22 Practical Tips for Long Distance Relationships (2024)
A long-distance relationship can be challenging, but it can also be interesting if you know how to handle it properly. The most important thing that sustains this type of relationship is quality communication. If you want to connect better with your partner who lives far away, consider these practical tips for long-distance relationships.
1. Make Communication a Priority
Communication is the key to long-distance relationships. If you don’t often talk with your partner, developing an emotional connection with them will be challenging. And this will strain the growth of your relationship.
To maintain effective communication with your partner, send them texts and voice notes regularly. They’ll most likely be busy most of the time, so ask them about their daily routine to find out when they have free time for quality conversation.
2. Have an End Date in Sight
Selecting an end date is a great way to make a long-distance relationship work. By setting a deadline, you and your partner agree that the relationship has to end if you’re not ready to commit after the agreed period. This gives you a reason to strive through difficult times.
To set an end date, discuss your goals for the relationship with your partner. After evaluating your goals, you and your partner should agree on a date and add the reminder to your calendar.
3. Plan Regular Date Nights and Make Them Special
A study on long-distance relationship advice reveals that couples with regular date nights are more satisfied in their relationship. This is because it allows them to spend quality time together, build intimacy, and strengthen their bond.
Planning dates is essential to maintaining a long-distance relationship. You don’t have to be extravagant to have a fun night together. It can be as simple as going out for a movie, bowling, or checking out the local art scene.
4. Figure Out Each Others Love Languages
Another way to maintain a healthy LDR is to learn your partner’s love language. Learning your partner’s love language is an excellent way to understand them better and know what they need to feel loved and valued.
There are five love languages: words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, physical touch, and acts of service. You can easily find out your partner’s spec by asking them or trying the different gestures to see which one they cherish the most.
5. Practice Occasional Presence Video Calls
FaceTime is a great way to connect with your partner in long-distance dating. Sometimes, getting on the camera with your partner after you’ve disabled the sound is best.
When talking on a video call, it can be difficult to have a meaningful conversation since you both see excessive amounts of close-up eye contact. Besides, it’s an excellent idea for communication because you don’t need to feel the burden of not having anything to talk about.
6. Create a Shared Journal (Text or Photo)
A shared journal is a great way to sustain a LDR. By keeping track of your thoughts, feelings, and experiences together, you’re allowing each other to build trust and make connections that may not occur otherwise.
There are several shared journal apps on Play Store or App Store. You can install any of these apps and make entries about topics such as how much you appreciate each other or what you want to work on in the future.
7. Send Surprise Care Packages
The best advice for long-distance relationships is to send surprise care packages to your partner once in a while. This gesture is a brilliant way to show your partner that you care about them and want to improve their day.
It also helps bring some excitement back into your relationship, especially if the novelty of communication has begun to wear off. To get this right, make a basket filled with items they’ll love, such as a cologne gift set or a carefully chosen book.
8. Try Dirty Talk and Phone Sex
Dirty talk and phone sex are excellent ways to manage a long-distance relationship. LDR couples easily get frustrated over their lack of physical intimacy, but phone sex offers them the opportunity to ease their sexual tension.
Great phone sex involves painting a vivid and intense picture for your partner (and vice-versa). To accomplish this, establish consent first. If your partner doesn’t feel comfortable with the idea, that’s okay, and you shouldn’t pressure them.
But if they grant consent, express your sexual feelings through voice notes and texts. You can also exchange nudes over the phone.
9. Video Chat Sex
Video chat sex is a great way to keep LDR fun. The vibe in a romantic relationship may fizzle out quickly if there’s no sexual intimacy and that’s why you should consider video chat sex with your partner.
If you or your partner haven’t tried this type of sex, you’ll likely feel hesitant or uncomfortable. However, discussing your reservations and boundaries will help you get on easily. During the video chat sex, set up your phone in a part of your room to get a clear view instead of holding it.
10. Try LDR Sex Toys
One of the best long distance tips is to embrace sex toys designed for LDR.
LDR toys allow you to enjoy sexual pleasure by yourself and make it easier for you and your partner to avoid cheating.
When buying a sex toy, consider the type of sensations and stimuli you prefer. If you prefer internal stimuli, you should for Dildos, G-spot vibrators, anal beads, and plugs. For external stimuli, go for vibrators or clitoral stimulators. Popular men’s toys include fleshlights, texture strokers, and cock rings.
11. Make Sure You Still Live Your Normal Social Life
Some experts have argued that maintaining a social life is vital in any relationship. They claim that having a solid social network will help you bond with your partner.
This is one of the most popular pieces of advice for long-distance relationships because some people fail to keep up with their friends and family once they’re newly dating long-distance partners.
To find a balance between both relationships, hang out more with friends. You could see a movie together, play some board games, or host a potluck dinner.
12. Find a Common Hobby to Enjoy Together
One of the long-distance relationship tips that can help you learn and grow together is finding a common hobby to enjoy. Sharing a hobby can make for some great bonding moments.
If you want to find a common hobby with your partner, ask them what they like doing. Your partner may likely prefer physically demanding activities while you enjoy tasks that provide a mental challenge.
Even if your preferences differ, you could try something new and see if it sparks any interest.
13. Eat Dinner Together
Eating dinner together can help foster a sense of closeness between people. But how do you get through long-distance?
You have to take advantage of digital technology.
Dinner over FaceTime is a fun way to enjoy each other’s company regardless of distance. If you want a virtual dinner date with your partner, plan and fix a time that works for both of you. Also, select a dish that both of you can easily prepare.
14. Visit Each Other as Often as Possible
The best way to survive long-distance relationship is to make sure you are in regular contact with your partner.
Long-distance relationships require a lot of dedication from both people to work, and these commitments can be hard to maintain over a long period.
You need to visit each other often to renew your interest and commitment to the relationship. Agree on how frequently you’d see each other. You can also do surprise visits.
15. Travel Together
One of the most underrated tips for a long-distance relationship is traveling.
Traveling with your partner is a great way to spend quality time together. It offers an opportunity to get to know each other better, especially if you’ve been apart for a while.
Before traveling, discuss with your partner the places you’d love to visit and the things you’ll love to do once you get there.
The vacation doesn’t have to take a toll on your pocket. Take advantage of free or inexpensive things in the area like parks, museums, and cultural events.
16. Watch Movies Together
One of the LDR tips that make a successful long-distance relationship is a sincere effort to bridge the gap. Since you can’t have a regular movie date night with your partner, leverage technology to stay connected during a movie.
You can use Skype or Facetime to see each other and talk while you watch the movie. Dress up to the occasion, play the movie at the same time and make provisions for snacks like it’s a regular movie date.
17. Create a Relationship Bucket List
A relationship bucket list is a list of goals you’d like to achieve with your partner. It could be anything from writing a love letter to going out for dinner together. Having a relationship bucket list allows you to be intentional about how you build your relationship.
A simple Google search will reveal an endless list of couple bucket list ideas. Review these ideas with your partner and agree on which goals to pursue.
18. Be Vulnerable
A lot of people associate vulnerability with weakness or low self-esteem. But it’s quite the opposite. Opening up is a necessary part of loving and connecting with someone.
It’s one of the best tips for long-distance relationships because it allows you to build trust with your partner.
To be vulnerable with your partner, you need to be willing to share your deepest fears and insecurities with them. And asking for help when you need it.
19. Always Have Something to Look Forward to Together
One of the most brilliant ways to make long-distance work is to have a common goal in sight. It can be hard to get excited about the relationship if you don’t have a clear idea of what you want. And if one person’s goals contradict the other’s, one of you will likely feel frustrated and seek a breakup.
To set a goal for your relationship, you and your partner should list the things you want to do together. Agree on some of them and figure out how to achieve them.
20. Avoid Dangerous Situations
One of the best LDR advice is to avoid dangerous situations. Being in a long-distance relationship is challenging, but some specific conditions expose you to the challenges.
For example, frequently communicating with someone of the opposite sex can increase the temptation of seeking physical intimacy or emotional support outside your relationship.
Another example is solely hanging out in places like the cinema or beach where you see other couples and remember that you don’t have the same privilege as them.
21. Consider LDR Couples Therapy
One of the best ways to make a LDR work is to sign up for LDR couples therapy. Most therapy services are now online, so you and your partner can access your sessions even though it’s an international long-distance relationship.
LDR therapy can help couples work through challenges in their relationship. However, you don’t need to wait until things get complicated. The therapy can help you learn ways to communicate better and resolve challenges that could arise in the future.
22. Use LDR Apps
Thanks to LDR apps, a couple can now go from surviving long-distance relationship to enjoying it. LDR apps are packed with features that make communication with your partner more interesting.
An app like Feel lets you send your heartbeat to your loved one. Twig serves as a shared journal for couples. And Kast allows you to watch movies together. There are several apps to try including Couplete, iPassion, Happy Couple App, Truth or Dare App, and lots more.
FAQ
How to make a long-distance relationship work?
The best way to make long-distance relationships work is to foster communication. Always reach out to your partner through texts, voice notes, and video calls.
How to keep a relationship alive?
To keep a relationship alive, try out new things with your partner often. Discuss new topics, visit new places, and devise more creative ways to express your love.
How to build a long-distance relationship?
If you want to build a long-distance relationship, discuss with your potential partner your relationship goals and find out if theirs align with yours.
Can a long-distance relationship work?
Of course. A long-distance relationship can work if the couple builds trust and understanding between themselves. They also have to communicate fervently and be patient with each other.
How do you keep the spark in a long-distance relationship?
You can keep the spark in a long-distance relationship by prioritizing communication with your partner and speaking their love language.
What does a man want in a long-distance relationship?
What a man wants in a long-distance relationship is a partner who he can trust and trusts him. He’s also interested in seeing genuine efforts from his partner.
How do you keep a long-distance relationship from getting boring?
The best way to keep a long-distance relationship from getting boring is to explore new things with your partner. Try visiting new places, playing new games, or setting new goals.
