Tips On How To Maintain A Healthy Long-Distance Relationship

Last updated by Katie M.

Have you given into the temptation of using dating websites? Well, if you have, know that you’ve done the right thing, especially if it has led you to meeting the man of your dreams. But that being said, with Internet being worldwide and all, perhaps your SO lives hundreds or even thousands of miles away. Even so, do you plan on being together forever but are struggling to deal with the distance? Perhaps you've never even met each other in real life; such is the beauty of virtual relationships. Being away from the one we love can be tough, but as they say, absence makes the heart grown fonder.

Tips On How To Maintain A Healthy Long-Distance Relationship
Contents

How to make your long-distance relationship work

1. Ask yourselves the right questions and be realistic

At the moment, you’re really enthusiastic! You spend your time sending each other sweet messages over text, there’s no chance of you taking things slowly. Once the novelty wears off, what will be left? Are you really sure you want to maintain a relationship with someone who lives far away? Do you want to make plans with this person? Beyond the initial excitement of meeting online, can you see a future with this person? It’s important to ask yourself and answer these questions, and to talk about it together. That way, you will avoid feeling disappointed and wasting your time.

2. Speak to each other every day

Communication and daily exchanges are essential for nurturing a relationship. The same goes for virtual relationships. You have to be present in the other person’s life. Listen to them, don’t avoid subjects that make you angry, stay sincere… basically, act like a couple who live together, the only difference is that your “home” is virtual, but not non-existent! But be careful, maintaining regular contact as a couple doesn’t mean talking to each other all day long. Just like in a conventional relationship, moments to yourself are also important.

>>> You might be interested in this article: Dating Apps: 3 Advantages, 10 Disadvantages  

3. Don’t idealize the situation

On the Internet, a far cry from the harsh reality, it’s tempting to present yourself in the best possible light. The person you fancy will probably do the same. This isn’t a reason to run away when you feel slightly annoyed with this person. Accept that they might have flaws, qualities that you probably won’t like. We aren’t going to pretend that it’s not more complicated when the person isn’t actually in the same room as you, but if you only cling on to their positive attributes, a time will come when you’ll feel very disappointed.

4. Meet up as often as possible

It’s all well and good trying to maintain a virtual relationship, but don’t delude yourself, a love story can only work if it’s nurtured with physical contact and affection. What’s more, it would be very difficult to deal with that distance and absence if you haven’t already planned the next time you’re going to meet. So there you go, as soon as you can, jump in your car, on the train or onto a plane and spend a weekend face to face with your lover.

What should you not do in a long-distance relationship? - 6 things

1. Don't take your relationship lightly

The absence of your partner does not give you the right to act as you please in deciding the future of the relationship. You need to remember that your partner has as much right to participate in the decision-making process as you do for the well-being of the relationship. At the end of the day, a long-distance relationship is just like any other relationship. Just because it's a long-distance relationship doesn't mean you're on vacation and can get away with anything, especially with other people of the opposite sex.

2. Don't be paranoid

There is no room for jealousy in a long-distance relationship. As we've seen above, trust is key to growing your relationship over the long term. So while it's tempting to scrutinize your loved one's every move on their social networks and friends' accounts, try to stay away from them as much as possible. It will only make you more jealous to imagine the part these people play in your partner's life.

3. Don't be impatient

Sometimes you have to wait a long, long time to see your partner again. Unfortunately, such sacrifices are required, hence the need to adjust and deal with the changes. So, take it upon yourself to be patient and keep in mind that it is worth the wait.

4. Don't wait and do nothing

Most of the long-distance relationship failures I've seen are born out of the fact that both members of the couple are waiting for time to pass without making any particular effort to take it to the next level. My theory is that these couples basically feel that their relationship is not going to last on one side, but don't want to end it on the other. A word of advice: if you feel from the beginning that it's not going to work out, then don't get involved in this kind of love story, because you'll both suffer from this lack of motivation and commitment to each other.

5. Don't have unrealistic expectations

By the very nature of this romance, you will inevitably idealize your partner. However, it is important to realize this so that you don't have unrealistic expectations and desires now or during the reunion, which would lead you to be disappointed in your partner.

6. Don't be a slave to your relationship

While it's important to try to communicate as often as you can, don't put your relationship before yourself. Maintaining your own independence is key to a successful love story relationship. It makes your conversations richer, your life more appealing, and allows you to rely on something other than your relationship.

Sexting tips for long-distance relationships

Sexting can be a source of empowerment, bringing intimacy to partners, even when they are in a long-distance relationship. When sexting with your partner, you need to consider their boundaries. Ideally, sexting should be a two-way exchange, and it's no fun if one person feels pressured or uncomfortable. Also, sending unsolicited nude photos is rarely a good idea. To become a sexting master, you need to use puns creatively. The most effective way is to incorporate all five senses into the process. For example, if you are trying to excite someone's taste buds, you can use a tasteful word like "tasteful". This way, you'll be able to turn on your partner without being a jerk or manipulator. Although sexting is considered harmless flirting, it can be very dangerous if you are not careful. Also, it's best to sext with a partner you truly love, respect, and treat well. Focus on your partner's likes and dislikes when sending sexual images or videos.

Editor’s opinion – Be wary of cam sex!

 There are several ways to maintain sex in a virtual relationship: sexting, telephone sex, nudes and even a sex cam. A screen tends to lift the lid on our prudishness. We are more likely to experiment… That’s fine, but you have to be careful. Before sending revealing images of yourself to someone else, make sure you can trust the other person. If these images are made public, the psychological damage will be significant.

🤗 Understand yourself, accept yourself, be happy... Let’s do it here and now!

#BornToBeMe

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"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." 

- Oscar Wilde


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