Tips On How To Make A Long Distance Relationship Last
By: Olivia Villanueva
Ah, long distance. I have been dating my boyfriend for 4 ½ years and 1 ½ of those years have been semi-long distance because of college. I wish I could tell you it is easy but there is definitely a big difference between being a 15 minute car ride away from each other versus it being a 14 hour car ride. I know it can feel like years until the next time you are going to see your love again, but just breathe and relax! I’m here to give you some tips I find helpful in making a long distance relationship last!
Positive Attitude
I have found this to be a major help. Having a negative attitude and complaining about how long you have to go without seeing them can really shape your mindset for the rest of the day. You can flip this thought by having a countdown for the next time you will see them and think of it as “1 day down, ____ amount to go”. Everyday is one step closer; it never goes back. I know this can be hard to practice sometimes but I swear that when you look back at it, you’ll realize how fast the time actually went by!
Good Communication
As weird as it sounds, I’ve found that communicating is actually harder to perform when being long distance than being close. When we are long distance, sometimes we hold in our feelings and put them aside to never be discussed because we are too afraid that it will make us miss them and end up feeling sad. However, talking about your feelings may very well end up being better for your relationship and your own mental status! Recognizing your feelings and talking them through with your significant other is a good thing! Sometimes conversations about how the day is going and what they have planned for the rest of the week get old, so this will definitely bring some life to the conversation.
Facetime/Video Chat
Whether you use Facetime or some other form of video chatting, this is probably the best thing for communicating long distance! Trust me, when facetime is the closest thing you have to being present with you love, you learn to never take it for granted. Text messages and phone calls are great too, but being able to see someone’s facial expressions and body language truly make a huge difference in the bond you guys share.
Send things in the Mail
This past week, I actually sent my boyfriend a Halloween care package. It had a lot of simple things like, his favorite candies, his favorite snacks, and some other fun halloween colored things like an orange football. I also snuck a little love letter in there, which let him know how much he means to me. It did not cost much at all, but he was so happy to see a package in his mailbox. Have them facetime you when they open it so you get to see their reaction!
Plan a Date
Planning a date for when you guys will see eachother again will not only make you have something exciting to look forward to, but it will also keep you in that positive state of mind! If you are on a budget, like myself because I am a college student, your dates can be simple and money free! Plan to have a movie night and make some popcorn and get comfy. Or, you can plan to get dinner at your favorite restaurant. You can even plan for something big, like getting a hotel room for New Years. Whatever it is, it will keep your mind focused on something positive!
Keep Busy
Distract your mind! My schoolwork is usually pretty demanding so I always have something to work on, but I also enjoy hanging out with my friends, working out, watching my favorite TV shows, scrolling through Instagram, watching funny Youtube videos, and writing for Her Campus to keep my mind busy! Keeping yourself busy will distract your mind from overthinking.