We know that all good relationships take a bunch of time and effort… and that’s especially true when it comes to dating someone who lives across the country or in another part of the world. Maintaining a happy long distance relationship usually, means that you have to work twice as hard as other couples to make things work. Things aren’t always simple when you’re dating someone who you can’t see or even touch in person for extended periods of time. There are plenty of tools and skills you need to acquire before taking the plunge from single into a long distance relationship. Nobody ever said that this kind of dating was easy – and when it comes to matters of the heart, you have to do what it takes to keep you and your significant other happy. Being with somebody who you can’t physically be with can definitely prove to be a challenge, but good things come to those who wait. In the meantime, here are 15 things you’re going to need for a happy long distance relationship.
15Trust
Of course, you need a substantial amount of trust in your partner to make any relationship work, but that is even more important when it comes to long distance relationships. Since you don’t live nearby, you don’t have the luxury of seeing each other in person whenever you want, and that can be tough. You have to have faith that your significant other will put his best foot forward and wants the relationship to succeed just as much as you do. This means that you and your guy need to trust each other’s better judgment and know that you have the absolute best intentions when it comes to remaining faithful. Tensions tend to run high in long distance relationships because it can be super stressful not being in the same area code, state, country, or even hemisphere as your better half, so it’s definitely best to have confidence in the other person and trust them fully. If you can’t trust the one you’re with, maintaining a long-distance romance isn’t going to be much fun for either one of you.
14Being Good With Alone Time
If you’re invested in a long distance relationship, you should be definitely prepared to spend a decent amount of time by yourself. Since your man doesn’t live just a few towns over, you won’t be able to have impromptu date nights and hang out with other like-minded couples. There might come a point where all of your other friends have plans with their significant others and you’re left spending your Saturday night in at home on the couch – and that’s fine! Long distance relationships are a little more complex than traditional relationships, so they require more from those who are in them. If you are someone who isn’t comfortable spending time alone, then you might want to think twice about this whole long distance thing. For some people, this would be the ideal situation. They get to have the emotional support and perks of a relationship while still maintaining their own space and independence. Although can might sound appealing, it’s not always all you may have imagined and it can get old pretty quickly… but it’s just another sacrifice that you would be willing to make in order to have a happy long distance relationship.
13Patience
We all know that it takes time and dedication to have a long-lasting relationship that can go the distance, and being miles apart from the person you are dating requires a healthy bout of patience. Typically, long distance relationships happen because one person isn’t able to relocate at the drop of a hat. At some point, one of you might be able to save enough money or score a new job and eventually uproot your life to be with your counterpart – but until that happens, you’ll just have to wait it out and do things long distance. It can be understandably difficult to stay focused on the bigger picture and see the light at the end of the seemingly never-ending tunnel, but your worlds will eventually come together when the time is right. It’s important to be patient and to remember that good things come to those who wait.
12Communication
Of course, you’ve got to have strong communication skills when choosing to date someone who lives far away. Since you aren’t able to hug, kiss, cuddle, or do any of the typical things that couples do, you will probably realize that talking can actually be the best thing ever. Especially in this day and age, where it’s a lot easier to connect with someone who is miles away than it was in the past. Years ago couples on opposites of the globe wrote letters to each other to communicate, but now it’s as easy as turning on your phone or laptop and opening up Skype. Finding the time to interact with your love is paramount to having a happy long distance relationship because it’s a way to connect with one another. Proper communication even limits the possibility of having pointless and petty arguments – which can totally happen when you’re dating long distance. Communicating openly and honestly about your feelings is great for any relationship – especially long distance ones.
11Willingness To Travel
If you are dating someone who does not live close by, you definitely better be prepared to travel. Spending time apart is hard, and when you finally get the chance to spend some much-needed quality time together, you should jump at the opportunity. If you’re willing to travel the world (literally) just to see your partner up close and personal, then it totally shows that you are serious about being with that person. Relationships are all about give and take, and being willing to rack up those frequent flyer miles means that you care about putting in the proper amount of effort to make things work. Ideally, both parties should be equally willing and ready to set sail to their lover’s location whenever they can. While it’s great that you can keep things afloat even though you’re miles apart, it makes finally seeing each other feel that much more special.
10Commitment
They say “absence makes the heart grow fonder” and anyone who has ever been in a serious long distance relationship will probably agree with that statement. Before even agreeing to enter a relationship under the pretense that you won’t be seeing much of each other, you and your better half have to be on the same page when it comes to commitment. Both people have to be committed to making things work and sticking it out even through the hard times. If one person isn’t committed to the process of long distance love, the entire relationship will crumble under the pressure. Some think that you would have to be totally crazy to date someone long distance, but only those who have been there can understand it best. When you’re committed to someone, you will do whatever it takes to be with them… even if it means spending some serious time apart until you are able to reunite.
9Flexibility
Carrying on a happy and successful long distance relationship definitely requires some flexibility. Being long distance means that both of you have to make some sacrifices and have the ability to cater to your partner’s needs. That means that both of you will hopefully be able to have flexibility… especially when it comes to setting aside specific times to come together and reconnect. It’s super important to be able to pick up the phone when your long distance love calls, because you might be in different time zones or not know when the next moment will be where you’ll be able to communicate. It goes without saying that this kind of dating is no easy task, but if the both of you are flexible and work together to coordinate special times to keep in touch, the transition will be a whole lot easier. Both you and your mate should be willing to stray from your normal schedules at times because your relationship is just like the other stuff in your life: it needs attention, too.
8A Support System
With all of the challenges that come along with dating someone who lives miles away, it’s super beneficial to have a strong support system of friends and family back home to get you through the tough times. Since you can’t physically be with your man whenever you want to, it totally helps to have a few good friends or supportive people in your life to pull you out of a slump and remind you that it’s still okay to have fun, live life, and enjoy yourself every now and then. In some cases, carrying on a happy long distance can be a bit of a team effort, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with relying on a little help from your friends to make it past the days where things are a little too tough to handle. Going out with friends and talking about life and your feelings with family will take a ton of stress and pressure off of your long distance love affair. It’s totally natural for you to feel like dating someone who lives miles away won’t work, but you know that if it’s meant to be it will be worth the wait. Take advantage of the other awesome relationships you have in life – they’re here to help.
7Balance
It can be pretty tough to juggle the stresses of everyday life, so adding the daily struggle of a long distance relationship into the mix can sometimes be too much to handle. It’s definitely not easy to balance all of your biggest priorities at the same time, but it is worth it. Trying to divide your time up between work, school, or just being an adult puts a lot on your plate, and making sure you’re giving your long distance love enough time and attention is definitely something you don’t want to forget. That said, it’s also super important not to let every other aspect of your life fall by the wayside because you are laser-focused on maintaining your long distance relationship. You can’t put all of your attention on just one thing and let everything else lag behind. It’s hard, but it’s important to have proper balance when it comes to prioritizing your life. Realizing what is important and having the ability to see the bigger picture will help you achieve the proper balance when it comes to making it all work.
6Love
It’s often said that true love can conquer all, and if you’re dating long distance, you can probably relate. It goes without saying that if you choose to engage in a relationship where you aren’t able to see the other person at your leisure, you’d better make sure that you see a future with them… and more importantly, that you love them. There wouldn’t be a much better reason to put yourself through the trials and tribulations of dating long distance if you weren’t head-over-heels in love with the person, right? Before deciding to embark on this wild journey, it’s super important to make sure this is what (and who) you really want. If you and you partner are willing to stay committed to each other despite the miles between you, then you have what it takes to have a happy relationship. Love makes people do crazy things – you know, such as want to be with someone who you can’t physically be with. When you successfully maintain a long distance relationship you know that the best things in life really are worth waiting for.
5Respect
You always need to have respect for the person you’re dating, and that’s no different when you’re dating someone who lives miles and miles away. Just because they aren’t near, doesn’t mean the same rules of your relationship don’t apply. Some might lose sight of the bigger picture and are quick to forget that just because their partner isn’t with them at all times doesn’t mean that they aren’t together. Being in a long distant relationship is a choice, and it should be taken seriously. When you choose to date with someone, you need to be in it all the way and show your partner the same respect you would if you were in a traditional relationship. That means being faithful, committed, and honest is your responsibility. If you don’t plan on respecting your long distance relationship then you definitely shouldn’t be in one at all. Cheaters, liars, and those with a wandering eye probably shouldn’t apply for the role of a long distance lover… for obvious reasons.
4Intimacy
It’s no surprise that pretty much all relationships require some intimacy in order to stay afloat, and that still applies when you’re dating long distance. Since you won’t be able to do the simple things like hug or kiss your man (until the next time you see him), it’s fun to spice things up a little every now and then. Dating someone long distance is the perfect way to brush up on your skills and learn how to turn your partner on even though you aren’t right next to them. There are plenty of ways to achieve a healthy level of intimacy even when you are apart – and it’s totally alright to get creative. Send him some flirty texts, use Skype to give him a few visuals, and get seductive over the phone. Of course, only do what you are comfortable with, but don’t be afraid to connect with your partner on every level (even intimately) when you are living so far apart.
3Understanding
Having a solid understanding of your partner’s wants and needs is a good way to keep your long distance love happy and content. Maybe your man might be on a tight schedule and hasn’t had as much time as usual to give you a call or shoot you a text. These kinds of things happen when you’re dating long distance, so it’s best to be considerate of your partner before you lose your cool. Odds are, he’s struggling with the separation just as much as you are, even if he doesn’t show it the same way you do. So try to cut him some slack every now. Being forgiving and even sympathetic to certain situations will defiantly help keep the peace in an already taxing time. If you both talk things out, establish boundaries, and come to an understanding of how to best function in your relationship despite being so far away, then you will definitely be able to go the distance.
2A Positive Outlook
When you date someone long distance. you definitely experience a whole rollercoaster of emotions, so putting your best foot forward and trying to remain positive about the state of your love life will do both of you a world of good. There will be times when it feels like the distance is just too much to bear, but reminding yourself of the good times and how happy you two are together will keep you going stronger than ever. Keeping each other happy throughout the time you are apart is crucial to your relationship’s success. It can be draining to be away from the one you love, but it’s best to make the most of any situation. Avoiding conflict altogether and keeping things upbeat is the easiest way to avoid getting down about the distance. Of course, there will be times when both of you are having a tough day but always try to stay hopeful that better days are to come. You can find some comfort in knowing that all relationships face certain challenges, not just long distance ones.
1An End Goal
You definitely know that you can’t stay in a long distance relationship forever. At some point, you and your better half have to come to some sort of agreement or decision where you are able to be closer to each other. If both of you are invested in the relationship and will do whatever it takes to make it work, then you definitely need something positive to work towards. Setting a date or at least giving a general idea of when the whole “long distance” aspect of the relationship comes to an end is crucial to staying happy. If you are both working towards a desirable long-term goal, it might be a lot easier to push past the hard times and remind yourself that soon enough you will be together at last. Long distance relationships are certainly difficult, but they are only temporary. If both you and your guy can make it through the ups and downs of dating long distance, it’s safe to say you can make it through just about anything.
