Before I moved away for college, I had gotten used to seeing my boyfriend every day. We did everything imaginable together, and I hadn’t really realized that fact until I started doing those same things alone. I no longer have a dinner buddy, a movie buddy, a sit-in-the-trunk-of-the-car-on-the-beach-and-listen-to-the-waves buddy. I no longer have my best friend in the same city as me. Long distance relationships can be extremely lonely, but here are some tips and tricks that can help you get through it.
1. Plan out when you’re going to see each other
Whether it’s weeks or months away, having a date to mark on your calendar will give you both something to look forward to. My boyfriend and I set a goal to see each other once a month. Whipping out our school calendars and aligning our breaks made it seem possible, and though things come up and dates may change, I am always looking forward to the future instead of dwelling on the past.
2. Phone calls, phone calls, phone calls
Yes, I know talking on the phone isn’t the same as seeing your significant other face-to-face, but hearing their voice is the second best thing. Calling each other every night gives my boyfriend and I the perfect opportunity to talk about our days. My advice would be to talk more than text. I found that my boyfriend and I fight more over texts because we can’t read each other’s tone, so phone calls are definitely the way to go for more serious topics.
3. Put some pictures up
Having pictures in my dorm room of us together is a nice reminder of all that we’ve been through. There’s everything from our photo strips from prom to our road trip to Los Angeles. Every time a picture catches my eye, I find myself smiling – in fact, while I’m writing this, I’m looking at a Polaroid picture from the time we had a bubble blowing contest. I also find myself scrolling though my photo album and changing my screensaver to the memory I miss the most that day. Seeing him in pictures every day makes me more excited for the next time we see each other in person.
4. Take something of theirs they don’t use anymore
The middle drawer of my dresser is full of my boyfriend’s old lacrosse t-shirts, and it’s the best thing in the world. Wearing something of his makes me feel so much closer to him – and I also never have to spring for pajamas again! I also have his old high school varsity jacket that is filled with the best memories of our relationship. It’s my comfort jacket, and it’s perfect for those times that I’m missing him a little more than usual.
5. Realize that if you can get through this, you can get through anything
If you and your significant other can get through a long distance relationship, chances are, it’ll make your relationship stronger. You’ll trust each other more, appreciate being together more and learn to be a little less dependent on each other. A little time apart can be a really healthy thing in a relationship, and I’d like to think that if my boyfriend and I can make it through four years of college, we can get through anything.