7 Tips That’ll Help Keep Your Long-Distance Relationships Alive & Exciting!

 Maintaining a long-distance relationship is tough. This might appear as a generalization or a sweeping statement, but it has been proven time and time again by people who have been in such a situation. There have even been psychological evaluations and scholarly studies on why some LDRs (that’s the acronym used by Gen-Z) work while some others fizzle out.

Of course, it requires commitment and discipline from both sides.

Still, that spark, that mojo, that resonance – call it what you want – often goes MIA when it comes to such relationships. Partners living in separate countries or continents often begin feeling that they are trapped, and that they were never meant to be together.

But all is not lost! If you are having a tough time rekindling that spark that brought your kindred souls together, you must try some of the following ideas.

Making LDRs work

While there are hundreds of tips and hacks that you can find on the Internet, these are perhaps the most crucial ones.

1.     Send surprise gifts to one another

Gifts can be magical if you know what your partner likes; they are even better when you create bespoke gift baskets or hampers just for him or her. That wee bit of customization shouts out “I care for you and miss you” in a way that cannot be unheard.

Combos make for fantastic gifts. A professional florist, for example, can help you select the right flowers. You can choose a box of chocolates to go with them. Other items that add value to combos are bottles of bubbly, online gift cards (Amazon, Alibaba, JD, Otto, what have you), a handwritten note, a thumb drive containing old photos, and even small nothings like a pendant you once were gifted yourself!

2.     Virtual date nights actually work

Technology is often blamed for the breakdown of societies. While it is true that Smartphones have connected us better than ever in the history of mankind, we often become so absorbed in these gadgets that we forget about our offline lives.

Instead, use technology to amplify your relationships by arranging for virtual date nights. Put on some light background music, arrange your snacks or your favorite drinks, and turn on the video calling applications.

A fast Internet connection actually helps ensure that everything goes smoothly and without loading times!

3.     Watch a movie together

This work best if both of you are cinephiles. Thanks to the proliferation of streaming services that allow you to share an account, time zones are no longer a stumbling block.

Of course, it might be a bit tricky working out a perfect movie date. But some brainstorming does go a long way.

Decide on what you are planning on watching together in advance. Popular movies that couples in long-distance relationships often order on Netflix and other apps include ‘The Notebook’, ‘The Fault in our Stars’, ‘Sleepless in Seattle’ and ‘The Japanese Wife.’

Binge-watching superhero flicks (The Dark Knight trilogy) works just as well. As does the documentary, ‘Catfish.’

4.     Dirty talk is not dirty at all!

If both of you feel comfortable enough, sexting and dirty talk also works wonders. All romantic relationships have a sexual edge that requires honing. You can safely ignore the puritanical advice that many self-help gurus often spout and engage in dirty talk as much as you want to.

Innuendos and double entendres are the hallmark of such intimate conversations. Don’t push it; let it flow naturally.

5.     How about an LDR playlist?

Yup, a common love for music is a fantastic starting point for rekindling your relationships. As is a common love for books, according to F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Assuming that you know what your partner loves hearing, you can create your own playlist on Spotify or any similar service. Better yet, both of you can chip in with 6 pieces each. That would be an hour spent well.

Some tracks that do not have an expiry date include:

·       ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ - Marvin Gaye/Tammy Terrell

·       ‘Leaving on a Jet Plane’ - John Denver

·       ‘Time in a Bottle’ - Jim Croce

·       ‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’ - The Beach Boys

 

6.     Set a countdown timer for your next meet

There are several free apps on both Google’s Play Store and Apple’s App Store which have this functionality. These apps are eminently customizable and you can sync them across all the devices you own.

Some apps have advanced features like spelling out the time left for your reunion, cracking jokes to humor you, and helping keep your mind occupied with other tasks at hand.

The constant yearning and the burden of expectations can be tough to handle. These countdown timer apps do help.

Or you can simply use the timer in your device and go totally off the online grid!

7.     Get yourself down there!

If you can arrange for leaves from work, the best thing you can possibly do is to pay your partner a surprise visit! There’s nothing better than meeting the love of your life in person, especially if it has been a while since you last met.

For this to work, divulge you plans only to your closest pals who won’t talk. Arrange for tickets and everything else surreptitiously, somewhat like a spy out in the cold.

You can also carry something that s/he loves with you. Try arriving at his or her place early, do the laundry, arrange for champagne & food – and then wait as the hours fly by.

That last bit only works if you have a spare key, however!

A few last words

The pandemic has destroyed countless families and taken a huge toll on long-distance relationships. Every one of us has been affected to an extent. Keep that in mind before you pull the plug on your LDR.

These are only 7 tips; that’s barely scratching the surface. Adjust your long-distance relationship based on the dynamics since there is no one-size-fits-all thumb rule here.

Remember that true love is something only a few blessed people find. If you have found yours, don’t let distance get in the way!