Seven Ways To Maintain A Long Distance Relationship

Relationships are an intricate part of human life and most people live with the intention to enter into one at a particular point in their lives. Of course, part of the reasons people decide to go into relationships is to enjoy its accompanying benefits - love, affection, and an enviable sense of purpose.

However, long-distance relationships are not wholly smooth sailing and may not offer the usual warmth and satisfaction that comes with a geographically closer relationship. In fact, it could present entirely different prospects especially after a period of time, when the initial affection or in some cases, infatuation might have lessened.
 
Although an argument could be made for the validity of long-distance relationships and the need to pursue an affair seemingly hanging on the balance when you could easily avoid the pitfall and stick to someone closer, however being involved in a long-distance relationship isn't all doom and doesn't necessarily mean the death of romance. With a positive outlook and expectation, you can go on to have a wonderful relationship that thrives and tempers all odds. 

Albeit, long-distance relationships might be challenging, they also have their upsides. If you are just entering into one or a recent development necessitates you and your partner not having the luxury of seeing each other as frequently, here are seven ways in which you can keep the embers of your relationship burning.
 
Know Each Other's Schedule
People value their time - a lot - and could get pretty cranky when others do not respect it, especially during sensitive periods. In as much as you constitute an important part of your partner's life, you must still learn to show respect for their time by knowing when they are busy and free.

A key step towards this simple act of regard is knowing your partner's schedule. At what time do they get off from work? At what time could they be involved in important business or work meetings? Do not consider a particular issue or event irrelevant, rather be conscious of the fine detail. Also, if you both experience a difference in time zones, especially when your partner is in a different country, ensure you put it into consideration.
 
Make Constant Communication A Top Priority
As John Pavlov says, “man cannot but communicate.” Communication goes a long way in determining the sturdiness and length of your relationship; it sets the tone for your relationship. A lack of communication in a long-distance relationship is very dangerous as it would lead to an inevitable strain. Sooner rather than later, one party ceases to be invested, feelings become cold and unrequited and what follows is a love wreck.
 
Make concerted efforts to update your partner on your life and its happenings, however unimaginative and dull some of the things may seem. Sometimes, it is the little details that really matter. Some people have tried and realized that talking about seemingly “irrelevant” issues breeds continuous interaction and ease conversational flows, and these are paramount relationship sustainers.
 
To up the game, send each other pictures - occasionally racy photos - stimulating audio clips, and short videos from time to time. By putting in this kind of effort, you make the other person feel loved and not neglected.
 
Manage Your Expectations By Setting Clear Ground Rules
Trust me, you do not want to go into a long-distance relationship without outlining the dos and don'ts of the love affair. Most relationships, both ones that enjoy closer proximities, hit a reef due to one of the partners carrying out an innocuous action which eventually turns out hurtful to the other.
 
Create time to set a list of activities that define your relationship. Set reasonable expectations that should serve as boundaries for your relationship. For instance, is it an open relationship? That is, can a partner seek temporal, sensual pleasure from a third party. Can a partner go on harmless dates with other parties? What level of loyalty do you owe yourselves? It is important you both are committedly open to each other so one party does not eventually feel cheated or exploited.
 
Avoid Excessive Communication
Yes, you both want to continually regale yourselves of the goings-on in your lives. However, there is no need to overcompensate for each other's absence by engaging in long and unnecessarily lengthy conversations. You don't have to talk four, five or six times a day and you definitely do not need to talk for 8 hours each day to keep the sensations burning.
 
In fact, repetitive discussions overtime become boring and soon one of you will start to feel bugged and exasperated by the other's stickiness. Of course, one might think constantly talking to the other person will help stoke the flames and keep them consistently in their partner's thoughts. However, there is a tendency for the actions to become tiring and perfunctory, which you definitely do not want. You do not want your partner speaking to you on the loudspeaker, sighing intermittently with their heads resting peacefully on the throw pillow and the phone chucked to a far end of the sofa. Remember, less is more!
 
Do Things Together Simultaneously
To heighten the thrill about your relationship, you and your partner should carry out peculiar actions together without letting the presence of a physical barrier upset you. Technology has enhanced modern communication and activities tremendously. You could watch a movie together or even eat together through a video call. You could take a walk outside together, sing to yourselves, go window shopping or even sneak a couple of flirtatious moves.
For your relationship to be a success, you must learn to loosen any strictness or rigidity about you. Learn to flow with the motions, and of course, be spontaneous.

Avoid Problematic Situations
It is one thing to set ground rules, it is another to adhere to them. As explained earlier, succeeding in a long-distance relationship is all about patience, dedication, and commitment. Commitment means abiding by whatever rules you and your partner have jointly set in your relationship. For example, if you had had a previous talk and agreed that late nights out with members of the opposite sex should be avoided, then, you must not be caught out late carousing with your male or female colleague or neighbor. Granted, it might be a totally platonic outing, but would it appear so to your partner if they unwittingly stumble across pictures?
 
Trusts broken are very hard to fix, and even then the cracks do not paper over. Do not place yourself in volatile situations where you might make a decision that could put your relationship in precarious positions. Should you be unsure about the repercussions of your action, discuss it with your partner and be wary of your level of openness. If you fail at keeping an established rule, truthfully explain yourself to your partner; do not try to hide your ills in order to preserve the preexisting conditions of your relationship.
 
Have A Clear Goal And Purpose
The worst thing that can happen in a long-distance relationship is the absence of a sense of direction or purpose. If you currently have not set one, endeavor to do just that. Setting lucid, achievable goals are immense and pertinent to the efficacy of what you share with your partner. Your goals could be short or long-term. They must be unanimously arrived at to ensure you and your partner are on the same wavelengths.
"What do we want to achieve at the end of the day?” “How long are we going to be apart for?” “What about the future?” These are unavoidable questions you must ask yourselves.
 
You could make a checklist of your goals, starting from short to long term and mark the achieved ones as they arrive. This will show you both a clear view of the progress you are making. The truth is: no party wants to feel slighted or feel that they have wasted a huge chunk of their lives in a dormant or regressive affair. Outlining the goals of your relationship as soon as it begins will help ensure this.
 
Imbibe The Spirit Of Positivity
You need to be constantly injecting positive vibes into the long-distance relationship to keep it blossoming. Thing is, even after carrying out all the tips mentioned above, you might still feel lonely and unfulfilled occasionally. Nothing compares with the warmth and bliss that comes with the physical presence of a loved one. The wait might appear long and painful but you must always remind yourself of the rewards and benefits.

One good trick to staying positive is to be grateful all the time. Be thankful that you have someone to love — someone who also loves you back. Be thankful for the little things and for each other’s health and safety.
 

There is no hard and fast rule to sustaining long-distance relationships, but if these tips mentioned are applied, you and your partner can expect to enjoy a strong and perfect union as well as the bliss that comes from proving your doubters wrong.