Long Distance Relationships – How To Make It Work?

None of us can ever predict the future. So much so that sometimes, we end up living poles apart from the people we value the most. Some leave for a better job, students leave for higher education and a few move abroad to get settled in hopes of a better future.

All of these people stay thousands of kilometres away from their family and friends to make their dreams come true.

However, it isn’t always easy to leave your loved ones behind to start a new life in a completely foreign country. While parents find it hard to have to live away from their children, couples have it hard too.

But have you ever wondered how some of these couples still manage to make it work after years and years of phone calls and FaceTime only? – For, long-distance relationships have their own struggles, which are often inclusive of the following:

Challenges of Long Distance Relationships

As mentioned above, long-distance relationships are never easy. Every day is a new challenge and it is hard for both to get used to the new way of life. However, what exactly are these challenges? Let’s find out!

Time Difference

Perhaps the biggest challenge that couples have to face is the time difference. Both of you are on either side of the world, trying to make it work. But how will you make things work when you are falling asleep and your partner is waking up?

No Immediate Replies

This problem is also associated with the difference in time. Are you wondering why? – It is because both of you are doing different things in real time, making it unrealistic to be able to give instant replies throughout the day. While some couples adjust well to this change, others don’t.

They’re Not Always There

Be it because of the time difference or them settling in a new country, it is not going to be possible for your partner to be there when you need them. This does not mean that they won’t be there for you, but it won’t ‘always’ be possible for them to do so.

As a consequence, you may feel like your partner doesn’t care enough. And this in turn gives rise to a whole series of misunderstandings, even though you are kilometres apart.

Loneliness

No one likes feeling sad and lonely. But staying apart can make you feel these sad emotions a little too much, causing you to unintentionally hamper your workflow or studies.

Hence, if you are unable to come up with solid solutions on time to make yourself feel better, then this can be a real threat to your daily activities.

Holidays & Birthdays

We tend to miss our loved ones the most during the holidays. Be it birthdays, anniversaries or any other event, nothing seems complete without your favourite person being a part of it.

How to make it work?

It is essential to note that the points mentioned above are not the only challenges faced by couples who are in long-distance relationships. There are a lot more struggles involved, which they have to deal with on a daily basis. But how does one overcome these struggles to make it all work out in the end?

Here are a few tips and tricks that you can use to make your long-distance relationship work out:

Moderate Communication

Yes, communication can be good. But only in moderate amounts.

You have to understand that both of you have a life apart from each other. And in that life, both of you have responsibilities, jobs, etc. to take care of. So logically speaking, none of you can afford to waste time by FaceTiming all day.

So, what you can do instead is have adequate communication throughout the day to keep in touch. You have to try to find a perfect balance between your work and social life.

Make it a ground-rule to only text or call when you are free. If you think you don’t have the time to pick up the phone right now, shoot them a text that you are busy and will call later. This seriously solves half of the problems!

Spend Quality Time Together

It is important to enjoy quality time together even if you are living in different time zones. For this, what you can do is play games or watch movies together. This way, you are taking part in recreational activities while being able to spend time with your loved one.

Plus, spending quality time together also makes up for the irregular texting and calling due to the difference in time.

Set Goals

When you have strict goals set for yourself, the rest will fall into place on its own. Try setting similar goals which will eventually land you two in the same country. Communicate with your partner about the goals you have and work your way around them to make things work.

Stay Busy

If he or she is busy studying or working abroad, you too should try to stay busy with your work or studies. Do everything in your power to make the time apart productive for both of you.

You can apply to study abroad in your dream university or finally apply for that job you have been dreaming of. You can also take extracurricular activities like singing, dancing, painting or learning a new language to stay productive.

Be Understanding

Lastly, try and be as understanding as possible. If you are having a hard time living without your partner, chances are, he/she is also having a miserable time living without you. Instead of giving them a hard time because of the difference in time and little to no communication, try to understand why it is hard for them to be available for you right away.

Wrapping Up

Finding true love in this world can be like finding a needle in a haystack. And if you have been lucky enough to find your lobster, you should definitely hold on to them! Long-distance relationships are hard, but you can always be creative and find a way to work around the smaller hitches.

One great way to do that would be to surprise your loved ones on their birthdays or spending the holidays together in the same city. Often, it’s just that easy, really. So, why not take control of the things you have in hand to make the time apart more productive and worthwhile?

Photo by Kevin Escate on Unsplash

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