Long-distance relationships can be very tricky. There can often come a lot of questions about whether or not a relationship is worth pursuing with what can be considered an added hassle. Thankfully, many long-distance relationships work out quite well and many end up in marriage, lifelong relationships and friendships, and more.
People who find themselves questioning whether to pursue a long-term relationship or asking how they can survive the relationship; they have come to the right place. Using the tips here, you can increase your chances of success in long-distance dating. Some dating tips are common sense, but sometimes knowing some of the more nuanced ways to keep a relationship fresh is important.
Tip 1: Plan Ahead So You Know When You Will See Each Other Next
Sometimes life gets busy, and it can seem hard to schedule time, but this is an essential part of long-distance dating. Uncertainty is sometimes hard to manage in long-distance relationships, and planning ahead time to visit is a good way to alleviate this. Even if you are only planning 10 to 15 minutes at a time on occasion, knowing you will get to hear their voice or see their face in a video call is essential. Letting uncertainty linger for too long can be nerve-racking. Send notes without being overbearing and always have the next call ready to go. If a call or video chat does not work out, plan the next one straight away, so it is on the schedule. Life does happen sometimes.
Tip 2: Avoid Assumptions And Judgments
When people are separated from one another for longer periods, it is easier for exaggerated thoughts to come into their minds. In many cases, these exaggerated thoughts are completely wrong, and they tend to move towards the negative more than the positive. Avoiding judgments and assumptions that manifest themselves is essential to the success of long-distance relationship. Sometimes people get jealous or possessive when they are not able to participate in the social outings and fun that the other person is having. Not everyone operates in the same ways, but this is a common reason that long-distance relationships fizzle out.
Some people do go in the opposite direction and start idealizing their partner as being closer to perfection. It is easy to forget about the smaller, more obnoxious parts of a person’s personality when they are not around you. Every person has positives and negatives, and putting people on a pedestal can be another way that relationships end prematurely. When you do get together, it can be easier to focus on the annoyances more intensly if they have put you on a pedestal when they are not with you. Keep in mind that you can communicate and talk with your partner if you feel the need.
Tip 3: Manage Expectations Properly
Some people decide that rules are going to be a major part of their long-distance relationship. These can be fine to have, but remember that talking every night at a specific time is likely not something that can be maintained. While the approach works for some people, organic communication can be a much better route to go. You may go a few days without communicating, and then pick up with more communication for a small period of time, and then back to normal. This is perfectly fine. People get busy, and sometimes their emotions and stresses of life mean that they need a little bit of separation. This happens in not only long-distance relationships, but also relationships where people are living together or living close by.
Tip 4: Don’t Force Communication
If you do, it is likely that you will find days and times where you do not have much to talk about or do not feel like talking. You should focus on spending time with your partner because you want to and not because you are feeling obligated. Filler communication can cause more problems than it solves, and overexposure is something that happens often in relationships. Even people who are living together need time apart.
Tip 5: Stop Comparing Commitment
Remember when you were younger and joked about loving your romantic partner more? Stop it. As soon as people start comparing their commitment to each other, even jokingly, resentment can creep in. Keep things positive and realize that people have different styles of relationships, love languages, and senses of what commitment is. While some relationships have a solid amount of poking and prodding the other person playfully, long-distance relationships can be harder to navigate because the communication and body language are not always the same.
Tip 6: Talk About If The Distance Is Temporary
Maintaining a long-distance relationship without hope of it becoming a shorter distance relationship can be nerve-racking. Sometimes people need hope that they will one day be together and able to spend more time with the people that they love. Some people say that love is not enough, that shared values, mutual interests, and aligned views are important aspects of dating. Of course, people manage different types of relationships successfully, and there is no one formula for dating, long-distance or otherwise.
Final Notes
Some of the most important aspects of relationships are communication and finding mutual happiness together. This does not look the same for all people, and many people live in unique relationships. Sometimes people are monogamous; other times, they are polyamorous. Sometimes people move in with their potential partners relatively quickly; other times, there are long-distance relationships that last for a few years before people decide to move closer to each other.
Keep your focus on great communication, openness and honesty, and positive affirmations. Long-distance relationships can be harder to maintain for some, but people find happiness in many different ways. The most important part of love and dating is that you want to be part of the relationship. The distance can make things seem difficult, but love can prevail.