Are you looking to start a long-distance relationship? Is there someone you’re got your eye on, but you’re afraid to take the plunge?
There are lots of scary stories and cautionary tales about long-distance relationships, but if you do your research and know what you’re getting into you’ll be able to avoid any dangerous pitfalls.
We’ve got the top tips on starting a long-distance relationship today.
Starting out in a Long-Distance Relationship
How you start out with your long-distance relationship depends on where you are at to start with. Your situation will be different if you don’t currently have a partner than if you have a relationship that will be transitioning into a long-distance relationship. It will also be different if you are beginning a long-distance relationship with a friend.
In the latter two cases, you’re likely to have more of a basis of trust with the individual. You don’t need to be worried about catfish or other online scams.
If you are starting out a relationship with a friend or if you’re in a relationship that has to become a long-distance relationship, the changing status of the relationship can be a lot of stress. Make sure that you and your partner are regularly communicating about your wants and needs.
If you are starting out on dating sites, make sure you verify the identities of those you speak to and watch out for warning signs. Catfishing and other scams are a very real concern that you need to be on your guard about.
Use Technology to Your Advantage
Once you’re already in your relationship, it’s important to keep communicating with your partner regularly. That’s where modern technology can help! You can text throughout the day about whatever strikes your fancy.
Zoom, Skype, Facetime, and other video conferencing software allow you to talk and see to your partner on the regular. Set up a schedule that works for both of you so that you can have regular chats and date nights. You can even do group hangs, which can be a lower-stress way to meet each other’s friends and families!
If you and your partner are gamers, lots of platforms and games allow you to game together remotely. Why not try out a nice remote game of Mario Kart for your next scheduled date night?
You can even order flowers via the cheapest international flower delivery so that you can surprise your partner with a great gift. Keeping the romance alive in long-distance relationships can be difficult, so throwing in a romantic surprise like flowers once in a while can really go a long way.
If you like old school styles of communication, why not use the mail to send each other romantic letters and thoughtful gifts? Everyone likes getting mail, after all, and adding another form of communication can really help keep the relationship feeling special and distinct.
In today’s day and age, there are tons of options to help you keep your relationship functioning well, even if you can’t be together in person.
Meet in Person, Where Possible
Even in a long-distance relationship, it’s really important to try and see each other in person as much as possible. This is much easier when you’re in neighboring states rather than completely different countries.
Book trips in advance so that you both have something to look forward to. That way, you won’t follow into common traps in long-distance relationships, such as feeling hopeless that you’ll never see each other again. Try and schedule these trips as often as possible. If your schedules and wallets allow for it, aim for at least once a month.
Communication Is Key
The most important aspect of a successful long-distance relationship is communication. You both need to know what your expectations are. And, you need to talk about them. You should also set ground rules that you’re both comfortable with. That way, no one will feel jealous and both parties will continue to trust one another.
Being able to communicate is important in any relationship, but it’s especially important when you may have to address important issues in your relationship without being there in person. So, you’ll really need to work to create a strong foundation of trust and understanding.
Make sure that you know each other’s work schedules and other commitments so you don’t need to panic if you don’t hear from your partner for a while. You can create a shared calendar that you can sync to both your phones so that you’ll know the details without having to do more than push a button.
Have a Long Term Plan
You can’t stay in a long-distance relationship forever, after all. You and your partner should have frank discussions about your lives and careers and come up with a long term plan to live in the same place.
If there is an issue of immigration, that’s something that really needs to be discussed sooner than later. If it’s more of a career issue, you may have to come to a compromise that works for both of you.
Having these conversations sooner than later can help prevent further heartbreak in the future, along with a ton of bureaucratic issues!
Starting a Long-Distance Relationship Isn’t That Scary
As long as everyone involves knows the expectations, starting a long-distance relationship doesn’t have to be doomed or stressful. Just make sure that you’re communicating with your new partner, and you’ll have a long and happy relationship.
Are you interested in reading more about love, relationships, and related topics? Check out some of our other blogs today.
