Many people in the United States are part of a long-distance relationship. (In fact, nearly four million married couples are in long-distance relationships.) Thre are a variety of reasons why both married and unmarried couples may have a period of time when they are geographically separated from their partner, including military service, work transfers, college, or family issues.
Fortunately, despite what people may think, long-distance relationships can work. According to a study conducted by KIIRO, 58 percent of these relationships last. Partners who enter a long-distance relationship must rely on clear and open communication from the start. This can foster a sense of security and confidence in the relationship, despite the geographic distance.
While technological advances have made it easier for couples to have a successful long-distance relationship, technology isn’t the only way to nurture your relationship. A combination of strategies will show your partner how important they are to you and provide a personal touch to your relationship.
Video Chats
Invest in a high-quality webcam and headset so that you can have face-to-face chats in high resolution. You and your partner can schedule regular times to talk over a chat app, such as Skype. With a strong Internet connection, this is a free way to spend quality time together and to ensure that you are fully focused on each other.
Photos
Purchase a smart photo manager, such as ibi made by SanDisk, and load it with photos. You can keep one smart photo manager for yourself and store pictures from dates along with images of you and your partner. You can also give your partner a photo manager with pictures of you, as well as photos of the two of you together.
Love Letters
Write your partner a love letter by hand and send it through the mail. This is a personal gesture that takes time to complete. It’s more intimate than an email. You can also surprise your partner with a letter that you send by regular mail. You can enjoy anticipating their response to this personal gesture.
Focus on the Future
Spend time together talking about plans for the future. When you have phone calls or video chats it is important to do more than listing the events of your day. Spend time discussing future plans and your dreams. This can be a great way to develop your relationship with meaningful discussions.
Surprises
Surprises are meaningful, thoughtful gestures that demonstrate that you are thinking about your partner and care about them. You can order flowers to be sent to your partner. You can also opt to send them a different type of gift, such as a book, CD or chocolates. Giving gifts reinforces how much you care for your partner.
Intimacy
Intimacy is an important part of every relationship. If possible, discuss options and expectations before a period of geographic separation. Both partners need to be comfortable with the chosen strategy for intimate moments. You may prefer to have phone sex, use your webcam for video sex, or develop a different strategy for intimacy.
Music Mix
Make a music mix for your partner. You can choose songs based on a relevant theme, such as your emotions or a favorite movie that you both like. You can also pick songs that remind you of your partner. You can burn a CD or USB drive and mail it to your partner or you can create a playlist on streaming or listening apps.
Play the Ungame
The Ungame is a board game that is sometimes used by therapists. It isn’t a competitive game. Its intent is to foster discussion with a list of questions that can also be accessed online. The questions act as prompts that encourage each participant to talk about their feelings and experiences. This can be used to promote communication.
Date Night
You can plan date nights together from afar. Pick a movie that you both want to watch and have a live chat while you watch the movie together. You can do this through apps such as Discord or by text. You can also have dinner together via your webcam.
Regular Visits
Long-distance relationships can survive and even thrive, but it is still important to spend some time together when you can. You may choose to visit your partner or they may travel to see you. You can also opt to meet in neutral locations and have a short vacation together before you return to your long-distance relationship.
