With more and more people now meeting over the internet or travelling further the work, long distance relationships are now no longer so much of a head turner. But, like any relationship, they require work to succeed, albeit in different areas to their usual full-time counterparts.
There is the issue of discipline when making time for our significant others. Very often, they will be sitting by their phone or laptop waiting for us to make the call, regardless of whether we have planned it or not. We may have agreed to call them at 9PM, but what is the harm in calling them up when you get off work to tell them you love them? These subtle gestures show jam and the world that we are serious about the relationship. And on the issue of making time, because we do not have the luxury of constant physical interactions, the time we spend speaking and chatting needs to be prioritised over other business, personal or otherwise. If it is a toss up between calling your girlfriend while meeting friends for a beer, look at who is going to value that hour of your time the most.
Being punctual does not get a free pass either. In physical everyday relationships, we can get away with being five minutes late for a date. But when our loved ones are sat by the end of the phone, those five minutes feel like hours, and our failure to build time just shows disrespect more clearly than normal.
Lastly, give your partner space, even in a long distance relationship. Yes, you may want to talk every night, but they also have friends in the real world and you will hopefully incorporate those friends into your life over time as well. But they have a life to lead and cleanliness is magnified intensely over long distances.
Yes, long distance relationships are hard work. But they also give us a chance to really appreciate each other and learn to show and receive love in different ways. If the relationship is healthy, you’ll both enjoy the hard work.
