Making Long Distance Work: A Personal Guide to Love Across Miles

Long distance – Something that seems scary as soon as you hear the words. When I first realised I liked someone who stayed 2000kms away from me, the freaking out was inevitable. And the first time he flew in to meet me and was heading back home, I was certain we wouldn't be able to make this work with all of the emotions that kept boiling up in me at the thought of being so far away and the uncertainty on when we would get to see each other next.

My Long Distance Journey

It has since been 2 years and a handful of visits back and forth but we have been able to make it work for two whole years. There have definitely been times where there was the longing to be in each other's presence or to spend time together, mundane things that couples do all the time yet it felt like a big deal here but we have found our ways to make it work to the best of our abilities.
Of course each couple is different and the way they work is different but there are some things that can be focused on to ensure long distance no longer feels scary. Here are a few things I found worked for us to keep us going in the right direction while keeping our connection healthy.

5 Things To Focus On When You're In A Long Distance Relationship

1. Healthy and consistent communication: A designated time to speak and sharing emotions in an open conversation can help keep things flowing smoothly
2. New ways of spending time together: Using technology to the fullest by benefitting from watch parties to watch movies or series, playing games together online, video calls and virtual dates and tours can keep the spark going
3. Discuss navigating through changes: If long distance is new for you, it can help to discuss what are the possible changes, what emotions they bring up for both people involved and discussing ways to work through them healthily can make a lot of difference
4. Find ways to make the other person feel special: This can be done by sending gifts or virtual hugs, paying attention to smaller details of their regular lives, being available emotionally consistently and trying to understand newer challenges the opposite person may be facing is vital
5. Plan visits: Visiting your partner whenever you can and ensuring spending time with them, taking turns to plan these visits can also help with maintaining a healthy attachment.

Long distance relationships can, at times, take a toll on us especially when it gets difficult to communicate or there are different time zones involved. This piece is to remind you that as long as there is been work being put in, it can help in navigating through this healthily. If you need further support, feel free to reach out to our support team via chat or calls or a therapist who can help guide you through this phase effectively.
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