What it’s Really Like to Be in a Long-Distance Relationship + 5 Tips for Survival

Last week, my boyfriend and I moved in together– ending over a year of long-distance together, most of which happened during the height of the pandemic here in the UK.

After surviving a long-distance relationship for so long- I wanted to write an honest post about what it’s really like to be in a long-distance relationship, and offer a few tips for survival.

Whether you’re starting a long-distance relationship soon, or you’re long-distance with your partner at the moment, it’s never easy- but it is possible!

In this post, I want to discuss what it’s really like to be in a long-distance relationship, and 5 tips for survival if you’re worried about how this is going to work for you and your partner.

My boyfriend and I survived a long-distance relationship at one of the worst possible times to be long-distance- and you can too!

What is it Really Like to Be in a Long-Distance Relationship?

There are lots of ups and downs

The truth about being in a long-distance relationship is that you will experience a lot of ups and downs during your time apart.

Problems will come and go, and just like in life, you will experience ups and downs, often exacerbated because you and your partner can’t see each other every day.

It shows you just how strong you are

I really do believe that long-distance relationships show how strong you and your partner are, and the trials of a long-distance relationship can really show if you can manage life as a couple.

Being apart from your partner makes you feel like if you can survive a long-distance relationship, you can get through anything!

It can be fun!

It’s so important to remember that long-distance relationships can be a lot of fun- and they are worth the wait!

You can find ways to enjoy your time apart, such as watching things “together” or planning fun virtual dates.

There’s also nothing quite like looking forward to a long-distance visit, or that moment when you first see your partner at the train station after a long time apart.

5 Tips for Surviving a Long-Distance Relationship

Communicate, communicate, communicate!

Communication is so important to surviving any relationship- but it’s even more important if you can’t regularly see each other.

You might hear this a lot- but the power of communication really should not be underestimated.

If your relationship is suddenly over messages or phone calls, things can soon break down if you’re not completely honest with each other about how you feel.

Chat with each other regularly, express concerns as soon as they pop up, and check in with your partner every so often about how they’re coping.

Trust each other

Trust is so important in any relationship, but when you’re apart it’s critical to know that you can trust your partner.

If you’re in a healthy relationship, you won’t feel the need to “check up” on your partner whether you’re together or long-distance.

However, knowing you have that trust becomes essential when you don’t have physical reassurance from your partner on a daily basis.

Plan social activities with other people

Of course, you should keep looking out for your relationship, but while you and your partner spend time apart, it’s so important to give yourself other things to do.

Make sure to plan regular social activities with others and push yourself to get out and about.

It can make a world of difference to spend an hour or two with a friend when you’re missing your boyfriend or girlfriend.

Focus on you

Spend some time on yourself while you and your partner are apart.

I know it sounds cliché, but a great tip to surviving a long-distance relationship is learning to understand yourself as a person.

I was long-distance at a time when I didn’t really know what I was doing, and after graduation, I was a bit lost. Having that time to focus on myself helped to get me where I am now!

Plan ahead

One of the things that helped me the most when I was in a long-distance relationship was always making sure to plan ahead.

Most of my long-distance relationship was during the worst of the pandemic– so visits were few and far between.

However, any visits we were allowed gave us something to really look forward to throughout our time apart.

You need to plan ahead to a time when you will be together again, whether temporarily or permanently.

Have you tried out long-distance with your partner in the past? Do you think these tips are helpful for surviving a long-distance relationship? Do you think long-distance relationships are possible?

Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below 🙂

Happy reading x

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