With the worst month of the year finally over, it’s the time of year where people are starting to dream about summer. Perhaps it is your long-awaited gap year, a few weeks finding yourself in Thailand or interrailing with your mates; we’re all guilty of day dreaming about what our travelling plans may be.
If there is any reservation about travel plans it is no doubt about going long distance with your partner if one of you are at home. It’s scary, and it may be lonely, but I can assure you that you can make it work. If your partner has travel plans without you, remind yourself that it is temporary and it is natural to perhaps feel a sense of jealously for them jetting off without you.
First and foremost, communication is essential. It is important that you and your partner dedicate some time for each other (even when at the other side of the world!). Schedule facetimes or phone calls to keep in touch and make sure to prioritise this. Sometimes limited contact on text allows for more meaningful conversations over the phone. No doubt you will be excited to hear all the stories from your partners travels; it certainly makes for more interesting conversation than how boring their lectures have been! Pay attention to time zone differences and schedule a time that works for both of you.
Accepting that your partner may not be available to chat with as much as usual is a great opportunity to work on yourself. Perhaps there is a project you have been wanting to work on, getting in more hours at work or spending more time with your own friends, a long-distance relationship is great for establishing your own independence and realising that you don’t need to depend on your partner for your own happiness. Use the time that they are away to focus on aspects of your life that you may otherwise neglect. Keeping yourself busy will help when you miss your partner, and maybe you will discover a new hobby!
As much as travelling is exciting, having a date you know you can reunite with your partner gives clarity and focus to the relationship. Even if it is in six months’ time, having a date you can work towards gives you something to look forward to. Be sure to plan something exiting for when they return. If possible, even consider visiting your partner on their travels. Flights within Europe can be reasonably priced if you keep checking Skyscanner, and then you can grab a holiday for yourself! If this can’t be justified, plan to spend some quality time together doing your favourite things. The excitement you have towards your first date night together will be unmatched- and it will be the best feeling seeing them after so long!
As much as it is a cliché, distance really does make the heart grow fonder. It may be a test for the relationship, but long distance will prove to you both how much you value spending time together.