If you've been on the Internet or switched on a TV in the last couple of days, you've probably been inundated with smiling photos of Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli from their wedding. And while their romance is bound to make you feel wistful, it can't have been easy for the couple, with their hectic schedules and constant travel. Time differences, coupled with high-pressure careers can be the death-knell of relationships, which is why we're extra glad the Anushka and Virat could make it work. If you're in the same boat, here are five things that might help you make a long distance relationship work.
1. Make the most of the time you do get to spend together
This doesn't mean that you fill up the day with one activity after another. No, keep it low-key and your schedule as flexible as possible. It's not about cramming as many experiences as you can in the limited time you have, but about making up for lost time of quiet togetherness and enjoying each other's company. If you missed an anniversary, birthday or a significant event, celebrate it the way you would have, when you finally meet. So what if it's not on the same day? You can easily pretend that it is - for your partner's sake.
2. Don't let anyone's opinion about your relationship change yours
People talk, and more often than not, it is a whole lot of rubbish. Everyone has an opinion on what the other person's relationship should look like, especially when your partner is away and you might be vulnerable. Do not entertain unsolicited relationship advice. Don't let them get into your head. No one deserves to have a say in what is right and wrong for your relationship, other than you and your partner. Stay strong. (Remember when Virat's fans started hating on Anushka? There's so much we can all learn from his reaction to that.)
3. Never stop appreciating each other
It can get easy to forget all the great things about your relationship when you don't get to see the one you love for long. Really easy, actually. But you should never stop appreciating the little things they still do for you or just the things they stand for that make you proud of them. Make little notes in your diary when you remember them. Or send them a text about a memory that made you smile. It's the only way to not let the distance play havoc in your relationship.
4. Say 'I love you'. A lot.
Sometimes it's the time difference, sometimes it's work - there are so many things that can keep you from talking to each other for a satisfying length of time each day. But, no matter how busy you are, there's always time to say "I love you". Quickly text your partner about how much you love them while you're taking a coffee break. Or do it before you go to bed at the end of the day. This even applies when you're in the middle of a fight. It's so easy to give each other space when you're not even in the same city, but space isn't always what the other person needs. Even while you're still fighting, there's nothing wrong with putting a smile on your partner's face with a loving text message.
5. Make future plans and stick to them
Every couple needs to get away from their respective cities and all of their friends and family at least once a year. Just the two of you and absolutely no one else. We get that you might not be able to leave all of your devices behind, but try setting a rule to turn them off during meals, etc at least. Going offline during a holiday with the one you love can be a liberating experience that brings you two closer than ever. Plan way in advance and notify your respective workplaces, to limit the chances of the vacation being cancelled.
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