How do you stop missing your partner when they’re miles away? If you’re in a long-distance relationship, it’s likely you sometimes feel quite lonely.
You find yourself missing them more than usual, especially if you were spending lots of time together and then suddenly they’re gone. While there’s no easy fix for this, there are a few things you can do to make the experience a little easier.
Let’s look at 15 ways to stop missing someone in a long distance relationship to help you get through those tough times.
💖 Table of Contents
1. Understand That it’s Normal to Miss Your Partner
The first and most crucial thing is understanding that it’s normal to miss your partner. It’s an inevitable part of being in a long-distance relationship.
So, even though you might feel lonely sometimes, know that it’s okay and that you’re not alone in how you feel. Your partner is feeling the same way too or missing you even more.
Missing someone is proof of how much you love them and how much they mean to you. So, instead of trying to fight the feeling, try to embrace it. Use it as a reminder of how strong your relationship is and how lucky you are to have each other.
2. Communicate Often
Communication is key in any relationship, but it’s even more important in a long-distance relationship. When you’re apart, you can’t just drop by each other’s places or have spontaneous conversations.
You need to be intentional about communication and make sure you’re staying in touch. Without regular communication, the distance may feel even longer, and you’ll find yourself missing them more.
One of the best ways to stay connected is to set up regular video dates or calls. If you can’t do this every day, aim for a few times a week. And, make sure you’re not just chatting about the mundane things in your life.
Talk about your dreams, your hopes, and the things that are vital to you. This will help keep the spark alive in your relationship.
3. Create New Traditions
When you’re in a long-distance relationship, it’s important to create your own traditions. This will help you feel closer to your partner, even when you’re apart.
It can be something as simple as sending each other a postcard from your travels or watching the same movie at the same time. The key is to find something that you can do together, even when you’re apart.
Creating your own traditions is a great way to feel closer to your partner and make the distance feel less daunting. It can also be a lot of fun, so don’t be afraid to get creative. Discuss with your partner what traditions you’d like to start and then make it happen.
4. Spend Time With Your Friends and Family
When you’re feeling lonely, it’s crucial to spend time with the people who make you feel good. Spend time with your friends and family, or do things that make you happy.
This will help take your mind off missing your partner and make you feel better in general. While friends may not replace your partner, they can certainly help take the edge off of feeling lonely. They can also offer support and understanding, which can be invaluable.
What can you do with friends to get your mind off your partner for some time? Some ideas include going to the movies, clubbing, or even just sitting and chatting over coffee.
If you have kids, make sure to spend some extra time with them, too. They’ll be missing your attention and will appreciate the quality time.
5. Explore Sights and Sees in Your Area
Staying idle during your free time is dangerous when you’re in a long-distance relationship. If you have nothing to do, you’ll likely find yourself thinking about your partner all the time.
And thinking about them will only make you miss them more. So, instead of sitting at home and overthinking things, get out and explore your area.
Whether you’re in a new city or have lived there your whole life, there’s always something new to discover. Check out the tourist spots, go hiking in the woods, or visit a nearby town. The more you explore, the less time you’ll have to think about your partner and how much you miss them.
6. Get Involved in a New Hobby
If you’re struggling to find ways to fill your time, it may be a good idea to get involved in a new hobby. It can be something that you’ve always been interested in or something completely new. The important thing is that it’s something that you enjoy and can occupy your time.
Do you like to be active? Consider taking up running, hiking, or biking. If you’re more into the arts, try painting, drawing, or photography.
And if you want to learn something new, consider taking a cooking class, learning a new language, or studying for a hobby. No matter what you choose, make sure it’s something that you’re passionate about. You won’t even realize how much time has passed when you’re engrossed in your new hobby.
7. Get a Pet
Pets can be an excellent way to combat loneliness, and they offer companionship when your partner is far away. If you’ve been thinking about getting a pet, now may be the time to do it.
Just make sure that you’re ready for the responsibility and have the time to take care of a furry friend. Pets can be a lot of work, but they’re also a lot of fun.
There are all sorts of pets to choose from, so you’re sure to find one that’s right for you. You can get a dog to go on runs with, a cat for cuddles, or even a reptile if you’re not looking for something too high-maintenance. Birds also make great pets and can provide some much-needed company.
If you’re not ready for the commitment of a pet, consider volunteering at a local animal shelter. Spending time with animals is a great way to take your mind off of your partner and make you feel good.
8. Join a Club or Group
Meeting new people can be tough, especially if you’re shy. But it’s essential to put yourself out there if you want to make new friends.
A great way to do that is to join a club or group that meets regularly. This can be anything from a book club to a dance class to a sports team. This will help you find people with similar interests and make friends.
Joining a club or group can also help you feel more connected to your community. And that feeling of connection can be invaluable when you’re in a long-distance relationship. You don’t have to be best friends with everyone in the group, but it’s vital to have at least a few people that you can rely on.
9. Keep Yourself Busy
As we mentioned earlier, the more idle time you have, the more you’ll find yourself thinking about your partner. The busier you are, the less time you’ll have to think about them. So, if you’re struggling with missing your partner, try to keep yourself busy.
This doesn’t mean that you have to be busy all the time. You should still make time for yourself and do things that you enjoy.
But try to fill your days with activities so that you’re not just sitting at home thinking about your partner. Here are some ideas to keep yourself busy:
- Declutter and organize: Take your free time to declutter and organize your home. This will help you feel more productive and less antsy. By the time you’re done, you’ll be glad that you took the time to do it.
- Start a garden: Gardening is a great way to get outside, get some exercise, and relax. Not to mention, it’s satisfying to see your plants grow. Since taking care of plants is a never-ending task, you’ll always have something to do.
- Finish up work projects: Do you have any unfinished projects at work? Now is the time to complete them. This will help you feel more productive and accomplished, and it will take your mind off of your partner.
- Write a book: Writing can be a great way to express yourself and escape from reality. If you’ve always wanted to write a book, now is the time to start. You may even find that you’re good at it.
- Finish up with school projects: Like work projects, school projects can also be a great way to keep your mind occupied. If you have any unfinished assignments, now is the time to complete them.
- Read a book: If you’re looking for a way to escape reality, reading is the perfect solution. Whether you’re into fiction or non-fiction, there’s sure to be a book out there that you’ll enjoy.
10. Take a Short Trip
Being in the same environment day after day can be monotonous, and it can make you miss your partner even more. This can be especially true if you were living with your partner and they left for work purposes.
If you’re feeling this way, consider taking a short trip. This can be anything from a weekend getaway to a week-long vacation. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy.
The point is to just get out of your normal routine and experience something new. Short trips can be a great way to relieve boredom and monotony. They can also help you feel more connected to your partner if you’re able to talk about your experiences with them.
11. Avoid Looking at Past Photos
When you’re feeling nostalgic, it can be tempting to look at old photos of your partner or of the two of you as a couple. But this will only make you miss them more. If you’re trying to stop missing your partner, it’s best to avoid looking at past photos.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that you have to delete all of your photos. Just don’t look at them when you’re feeling down.
Save them for a time when you’re feeling better. Or you can just go over them quickly so that you can remember the good times without dwelling on them.
12. Talk to Your Partner About Your Feelings
If you’re finding it hard to stop missing your partner, talk to them about your feelings. This can be a difficult conversation to have, but it’s important to communicate with them. Let them know how you’re feeling and why you’re struggling.
Your partner may not be able to do anything to change the situation, but it will help them understand how you’re feeling. It will also help them know what they can do to support you.
For instance, they can organize a care package to send you, or they can call you more often. Whatever will make you feel better, let them know.
13. Join the Gym or Start Yoga
If you’re not already a member, consider joining the gym. Working out is a great way to relieve stress and boost your moods. It can also provide a much-needed distraction from your thoughts.
There are many other benefits of working out, such as improved sleep and increased energy levels. So, if you’re looking for ways to stop missing your partner, joining the gym is a great option.
If you’re not a gym person, think about taking up yoga. Yoga has many of the same benefits as working out, but it’s a bit more low-key.
It’s also a great way to connect with your body and relax your mind. As you practice yoga, you’ll likely find that the thoughts of missing your partner become less frequent.
14. Schedule Some “Me Time”
It’s essential to schedule some time for yourself, even when you’re in a relationship. This is especially true when you’re in a long-distance relationship. If you don’t take some time for yourself, you’re likely to become overwhelmed and stressed.
“Me time” can be anything that you enjoy doing. It can be something as simple as taking a hot bath or getting a massage. It doesn’t have to be anything big or fancy.
Just make sure that you’re doing something that you enjoy and relaxes you. That can help you recharge and feel better prepared to deal with the distance.
15. Stay Positive
When you’re feeling down, it can be difficult to see the positive side of things. But if you want to stop missing your partner, it’s important to stay positive.
This doesn’t mean that you have to be all rah-rah happy all the time. It just means that you should try to focus on the good things.
For instance, you can be grateful for the time you spend together. Or you can focus on the positive aspects of the distance.
You may have more time to pursue your hobbies, for example, or that the time away from each other can strengthen your love. Whatever it is, try to find the silver lining.