How to Keep the Spark Alive in a Long-Distance Relationship

Surviving a long-distance relationship (LDR) isn’t an easy thing to do. Not only are you physically further from your partner, but living separately can cause emotional friction, and induce a lot of stress when you need to travel back and forth to visit. But LDRs don’t have to be boring or emotionally draining!
In this post, we’ll explore some tips that can help you keep the spark alive no matter how many miles separate you two.

Create surprises

When you’re in an LDR, there’s a lot of video chatting, texting, and calling, which can lead to kind of mundane conversations from time to time. While it’s not a bad thing, sometimes things can become too stuck in a routine. Maintaining some element of surprise is key if you want to have a successful long-distance relationship.

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Having flowers delivered, sending him a gift card to his favorite local restaurant, ordering her some confidence-boosting intimates, or planning a surprise visit are some ways you can keep things thrilling in your LDR.

Plan fun trips

When you’re in an LDR, you might feel like you and your partner constantly have to travel back and forth from each other’s homes, which can easily get to feel pretty repetitive. So, why not spice things up a little? Instead of visiting one another, plan a few trips where the two of you meet in a new place!
Use a discount travel site to keep the cost down and create an element of thrill. Check out the best deals and then choose which one sounds the most fun to the two of you. This will be a fun getaway and a way for the two of you to reset, unwind, and create new memories in a new place.

Talk a lot, but don’t overdo it

While relationship experts say you should never spend more than three weeks apart, they also recommend you keep your cool when checking in while you’re apart. Leaving a day or two in between communication can make your catch-up conversation all the more exciting when you get to it! That’s not to say you have to go without a “Good Morning” text, but don’t feel like you need to be in constant communication.

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Make the most of your alone time

Being away from your partner might not be your preferred situation, but being solo isn’t the worst thing in the world, either! There are plenty of things you can do alone that you couldn’t do with your S.O. on your side. When you’re on your own, you can stretch your limbs all the way across the bed, go to a movie alone, or do the one thing he or she hates to do. Use this time as a period where you can work on yourself and do the things you want to do, it doesn’t have to be miserable if you don’t want it to be.

Be prepared to make sacrifices

From having to spend money on travel to missing out on important life milestones, LDRs are all about making sacrifices. If you’re able to admit and accept that there are some factors beyond your control, your life and your relationship will surely benefit.
However, this fact goes both ways. You and your partner should both be making sacrifices, not just one way or the other. Try to make visits fairly equal so that neither one of you is spending more time-off or money to keep your relationship in good standing, and be sure these guidelines are set from the start. Being upfront and honest with your expectations will help you dodge surprises (of the negative variety) later on down the road.

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Prioritize trust

LDRs are about making sacrifices, but they’re also about forming trust. Some LDRs have more trust built up than those where S.O.’s are side by side at all times. Sure, it’s tempting to social media stalk your partner at all times, but it doesn’t really do anything to boost your connection.

Key Takeaways

Surviving—and thriving—in an LDR is no small feat, but with some hard work and a whole lot of trust, you’ll find your way. Use these tips to help you create a plan for making your relationship work for you and your partner, no matter where you’re headed.