how to spice up a long distance relationship

How to Spice Up a Long Distance Relationship: A Brief Guide

How to Spice Up a Long Distance Relationship

One of the hardest things in a long-distance relationship is physical distance. Due to limited verbal communication, the separate lives of the couple, distance, and the communication gap, a beautiful relationship can fall apart easily.

In fact, according to a survey from 2018, such relationships have a 58% success rate. On the other hand, a German study found that such relationships last 2.9 years on average, compared to 7.2 years for couples that aren’t long distance.

So, are all such relationships doomed? Of course not! It is the extra effort that counts when it comes to keeping romance alive. So, if you’re wondering how to spice up a long distance relationship, keep reading!

How to Spice Up a Long-Distance Relationship
How to Spice Up a Long-Distance Relationship

1. Have Short but Effective Video Calls

This may seem like a no-brainer, but the busier you get, the more difficult it becomes to have a video chat. This is why we suggest spontaneous screen time connections that don’t require a lot of time.

Whether it’s for a ten-minute chat about the latest development at work, a long conversation about your life goals, or finding the perfect gift for a friend’s birthday, anything is game.

These types of conversations play a huge role in affecting the emotional intimacy of a relationship and can help you feel closer to each other. This will help you both feel like an integral part of each other’s lives despite the distance.

2. Plan Virtual Romantic Date Nights

In this age of technology, organizing a virtual date night is easier than ever! We suggest having at least one cozy date night every two weeks to keep the connection alive.

Wear your nice clothes, bring out a nice glass of wine, light a few scented candles, order some food, and have a virtual date like you would in a conventional relationship. This shows that you and your partner have made a conscious effort to plan and spend quality time together.

3. Have a Relaxed Cooking Date Night

Cooking together can strengthen your relationship. We understand that it may not be the same as sharing the same space with your partner for obvious reasons, but if you are sick of cooking alone, organizing a virtual cooking date is the next best thing.

What makes this even better is that you don’t have to break out a bottle of champagne or your best clothes. Wear your comfiest clothes, decide on a specific time that works for the two of you, pick a recipe, and follow along with a YouTube tutorial, and you’re good to go!

4. Embrace Each Other’s Differences

There is a saying that people are as unique and different as snowflakes. Diversity is a beautiful thing, but people often end up stuck in their ways, which can get in the way of effective communication.

Ask your partner about their hobbies and what makes them happy, and even if they are not things that you would conventionally indulge in, we urge you to give them a try. You may end up liking them, and it could effectively bring you closer to each other.

5. Send Them a Cute Care Package

You would be surprised at how effective a small gift can be when someone is having a hard day. Of course, this is not to say that you can only send them things when they are going through troubling times.

Plus, if your or your partner’s primary love language is gift-giving, you probably understand how this can foster a sense of connection. Surprise gifts don’t necessarily have to be an exercise in luxury. Something as simple as their favorite chocolates, books, or even a trinket that reminds you of them can make for cute packages.

Of course, if you would rather turn it into a creative project, we suggest a collage of your pictures, snapshots of places you’ve been to, or a handwritten love letter in a cute box.

6. Surprise Them With a Visit

When it comes to physical connection, nothing beats the surprise element of both of you being in the same space with a surprise visit. We suggest that you subtly plan this surprise. Get in touch with their family or friends to find out their schedule so that you can choose the best time.

Search some local date spots to go to, take lots of pictures together so both of you can look back on them, and make sure that this brief window of physical proximity is filled with positive energy, love, and comfort.

7. Spend Some Quality Alone Time

The better you know and understand yourself, the better you know and understand what you want from your relationship. In a long distance relationship, it can become very easy to lose yourself in the struggle to communicate, and you may lose touch with who you are.

We suggest going on outings with friends, taking on solo dates, indulging in a hobby you have been putting off for a long time, or even a simple bubble bath. Remember that a relationship is just as much about your partner as it is about yourself, so it is important to place an equal amount of importance on both.

8. Learn From Your Past Mistakes

Fights and arguments are a natural part of any romantic or platonic relationship. What sustains these bonds is our willingness to learn from our past mistakes, take accountability, and promise to do better in the future.

When you face disagreements, take a few breaths and, if necessary, a few moments away from each other to let the anger wash out of your system. Then, talk to each other as if you would talk to yourself. Understand where the problem came from, what triggered it, and the emotions it triggered in you.

Of course, keep the conversation civil, but do not downplay your feelings for the sake of compromise. It’s important to be honest about how you feel to avoid misunderstandings and problems in the future.

9. Involve Them in Your Everyday Life

How to Spice Up a Long Distance Relationship
How to Spice Up a Long Distance Relationship

As life gets busier, it becomes a little more routine to isolate yourself from your loved ones due to stress. This is why it is vital that you include your partner in your decisions. Don’t just include them in big, life-altering decisions but in small, everyday things as well, such as the color you want to paint your walls and the projects you want to work on.

These may seem like meaningless conversations, but they are vital in making sure that your partner does not feel left out of your life.

While setting up a common long-term goal for your future, take time to talk to each other about your expectations, where you see yourself in a decade, opinions on marriage, and starting a family together. This will help ensure that you are both on the same page and can effectively prevent all forms of miscommunication.

10. Text Each Other Randomly

A cute way to brighten your partner’s day is by sending them a picture of something that reminds you of them. Not only does it count for effective communication, but it also helps them feel seen, loved, and cherished.

Random texts such as “thinking of you” or saying that you miss them are a great and heartfelt way to let them know that the distance has not affected your love for them.

Conclusion

So, it’s common to want to learn how to spice up a long distance relationship. Many long distance couples struggle to find new ways to keep their relationship fresh and exciting in between in-person visits.

We understand that being in a committed long distance relationship can be extremely difficult, especially if you both live in different time zones. But as the pandemic during the past few years has shown us, constant communication is one of the keys to both individual mental health as well as the effective growth of both partners in a relationship.

No two couples are the same, just as no two people are the same. This is why one of the most important pieces of communication advice is that you have to find your own groove. What works for someone else may not work for the two of you. So, go out, talk to your partner, and don’t be afraid to ask hard questions!

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