Life and love are two things that, at times, seem mutually exclusive. We meet people who scream ‘the one’, yet it never seems to be the time or place for us to align. In the wake of Liam Payne and Cheryl Cole’s split, when love is stretched to its limits by geography, it seems even more unlikely than eve that it can’t work out…right?
Top Life Coach, Carole Ann Rice knows how important it is to negotiate and be honest when it comes to love. So, she’s revealing her 5 top tips to dealing with a long‑distance relationship (maybe pass these one to Cole and Payne?).
1. KEEP COMMUNICATING
In the digital age, it’s easier than ever before to have a long‑distance relationship. With services such as Skype, Facebook and Whatsapp, and ever decreasing costs of air travel (think budget flights, such as Easy Jet, Norwegian, or WOW), the distance between you can seem much smaller if you keep communicating.
2. LOVE SLOTS
Dedicate time ‑ whether 10 minutes or three hours ‑ to simply chatting with your partner. An ocean could separate you, but distance doesn’t destroy relationships, doubts do. Send pictures as you carry out your day (even that cute dog you saw in the park) to let your partner know you’re thinking of them. Equally, however, don’t trip into becoming a sticky, possessive person. Know when communication becomes excessive and more like a CCTV feed than honest conversation. Don’t spam, instead, dedicate a slot each day to catch‑up with them.
3. DIARISE
In a long‑distance relationship, not only is the travel a literary journey, but the period itself will be an emotional one. As much as technology decompresses space, meeting each‑other is integral. Schedule in a weekend to visit them, or vice versa, or meet half‑way to explore somewhere new together. Compromise is key, especially when travel costs can add up overtime.
4. EMBRACE FAMILIARITY
It’s easy to think of a long‑distance relationship as pulling you two apart. Instead, learn that relationships changes overtime. They ebb and flow, and there will always be magic. Even if an ocean or border separates you, it’s no reason for the honeymoon period to come to an end.
5. HAVE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
Don’t buy that GPS tracker on Amazon just yet. Before you’re separated by space, set out expectations of each‑other. How much time can the other really dedicate? And when you do reunite, however brief, do not be too demanding of one another.
