6 Tips to Make Long-Distance Relationships Work

Ahh, a long-distance relationship – there’s just something so romantic about it! Your lover is miles away, but they long for you and think about you nonstop while you’re apart. And when you’re finally reunited, sparks fly because…absence (and a little or a lot of distance!) makes the heart grow fonder, right?

The reality is long-distance relationships aren’t easy. You both have to put in the work and deal with the emotional and lonely moments without your partner. And you have to practice patience and have faith that being away from one another but staying committed will be worth it.

If you’re in a long-distance relationship, you might wonder, “Does a long-distance relationship work?” The good news is yes! It can work, but only if both partners are 100% on board and trust each other. And, ideally, you’ll agree on when the distance ends because you can’t be long-distance forever!

Let’s get into some relationship advice long distance basics and give you some tips to make a long-distance relationship stand the test of time no matter how far apart you are.

What Is a Long-Distance Relationship?

A long-distance relationship is exactly what it sounds like! You don’t live close to your partner – someone is usually in another city, state, or even country. Your relationship might start as long-distance if you met online, or it might become long-distance because someone had to move for work or school or some other reason. 

Being in a relationship with someone requires an emotional and physical connection. If you want to build a life with your partner, you can’t be long-distance forever! You need to make a plan to drop the long-distance part at some point so your relationship can progress – you can’t grow together if your partner is always a car, train, or plane ride away. 

How to Make a Long-Distance Relationship Work

Long-distance relationships take work. All relationships have challenges, but then you add distance into the mix?! Oof, that creates a whole new element! Whether you’re about to start a long-distance relationship or you’re already in one, these tips will help you make your long-distance love successful. 

Manage Expectations 

Be clear about your relationship and what this long-distance part entails. Are you exclusive? Or do you plan to date others? Make sure you establish the commitment before entering a long-distance relationship. If you don’t discuss labels, you might land in a situationship without expectations. You don’t want to do anything that will hurt your partner or catch them off guard, so lay out some ground rules ahead of time. 

Communicate Regularly

Communication in a healthy relationship is key and even more so with long-distance relationships! If you want to build a successful relationship, you have to prioritize communication. Keep in touch via phone calls, video chats, or text messages. Let them know you’re thinking of them – try sending photo messages and doing small gestures that will make them smile. Long-distance relationship conversation topics could be things like books, movies, or simply talking about your day. 

Avoid Neediness

When you’re in a long-distance relationship, you might want to be in constant contact. But texting all day long or being in touch for hours on end isn’t necessary. It can actually hinder the conversations you might have later in the day when you have more time to chat. Instead of sharing every moment of your day, focus on your needs and save up some of those topics for a marathon phone session. 

Stick to a Schedule

Having a schedule is especially important when you’re in different time zones or have different work hours. Make sure you know each other’s schedules and plan set times to talk, like on a lunch break or a specific time in the evening. You could even sync calendars so you know when they’re available to chat. This way, you won’t interrupt any important meetings and have something to look forward to. 

Find Creative Ways to Bond

Since you can’t be together in person, plan long-distance relationship activities, like virtual date nights, watching a movie, or playing an online game. You could choose a recipe that you both cook and then eat together on video chat or order each other takeout. You might send each other letters or gifts, which always makes a huge difference when you’re in a long-distance relationship because physically holding something from your partner adds a level of closeness. And make sure you prioritize intimacy when you’re apart – add in some dirty talk or phone or video sex to spice things up.

Make Plans to Visit Each Other

It’s important to have something to look forward to in a long-distance relationship. Try to plan dates when you’ll visit each other or when the distance will end and put them on the calendar so there will always be something you can plan or talk about while you’re apart. Before you know it, you’ll have a date to count down to, whether it’s seeing each other in person or finally living in the same place!

The Best Relationship Advice Long Distance 

Finding support can be challenging in a long-distance relationship, especially if you don’t have any friends or family that can relate. Heart Appeal can offer advice, tools, and insight to help you navigate the modern dating world, even if your partner is far away. In our social community for singles, you can share stories and find others who totally get your dating life. And, if you’d like an extra step to enrich your relationships, you can work directly with our relationship coaches.

Discover the most authentic version of yourself on your journey to love and become a member of our community today!