How To Make A Long-Distance Relationship Work

"Nobody said it was going to be easy!" All relationships require work and effort. However, a long-distance relationship, needs more, much more of it. It does get a little difficult when your loved one is sitting in a different country and sometimes even a different continent. Your fight suddenly changes from just convincing your parents to let you out for a date to fighting the time zones (aka your biggest enemy).

However, it totally depends on you if that distance becomes a hindrance or if it makes your heart grow fonder. If you feel that you have found the right one, don't let that distance define your relationship. Try putting these habits into practice and see your relationship grow from there.

1. Be ready to work

Distance is something that has a tendency of taking a toll on you and your relationship. To avoid that be ready to work twice as hard. Since you both are going to meet less in person, it is essential that your relationship is built on a solid ground of trust. Work out your schedules, be open about where you both are, keep them in the loop about your new friends at work, etc. Just build on that communication. Talking will let you both avoid any kind of misunderstandings.

2. Prioritize your time

Don't think too much about how far you both are. There are numerous ways of communication available. Text each other during when you wake up, keep an hour (or even just 15 minutes when you're tired) before sleeping for a skype session or go the old-fashioned way and try writing letters and postcards to each other. This just goes on to show an added effort that you might be putting. Don't always be sad about the distance. Create a sense of normalcy in your relationship. Talk about those random moments that made you happy in the day.

Remember whatever you chose to do, just keep the conversation going!

3. Don't let a fight go on for more than a day

Make this a ground rule. Long fights make way for breaks in communication. This can turn fatal for a long distance relationship. Whomsoever might have made the mistake, you can always take the first step towards patching up. Most of the time, these fights happen due to frustration of not being able to see each other in person. Remember that and don't let it get to you. Look at the bigger picture and try moving past every fight as soon as possible.

4. Don't talk about old fights when you meet

Another ground rule. Don't waste the little time you get with each other, in talking about your old fights. It might be days or even months before you meet next. Cherish the time you get together to make new and fond memories. Do something adventurous and spontaneous like taking a trip together, or something regular like playing video games all day long or even doing a movie marathon. Make it a point to cherish each other's company, since you don't get to experience it on an everyday basis.

5. Say a happy goodbye (or, actually, 'till we meet again')

Make it a point to end your meeting on a happy note. And not just your meetings but even your daily conversations. Say proper goodbyes. Say 'I love you'. It might be the only thing that keeps you going for the next couple of days, which you are probably going to spend missing your loved one anyway.