You think your relationship is already pretty tough. But then you add in a few hundred miles and a staticky phone connection, and you’re convinced it’s impossible. However, if you and your significant other are both serious about your relationship, there are plenty of ways to make it work.
Tip#1 Set a deadline
It may seem odd to set a deadline for your relationship, but it’s human nature to want concrete goals. It’s much easier to know you’ll see your loved one again in exactly one month and five days rather than a hazy period of time. Plus, if you know when you’ll see each other again, you can use that knowledge to your advantage. For example, write each other cute notes counting down the days until you’re together again. Or plan an incredibly special date for your reunion. Get creative!
Tip#2 Enjoy your time apart
It’s time to face reality. Many couples are overly attached at the hip and lose themselves in their relationships. If this applies to you, you’ll feel an uncomfortable sensation of guilt and denial right about now. It’s okay! Relationships are exciting, and it’s natural to invest a lot of your time in them. However, the summer is the perfect time to rekindle your friendships and pick up on activities you slacked off on before. Sit down for lunch with your girlfriends without constantly checking your phone for messages. Go to the gym and sweat it out without worrying about your appearance. Not only will you feel good gaining control over your own life again, but you’ll also forget how much you miss your significant other.
Tip #3 Be positive
The most irritating thing you can do while apart from your loved one is to moan and groan about how much you hate being apart. Of course you do. But how is complaining about it going to help? If your boyfriend or girlfriend is studying abroad or spending time at home with family, do you really want to make them feel guilty for not being with you? Absolutely not. This is the time to suck it up and be supportive. This isn’t to say that you’re not allowed to be sad or miss your significant other. But there’s a huge difference between sweetly missing your other half and being miserably negative about your situation. Recognize that you don’t have control over the situation you’re in, but you do have control over your attitude.
Tip #4 Take a step back
If you’re having an extraordinarily difficult time being apart from your significant other over the summer, it’s time to take a step back and pinpoint why. Usually, the most common reason for anxiety in a long distance relationship is a lack of trust. If you constantly worry about what your boyfriend or girlfriend is doing and cry at night because you imagine them cheating on you, then there’s one of two possibilities: either you’re overly paranoid or he or she isn’t trustable. Unfortunately, most of the time it’s the latter. Although long distance relationships are never easy, it shouldn’t be a heart wrenching experience if you’re with a person with whom you have a deep amount of trust and love with. Even though it’s difficult to hear, if you’re truly suffering during the two or three months you’re apart, take it as a huge red flag in your relationship.
Although being apart for an entire summer may appear to be a daunting task at first, you should view it as an opportunity to flourish as an individual while testing the strength of your relationship. In the end, it’s all about you attitude. And a positive one will get you so much farther than a negative one ever will. Good luck!
