Article by Madison Trousdale, Graphic by Ariella Cemental

Long-distance relationships are notoriously tough, especially for college students. College is a time in your life when you are finding who you are, experiencing new things, and having more freedom than ever before. You want to have your significant other by your side for all of these exciting things, but being in a long-distance relationship makes that hard. 

With all that is going on in the world right now, most couples are having to do some form of long-distance with their significant other. While long-distance can pose a lot of challenges, these tips can help you navigate the ups and downs of being in a long-distance relationship.

Do cute things for each other

Doing small things like having a Skype dinner date with each other or sending a care package with their favorite items is a great way to make things fun and keep the spark alive. Doing something special is a way to let your significant other know that you are thinking of them and that they matter to you. One fun thing that you can try is downloading Zoom and sharing your screen so you and your significant other can talk while watching the same movie together. The gestures don’t have to be expensive or grand; just doing small and thoughtful things for your significant other will go a long way.

Communication is key

Most everyone has heard the phrase “communication is key,” and that couldn’t be more true when it comes to long-distance relationships. One way to be a successful communicator is to be honest with your significant other. If something upsets you, let them know. One of the worst things you can do is let resentment creep into the relationship, so it’s important to open up with your special someone. Another tip is to set expectations for each other at the beginning of the relationship. Setting expectations helps you avoid conflict and keeps you both happy. Lastly, talking on the phone rather than texting helps to avoid miscommunication and allows for a deeper and more meaningful interaction. 

Have things to look forward to 

Being in a long-distance relationship can be lonely and difficult at times, but one thing that can help combat those feelings is having something fun planned for the next time you see each other. Whether it is a trip to the beach, or something as simple as spending the night bingeing your favorite show together, it is always nice to have something to look forward to. When you are feeling down, talking about all of the things that you can do together when you get to see each other will give you something to look forward to and get excited about.

Practice patience 

Be slow to anger and quick to forgive. Being in a long-distance relationship is hard enough as it is; it is not worth sweating the small stuff. No relationship is perfect and fights are normal, but try to avoid fighting as much as possible. Try not to push each other’s buttons and refrain from going back to topics that tend to cause arguments. Never belittle, name call, or personally attack your significant other because these things can leave wounds that are hard to heal. Most importantly, never go to bed angry at each other. Always end your conversations with an “I love you” and don’t hold onto anger.

Remember the end goal

It’s no secret that being in a long-distance relationship can be very challenging and discouraging at times. During rough patches in your relationship, it is important to remember the end goal. Every relationship goes through highs and lows, and it is during those lows that  remembering why you are doing this is most important. One day, the long-distance will end and you will be able to be with the person that you love and all of the challenges of distance will be worth it. 

Long-distance is challenging, but if you love the person, you can make it work. Communicate, be open and honest, and remind your significant other that you love them. Do sweet gestures to help keep things exciting, have fun things to look forward to, and don’t sweat the small stuff! Remember that it will all be worth it in the end.

Cover Photo courtesy of Valentin Antonucci via Unsplash