One month had passed so quickly in my first semester of college. Living on my own for the first time as well as balancing the workload in my new classes was shocking and nerve-wracking. I got the hang of things really fast within the first month, but there was still one thing that threw me off sometimes: my girlfriend and I had been in a long distance relationship ever since we left for school. Dealing with this, on top of figuring out my new life at college, can be disheartening sometimes. In order to fight the waves of sadness that come when i’m missing her, I have learned ways to maintain our closeness when we are apart. By creating music playlists, mailing letters, facetiming, and planning future dates, I am reminded that the distance is only temporary. These four tips can help anyone whose heart is burdened with the distance between them and their person:
Music Playlists: From experience, a long distance relationship can make it difficult to share the way you truly feel about your significant other. I believe music is a tool to express the feelings you can’t always verbalize. On spotify you can easily dedicate a whole playlist to your special someone with a cute title and include songs that remind them of how you feel about them. If both of you create a playlist for each other, then you can always be reassured of how much they love and care for you whether they are able to say it or not.
Mailing Notes: Most of us have access to text messages and social media, but an old fashioned letter can be the most romantic thing to give your special person. I have discovered that writing allows you to express how you’re feeling in a very genuine way, and reassuring your significant other of your intentions can be key to a healthy long distance relationship. Not only are you able to pour your heart out to them, but it can also be a gift for them to actually read something you created by hand.
Facetime Calls: This is probably the most convenient thing you can do while in a long distance relationship. Whether you facetime or skype, seeing and hearing your significant other can make your heart skip a beat. Carving out a specific time everyday to talk about each other’s day can maintain the strength within your relationship. After a long day of college, I always look forward to unwinding with a facetime call from my girlfriend. Hearing about her day makes me feel like I am still apart of her life despite the physical distance.
Countdown: Finally, keeping a countdown on your phone or calendar can keep you looking forward to the future. Even if the number of days before you see them is high, it will fly by before you know it. In the meantime, planning out your dates will keep the excitement and romance flowing.
In the end, distance is only temporary, and the love between two people can continue to thrive with some things to reassure each other that that spark remains.