Long distance relationships are relationships where partners are separated by their geographical locations. The availability of video conferencing and instant messaging makes it easy to maintain a long-distance relationship. But anyone in a long-distance relationship will tell you that there are some things that technology cannot make up for.
Long distance relationships can work if you avoid excessive communication, have clear expectations, and are honest. There are drawbacks to a long-distance relationship because you don’t share a physical area. Because people tend to focus on what they lack rather than what they have, long-distance relationships have a negative reputation.
This article will expound on how to make long-distance relationships work, whether these relationships are worth it, and the challenges involved. Read on to find out more.
How to Make Long-Distance Relationships Work
The following tips can make your long-distance relationships work.
View it as a Test
Consider it a learning experience for you both. You can demonstrate your affection for one another at this time. You should trust that this experience has the potential to strengthen your bond rather than thinking that your long-distance relationship is splitting you.
Avoid Excess Communication
Most couples believe communicating more could compensate for the distance, but it’s not true. This could worsen the situation as you would get weary of “love.” You don’t need to communicate every so often to maintain the connection.
Less leads to more. Spamming is counterproductive because you will just wear yourself out. It just boils down to knowing the right time to tease and the strings to pull.
Make Your Expectations Clear
You must be clear about what you need from the other during a long-distance relationship. Establish ground rules to avoid acting in a way that would surprise the other party. For instance, you can clarify whether the two of you are exclusive and what level of commitment you have. Being honest with one another about all of these things is preferable.
Have a Timeline
A couple can’t maintain a long-distance relationship indefinitely. You all have to settle down eventually. So, come up with a plan together. Set up a timetable, note the estimated separation and convergence times, and depict the eventual results.
You need to share the same objectives and work towards a future that involves both your goals, even though you might not be in the same place or time zone.
Be Honest with Each Other
Discuss any sentiments of dread, insecurity, resentment, or apathy with your partner. Keeping secrets will eventually consume you from within. Avoid trying to handle everything alone. Be straightforward and honest with one another. Allow your partner to assist you and provide the necessary support in what you do. When a problem arises, it is preferable to address it than to wait until it is too late.
Know Your Partner’s Schedule
Knowing your partner’s schedule is very important, as it lets you know the appropriate time to text or call. You would want to refrain from interrupting your partner when they are in the middle of a crucial meeting. Ensure that you are informed of both little and major life events affecting everyone, such as college tests, significant business trips, and job interviews. This gets more crucial if you reside in different time zones.
Challenges of Long Distance Relationships
Are long-distance relationships worth it? The following are potential challenges that will help you determine whether it’s worth the effort.
Trust
Trust is the most common challenge and a major reason long-distance relationships fail. The physical separation between partners may make it harder for them to trust one another completely. Lack of trust can lead to partners drifting away mentally, which is more harmful than physical separation. Relationship problems are inevitable, but mistrust between partners is the biggest hazard to a relationship.
Reconnecting After Staying Apart for a Long Time
Partners have a lot to share, especially when you get back together after a long break. As a result, you frequently battle over what you don’t have rather than creating memories and relishing the moments you do have. Sometimes your expectations still need to be fulfilled, and you end up with even more disparities than you started.
Patience
The fundamentals of your relationship can be impacted by a persistent need to learn more about your partner. Distance makes the heart grow fonder. Your capacity for patience starts waning with time. You begin to dwell on the bad and overthink things, which propels you toward an intoxicating connection. The relationship becomes more complicated as a result, and you start to have second thoughts.
Conflict
All relationships experience conflict. Distance introduces new issues into the equation. You already know that being apart from your lover leads to arguments, whether you’ve been in a long-distance relationship for two weeks or two years. You have less time as you get farther apart, which results in fewer discussions and greater room for disputes in your relationship.
Unreasonable Expectations
Sometimes, neither you nor your partner is exactly sure what you want from the other and the relationship. Your relationship is greatly influenced by what you expect from your partner. Unreasonable expectations put unnecessary pressure on your relationship, which is already facing challenges related to distance.
Miscommunication
Long-distance communication necessitates extra attention due to varying schedules and time zones. It is uncommon for couples to have the same communication needs and expectations, even in stable relationships.
For instance, you might feel distant from your partner if you go the whole day without receiving a cute text from your partner. Others might be okay with that since they know they’ll catch up at a convenient time.
Bottom Line
Long-distance relationships are hard, and no one anticipates being in one. However, if you find yourself in a long-distance relationship, you’ll have to find ways of coping with the challenging situation.
Most people believe that long-distance relationships cannot work. Friends and family might advise you against it and even tell you to prepare for heartbreak. You must gauge your situation and decide whether you’re ready to deal with the challenges or to let go.
Although long-distance relationships require some sacrifice, it’s important to remember that you also have your own life to run.
