Surviving a Long Distance Relationship - How Can You Close the Distance?

In the beginning it may seem exciting. Love from a distance sounds like the back jacket of some steamy summer novel. Then reality sets in and you discover that surviving a long distance relationship isn't all it's cracked up to be. It's much harder than it looks.

How can you make surviving a long distance relationship a priority for the two of you while feeding your relationship so that it can grow over time like any other relationship?

1) Make time for each other. You might catch some flack for it with your "in the flesh" friends and family but you need to set aside time for your lover whether you share a bedroom or are separated by six or more time zones.

2) Meet in the middle. The miles between you can be a serious barrier to your relationship. Take time and make plans to meet as often as possible even if you have to meet in the middle some of those times. It's great to spend time online, on the phone, through email, etc. but you need face to face contact to really make the relationship grow.

3) Begin making plans for the future. Whether it means to start looking for jobs in one place or the other (or pick a new place to build your lives together) or selling your house you need to set a deadline to begin making plans for something a little more permanent in the future.

4) Take sanity breaks. It's tempting to spend all your time talking on the phone or chatting online with the love of your life when you can't see each other face to face. You need to avoid that temptation. Make dates with your lover but also make plans with friends and family that are local so that you aren't spending all your time with the latest technology and very little with real people.