Long-distance relationships are not for everyone. Often your friends and family express their discomfort and concern by rolling their eyes or raising an eyebrow, wondering how you’re even seriously considering it.
Not many see it as a viable reason for staying in a relationship, and statistics do not lie either. There’s a 40% probability of your long distance relationship breaking up in the next five months.
But the statistics haven’t changed in a decade. What has changed is how people enter into, and view, a long distance relationship. Priorities have changed, too, and what was once impossible to do except via snail mail has become an everyday thing, thanks to technology and the Internet of Things, or IoT.
Engaging in a relationship where both of you will be thousands of miles apart and perhaps, even in different time zones, takes a lot of courage and commitment to pull off. At the end of the day, it boils down to how crazy in love you both are with each other, just like any other relationship.
When your trust and dedication for each other exceeds time and distance, there is no doubt that your relationship will make it through this tough time of separation.
Keeping the spark alive to make it work is a common challenge that most relationships have. This becomes even more relevant when you’re hundreds of miles away or even halfway around the globe.
Without physical contact in your relationship, how do you keep the fire burning? As James Ingram sings, “How do you make it last?”
Nowadays though, staying in a long-distance relationship is made easier, more comfortable, and better because of various technological advances.
These technologies have made the world smaller, making it possible to contact each other in just a flick of the finger.
With the help of technology, your relationship needs to meet certain milestones. These milestones are marked by a number of behaviors that are crucial to maintain and sustain a long distance relationship:
- Declaration of your love and commitment to each other.
- Being transparent with each other’s feelings.
- Managing conflict gracefully.
- Interactions that generate positive responses and results.
- Sharing responsibilities and tasks.
- Becoming your partner’s adviser.
- Getting support from your social circle.
Showing love to your partner doesn’t have to be complicated. Nor does it have to be boring.
Going back to basics is still the key with sprinkles of surprises and creativity here and there. For sure, your love will flourish through time. Here are 20 effective and creative ways to show love in a long distance relationship:
💖 Table of Contents
1. Regular conversations with your significant other
Let them know that they are the first and the last person in your mind. Send those sweet nothings as soon as you wake up to bring smiles to their day.
End your days with good nights that send them off to dreamland knowing they are safe and secure in their relationship. For long-distance relationships, maintaining or sustaining your levels of staying in touch depends on how effectively you communicate with each other. Do not allow silence to ruin the relationship you have invested in.
Technology, through mobile phones and laptops, made it possible to communicate with each other. Make it work to your advantage and help your partner feel the love from across the miles. Tell them how much you miss and care for them.
One thing you must consider though is not to overdo it. Make sure that you create a balance between having those regular conversations and still giving them their “me” time.
Together, you can agree on a specific number of times or hours should talk in any given week. This way, no one is left in the dark and there is something to look forward to at the end of the day or week.
2. Go on video dates
You don’t need to feel sorry about yourself about eating alone in restaurants anymore. Your date is just a Skype or Facetime away.
The best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach is an age-old saying that has much merit. If your partner prefers gourmet food, send them a gourmet food basket. If they like fast food, order them a burger. So, even if you can’t cook for them, you can still send them a food parcel to make them feel your presence.
No need to book a reservation in those expensive fine-dining restaurants. If your significant other can whip up a great meal with the ingredients in the basket, then a candlelit dinner right in the comfort of your own home via FaceTime is now viable.
Another idea is to go on a virtual movie date with your long distance partner. Choose a movie that you both like and watch it at the same time, with matching popcorn and drinks for that ultimate movie experience.
It might not be as nice as being able to snuggle together in the movie theatre but doing this together can make up for those long lonely nights. Stream the movie and share your screen to your partner so you’re watching it together in real time.
Studies show that couples with a lesser face-to-face contact experiences are more likely to get jealous than those who contact each other face-to-face regularly. Having this experience cultivates trust and commitment between both parties.
3. Send your significant other a personal care package
Personal care packages are a fantastic way to show that you are always looking after them. Send them an old favorite, like chocolate or even have their favorite pizza delivered right into their doorstep.
As weird as it may sound, a boyfriend would love a personal massager as a gift from his girlfriend who is thousands of miles away. In the absence of their partner, this massager can give temporary relief to ease the fatigue or melt the stress away.
4. Give them “open when you feel…” letters
You can give them this gift even before you part ways and begin your long distance relationship. Or, if time wasn’t in your favor, send it to them via post once you have their address.
This caring act can make a difference in helping them feel that you always have their back, no matter what happens. Sweet messages in a letter to get them through tough times such as a big presentation or final interview, can boost their confidence as if you are cheering them on from the sidelines.
Or, if they are feeling down after a long day at school or the office, the letter is like a virtual hug giving them the strength to move on.
5. Pay them a surprise visit
Nothing could be more romantic than physical touch and seeing your significant other face-to-face in their new place.
Just make sure that they do not have any other plans on that day so you’ll have each other all to yourselves. Spicing up your love life with your unexpected presence across the many miles between you will surely spark the right fireworks for a loving session.
Or, you can send them a round-trip ticket to where you are currently located. Instead of you surprising them, they can fly over to meet you over the weekend or during a holiday.
6. Tag them on cute memes or meaningful messages
Make them giggle or laugh with those funny memes online. Post them on your social media, and be sure to tag them to make them smile as they go by their day.
7. Never forget to say I love you
The simplest but often the most overlooked gesture of them all, say “I love you” everyday.
Cupid will thank you for making their job easier. Saying I love you is the cherry on top and can bring a smile to their face every single time.
8. Go old school, send letters via snail mail
Nothing beats sweet messages personally handwritten by your loved one. The effort of writing it down and going to the post office is a sure sign that your partner is invested and makes time for you, even though they have full access to technology.
Letters are for keeps. You can pretty them up and even make your stationary smell nice. The sight and smell of your letters will send butterflies crazy in your stomach every time. However, snail mail can sometimes fail us due to long delays in delivery or even misrouted mail.
Science has found a way for you to get around these nuisances. Now, you can digitize your handwriting using a smartpen and a graphic tablet. The magic of a handwritten letter will still be there, just send with the speed of an email.
Simply amazing, right? Without a doubt, this old school favorite has made its way to modern technology.
9. Hide small cute notes in their stuff
Cheesy as it may sound, these little notes can create a significant impact on your relationship.
Finding notes in the unlikeliest of places like a coat pocket or between the pages of a notebook can make hearts skip a beat. Take a moment to hide a few little notes next time you’re together.
10. Avoid “sinful” traps
Being miles apart from each other often opens up an opportunity where your trust, love, and faithfulness can be tested.
When your college friends or workmates invite to out of town trips or night outs with unfamiliar people from the opposite sex, be vigilant.
Learn to say NO when you feel trapped in a situation that will make your partner doubt your love and trust, or question your faithfulness. It is essential to know where your partner is and who they are with, in a broad sense of the word.
That also includes knowing who they are with. Openness and honesty are crucial to sustaining your significant other’s trust and love for you.
Knowing each other’s whereabouts also helps to establish a secure connection to another human being who can keep a look out for you.
11. Stay in touch with their loved ones
If you stay in the same area with their family, especially their parents, drop by to say hi from time to time.
This applies to couples who have already introduced their partners to their parents. Being introduced to your partner’s family is already an act of love.
It shows that your partner is serious in the relationship when they let you into their family. In their absence, try to fill in that small gap your partner has left by dropping by their house or giving them a call every so often.
Your partner will surely appreciate it if, especially if they have tight-knit family ties. Your simple gesture also shows your intention to accept his family into your life.
Not all couples might find this comfortable. This practice is appreciated, but depends entirely on your partner’s culture, how comfortable they are with your involvement with their family, and how tightly knit their family actually is.
When families have drifted apart this will only come off as weird, so be sure to check that it’ll be okay with your partner.
12. For pet lovers, give them something to cuddle whenever you are not around
If both of you love dogs or cats, gifting the other partner with a pet is a creative way to show your love. In your absence, the cat can purr, or the dog can lick as you snuggle them closely.
You have the furry animal who will greet you once you get home and cheer you up when you are down. The cute pet can become your “baby” and help prepare you for when that time comes in the future.
But, if pets are not allowed in your partner’s place or they are allergic to furry animals, you can send a talking stuffed animal instead.
This cute stuffed toy can be cuddled whenever it’s squeezed. You can record your own voice to lull your partner to sleep or bring them comfort when they’re feeling lonely.
13. Use an app to share private videos and photos
Create a private folder on social media or apps like Google Drive or Dropbox, where you can share some pictures or videos restricted for your eyes only.
Wherever and whenever you can always browse through the file to relive the passion and love you shared counting the days until you can add more pictures in the app.
Trust is vitally important if you’re going to do this. Grab some tips on sexting and sharing private pictures and videos here.
14. Make their mornings extra sweet
Surprise them with a recording to wake them up in the morning. Change their alarm secretly and record something sweet that will put a smile on their faces, giving a definite boost in the morning.
15. Show your artistic side
Write a poem, compose a song, or draw a portrait of them. If you have no creative veins, buy paint-by-number at the craft store and follow the instructions. In the end, it is the thought that counts.
A painting says a thousand words. The effort that you put into it is what matters and makes the gift extra unique in a way that no Da Vinci artwork can surpass. It is not perfection that you are after but the love and passion that was thrown into it to make it possible.
For techie boyfriends who want to surprise their artistic girlfriends the old-fashioned way, photo clips are the way to go.
You can print out several pictures and clip them on a string with LED fairy lights. Now, she can decorate her room with a charming memento of the days you spent together.
16. Create a personalized calendar
Instead of just leaving your pictures on the web or stashed in a box, make use of those pictures to constantly remind them of the good times you had.
Gather your best photos that showcase your love for each other, photos that might also suit a specific season as backdrop images on a calendar. Have one unique picture per month. As an added touch, highlight particular dates that are special for both of you like birthdays, anniversaries, etc.
It is an inspiring way to look at the calendar, reminding each other that time will make your relationship grow fonder.
17. Plan your next reunion
How fun is it to finally plan for the day when both of you can share precious moments in person, together? The longer that you waited for this moment to arrive, the more you will appreciate their presence.
Anything worth having is worth waiting for. Plan your sweet escapade together to a place you both cherish. It does not have to be lavish as long as both of you are together; everything counts.
18. Create a countdown
Counting down the days to a vacation is always exciting, especially if that vacation is with the love of your life. You can create a manual countdown or download an application on both of your devices, waiting for the big day to come.
19. Buy matching jewelry or outfits
Technology can do wonders. Nowadays, you can even purchase pieces of jewelry like bracelets that vibrate or tighten the grip on your wrist as if someone is holding your hand to make you “feel” your partner.
Those particular items can make you grin from ear to ear in a way that no one else, except your partner, could understand.
What’s so hip nowadays is what they call coordinate bracelet, made especially for long distance couples. You can put whatever coordinates on the bracelet, like where you first met or where you currently are.
Get a matching bracelet to refresh their memory that soon you will only have one coordinate on the bracelet.
20. Do things together
Simple things like reading the same book can be cheesy but sweet. Or, you can play online games together like chess or virtual reality games. There are also online quizzes like compatibility tests that you both can take. Sharing something together is bridging the distance that separates you.
Use technology to your advantage as who knows, maybe soon, they can create 3D communication available for the masses. Or, perhaps one day you can teleport to your significant other, so distance is never again an issue.
Conclusion: How to Show Love in a Long Distance Relationship?
The bottom line is that, no matter the distance, if you love someone you will surely find creative ways to show affection for them and fight to make it work.
A long-distance relationship is a hurdle that couples have to go through. Once they succeed, they can achieve anything.
If you love someone, no distance or time can ever separate you from the one that is destined for you because everything is worth it for THE ONE.
Hi Will,
I have been in a LDR for 3 years now and the last time we physically met was during the start of our relationship. We just met and talked for a few minutes-less than 30 mins. Ever since, we’ve been talking, exchanging photos and all that. I graduated last year, and my partner is to graduate this year June. When the year was starting, she had promised that we’re going to meet immediately she finishes her industrial attachment that ended the end of last month (March). She had promised to come at the beginning of this month(April,2021) but the moment she finished her attachment, she told me she don’t think she can make it to come soon. That information confused me. I did not know what to say. I kept quiet for a while trying to figure out what to say to her. But then she send me another message telling me that if I don’t want to talk to her, we better end the relationship! It was really shocking. I love this girl! What should I do please?
I create cute vidoes for my LDL.
I did some lip syncying to some sexy love song with my lip gloss opping because he loves my lips.
He is in Jamaica and I am in the U.S.
I also do vidoes for him whining to my favorite song Essence by Whiz Kid