"Love knows no boundaries and no distance; miles and obstacles mean absolutely nothing in the face of love." - Unknown.
Traveling and having the ability to meet different people worldwide has caused a greater likelihood of wanting to explore long-distance relationships. Social media and other social applications have made it easier for us to connect with different people but have also made it more difficult to meet in person due to different geographic locations. It is commonly heard that long-distance relationships "don't work." Still, I challenge you to think about if your partner, friend, or companion is expected to be in your backyard when there are 7.8 Billion people to connect with on the planet.
Are you concerned with being in a long-distance relationship? Have you denied connections precisely because of the distance? Do you believe that long-distance relationships are destined to fail? If so, this blog is for you. Long distance relationships may have their challenges, but are not impossible to manage or maintain in a happy, healthy manner.
So why are long-distance relationships hard? Long-distance relationships can be difficult for more reasons than one. Factors such as communication difficulties, physical distance, lack of intimacy, traveling back and forth, trust, managing conflicts at a distance, and transitioning after long-distance relationships are all factors that make long-distance relationships difficult.
Today, I will cover how to be in a long-distance relationship happily and healthily. So, let's start with what is a long-distance relationship. A long-distance relationship is defined as two or more people in a romantic relationship who are geographically separated. In a survey conducted in 2005, it was found that approximately 15 million people considered themselves to be currently in a long-distance relationship. The survey suggests that 75% of couples have been in a long-distance relationship with their current partner for at least some time in their relationship. Knowing the statistics of how common long-distance relationships are is important to validate that you are not alone in your long-distance relationship. Many other resources are available, such as support groups, to assist with managing a long-distance relationship.
Tips for Being in a Long-Distance Relationship
As mentioned above, long-distance relationships can be difficult, but some factors and contributors can assist in making your long-distance relationship a success. Tips for having a successful long-distance relationship are as follows:
Stay Connected: Cell phones, computers, iPads, and other forms of technology have made staying connected so much easier than in the past. Our technology is key for long-distance relationships to assist with face-to-face interactions through virtual platforms and stay abreast with what is happening daily. Technology also makes it easier to have fun! Games such as Game Pigeon and couples connection applications such as SumOne also assist with staying connected socially and emotionally with your partner. Quick Tip: Make sure to focus on communication throughout the day.
Travel: Seeing each other in person as often as possible will be imperative for maintaining a healthy long-distance relationship to assist with physical connection and all forms of intimacy to stay even more connected and lessen the gap of disconnection.
Date Nights: When traveling and in person, date nights are important and when you are away. Plan date nights virtually to keep up the routine and schedule of continuing to "date" each other. Date nights are also important for fostering each other's needs and staying connected through each other's interests.
Emotional Intimacy: Talk about it. Make sure to prioritize talking about positive emotions and difficult feelings with each other. Focus on having conversations no matter the topic to forge healthy communication patterns long distance or in person.
Plan: Plan an optimal time to merge your lives and remind each other that long distance is temporary. Talk about a plan for how lives would look together. Who is relocating, or if both people are relocating? Talk about careers and blending families if applicable.
All in all, long-distance relationships can be challenging but are not impossible. Follow the tips above to foster a healthy long-distance relationship.
For more tips, please check out our other tips here https://www.plantationcounseling.com/blog. You can always find us at 954-903-1676 for counseling services.