let your relationship take away from your schooling. It’s okay to not talk for a few days when you are caught up with school.
9. Learn how to apologize
Fights are bound to happen in any relationship, and LDRs make it even harder. Knowing when you are in the wrong can take away a lot of the stress that breaks down long distance relationships. Apologizing avoids dragging on a fight way longer than it should be.
LDRs are really hard to maintain, but those that last are some of the strongest relationships out there. Don’t give up on love!