Is anyone else getting to the point in the term where you are dreaming of the summer holiday and longing for the Christmas holidays solely based on the fact that you will be properly re-united with a special someone? Long distance relationships are a challenge and come with extremely trying situations and issues but they are so, so worth it. No doubt you two will be stronger than you were before attempting this mission! Here are a few tips I’ve learnt along the way:
Trust each other
This is the most important thing you can possibly do. Trust them more than you trust yourself or anybody else. By going long distance you are signing up to not be together as often as you are used to and they will probably be with other people more than they are with you which can hurt. Being apart doesn’t mean you love each other any less, if anything distance does honestly make the heart grow stronger. If you’re feeling these things then they probably are as well, so trust them! You’re not messing around with anyone else, so why would they be? And if they are, that £60 train ticket really isn’t worth your while!
Plan
Before you start off the term, sit down with your significant other and make a plan! Work out how often you want to see each other, making sure that you weigh up cost and workload so you decide on a realistic sort of plan. The majority of couples that I know tend to see each other every other weekend which seems to work for most and is a good foundation as you go into the start of term.
Don’t be too clingy
If you’re constantly pestering them, you will only push them away. Yes, you miss them but focus on other things, such as work and friends to make sure you have a good time and are keeping yourself busy even when they’re not there. As your significant other is not in your immediate location, you need to surround yourself with people who you also consider close – in a friendly way – so that you have people to go to if you need. Sometimes you just need a physical hug, right?!
Stay positive
Have a mental (or physical) countdown until the next time you see them. This really helps you to stay positive and focus more on the decreasing time left until you’re going to see them next. Sometimes one of you will find it harder than the other; make sure you’re there for one another when this occurs. You’re a team and that’s what teammates do. And remember this long distance mission won’t last forever, at some point you’ll be back together and that’s the time when you’ll think how worth it everything has been!