1 Despite miles of separation, long distance relationships can be equally romantic and satisfying as more traditional arrangements. Most of us share a healthy skepticism about long distance relationships; they are certainly difficult to sustain over the long term. Whether because of career commitments, family obligations or educational pursuits, having to live in different locations for the majority of time is bound to alter the dynamics of any romantic relationship and poses unique challenges that couples living together rarely face.
2 Being together and spending time with each other are keys to building a healthy, lasting relationship. While separation clearly makes this more challenging, my experience tells me that long distance relationships are more likely to be successful when both partners are strongly committed to the relationship and each is willing to make the extra effort to overcome distance-related obstacles.
3 Keep the connection strong: When distance separates you and your partner, being in love isn’t enough by itself to sustain a strong romantic connection. Communication and adequate contact are critical. Be creative and consider choosing several different ways beyond the telephone to stay in contact; technology has made this much easier thanks to innovations like social networking, online chat, instant messaging, VDO calls and text messaging.
4 Update each other about new things you’ve experienced, focus on positive topics, be supportive of each other, and tell your partner how much you miss him. Take note of the strong connection rule-of-thumb: View each conversation as an opportunity to strengthen your bond and get closer to your partner.
5 Don’t overdo the phone calls: A phone call every day should be more than enough to keep a feeling of closeness between partners; any more than that may begin to feel more like an annoyance. Remember, multiple phone calls and messages day after day may be more like stalking than talking.
6 Speaking by phone once or twice a week should be enough for a typical long distance couple. This less-than-daily frequency will make for more exciting updates to share and allows for anticipation to build before the next call. Giving your partner some “space” can help both of you maintain enough independence and freedom-two important components of long distance relationships that succeed.