The reasons why people have long distance relationships are many and each couple needs to find their own way of coping with the distance. If you are a young couple studying at different universities a few hours from each other, then spending the weekends together is an option, but for a couple working at different continents seeing each other several times a month is most likely not an attainable solution. Regardless of you specific situation, it is important to plan ahead and lay out a strategy for your communication. Distance relationships are much easier when both parties are clear about what they want and how they wish to stay in touch while apart.

To begin with, you should devote some time to finding out the least expensive ways for you to communicate with each other. Having to worry about the phone bill can be lethal to a long distance relationship. Switch to the telephone company that offers you the beast deal. If your partner is in another country, you should also check out if prepaid phone cards might be able to lower the cost per minute. Sometimes sending a text message is really inexpensive compared to calling and can provide you with a low-cost way of contacting each other on a daily basis. E-mail and online chatting are also great for long distance relationships, and you should never underestimate the power of a good old fashion letter written on paper. If you or your partner find it hard to express yourself through writing, investing in a basic video camera or a webcam is another great option. Regardless of which method or combination of methods that works best for you, it is crucial to keep in touch and let your partner know about what’s going on in your life. Share even the most trivial things with each other. Remember, if you lived together or at least met up a few times per week, you would know all these little seemingly insignificant things about each other.

When in a distance relationship, it is also important to integrate your partner in your everyday life. Let people know that you are in a distance relationship and don’t be shy to talk about your loved one and keep pictures of you two together in your home. If a boyfriend comes for a visit and notices that not even the room mate knows who he is, he will most likely feel left out and wonder why his girlfriend is keeping him a secret. You might think that hiding all your pictures and not talking about your partner makes it easier for you to cope since you won’t be reminded of him or her during the day, but this is rarely a good solution and there are better ways of dealing with your feelings than trying to shut them off.

Last but not least, jealousy can cause serious trouble for any relationship and the long distance relationship is certainly no exception. Before you even consider entering a long distance relationship, you should sit down and try to be honest with each other about jealousy. It can for instance be good to know exactly what your partner will perceive as unfaithfulness. People tend to have very different opinions here and being in a long distance relationship can amplify the differences. You might for instance find it perfectly normal to have lunch with someone of the opposite sex, but your partner might feel that having lunch is more or less like having a date. This feeling can be boosted by the fact that you partner knows that her or she will not be able to have lunch with you for several weeks or even months. A partner that would be really sensible if you lived in the same town can start experiencing feelings of jealousy simply because he or she hates the fact that you two are apart for such long periods of time. Throughout your relationship you have to continue to talk about jealousy and be prepared to share your true feelings with each other – even if you find those feelings obsessive, insecure or old-fashioned.