Let’s be honest: being away from your significant other SUCKS. How are you supposed to go from seeing each other on campus every day to being miles away for months at a time? Long distance isn’t easy, but it’s not impossible either. This past summer, I was back home in Boston and my boyfriend was here, in Pittsburgh. Here’s our list of 8 simple things we did to make it through our summer apart!
1. Give Each Other Something
Before you go, exchange something with your boyfriend or girlfriend. Being able to cuddle up with something that smells like your S.O. can be a great comfort if you’re feeling down. Whether it’s a baggy sweater or a favorite shirt (or if you’re feeling extra risqué, a pair of underwear or a bra), holding onto something that reminds you of them brings back how it feels to be in their arms.
2. Schedule Times to Talk
If you are able to, set a specific time to Skype or call your S.O.; it gives you something concrete to look forward to and depend on. It can be scary if you aren’t sure of the next time you will speak with your boyfriend or girlfriend, so setting a time that you agree to talk at some frequency (every day, every other day, etc.) allows each of you to go about your daily lives without feeling like you’re going to miss your chance to talk to each other.
3. Be Busy
Don’t spend your days waiting around for them to text you back; go do something! Then when they do reply, you’ll have some great stories to share about your adventures. Too often in a relationship, we become accustomed to hanging out with our significant other more than anyone else. Take this time apart to make plans with different people. Make some new friends!
4. Be Trusting
Constantly worrying about what your significant other is doing while you’re gone is not healthy. Unless there is a concrete reason to believe they are cheating on you, trust that your boyfriend or girlfriend is being faithful. If you are suspicious that something else is going on, the best thing you can do is just ask them. Honesty is the best policy.
5. Communicate
It’s really hard when you can’t see someone face-to-face for a long time. Things that you could just “tell” when you were around each other are much less palpable through a screen or phone. This means you need to tell each other how you’re feeling and what you’re thinking more than perhaps you are used to. If you are truthful to each other about your emotions, it will be much easier for both of you to feel fulfilled in the relationship.
6. Have “Dates”
Just because you aren’t physically near each other doesn’t mean that you can’t still do things “together.” Pick a movie and watch it over Skype or catch the newest episode of your favorite show while you Facetime each other. It’s not the same as cuddling on the couch and throwing popcorn at each other, but it can still be pretty fun.
7. Take Pictures
Being able to show your boyfriend or girlfriend some photos of your daily adventures is a great way to share your experiences with them. Showing them some pictures of what you saw or things you thought were funny can remind you of what it’s like to experience life together, even when you’re miles apart.
8. Try to See Each Other
See if you can find a weekend to see each other. Plane tickets can be expensive, but you can’t put a price on the feeling you get when your bae is standing right in front of you for the first time in two and a half months.