Long-distance relationships are tough, even for the strongest of couples. In fact, the closer you and your partner are, the harder it makes it when you're apart. The pain of being separated from your loved one can even make you sick!
Therefore, it's important that you find ways of keeping the bond between you strong. Here are some ideas of romantic things you can do with your beloved to keep the love alive until you are together again.
12 Romantic Ideas to Keep Your Long-Distance Relationship Alive
When your other half is many miles away, simply speaking on the phone is not always enough to keep you feeling close. To remedy this, we have thought of 12 romantic ideas long-distance relationships (LDR) will benefit from.
Doing any of the activities listed here may even improve the current condition of your relationship. If you decide to make this situation a special opportunity for your union to strengthen, then the pain of your separation will be worthwhile.
1. Know the exact date you'll see each other again
Going for extending periods of time not knowing exactly when you'll see your companion again can be a devastating feeling. If your circumstances are such that you are not sure exactly certain when you'll be with each other again, then it might be a good idea to agree that one of you will visit.
Having an exact date of when you'll be able to be together again, even if it's for a short time, will make it less difficult to cope with the separation.
2. Send gifts
You might not be able to afford a plane ticket or get time off of work to go and see your partner, but you can send a gift. There's no better way to let your beloved know how much you are thinking of them than for them to receive a package from you.
The fact that you are miles apart and still managed to get a gift to them will make them feel all the more special to you. A good tip is to take advantage of the online retailers in the area your partner is staying in. This will reduce the cost of delivery, and they are more likely to receive the gift faster.
If you're spending your monthly anniversary apart, then sending long-distance gifts can make very special month anniversary ideas for LDRs.
3. Send good morning texts
It feels great waking up to a romantic text from your significant other. Spoil your sweetheart with good morning texts, reminding them of how much they mean to you.
Knowing that you've been thought of all night is a comfort when you're missing the person, too. Messages of love are always a beautiful way for your beloved to start their day, keeping you in their mind as they go about their work.
A helpful tip is to have your message written and ready to send the night before. Set an alarm reminder to send the text, and you will never miss a moment to lovingly wake up your partner.
4. Play text games together
This is one of the easiest (and most fun) ways to keep the communication between you and your favorite person going. Playing games over text or instant messenger is one of the more simple long-distance relationship activities you and your partner can do together, regardless of the distance between you.
Pick your favorite games, and enjoy making fun of each other for your losses and gloating over your wins. You'll share plenty of laughs and continue to make memories together, even though you're far apart.
5. A surprise visit
If you and your long-distance lover are desperately missing one another, why not plan a surprise visit? Even if you are only able to stay with them for a long weekend, it will provide both of you with some relief from the pain of the separation.
Nothing can substitute the touch of the hand of a loved one and the warmth of their embrace. Surprising your other half with a visit is a wonderful way to let them know how much you care about them and your relationship.
6. Date night
If making a surprise visit is impossible for either of you, then try planning a date night instead. It can simply be over the phone or better yet, on a video call. To create a feeling of togetherness, arrange to eat the same foods and drink the same drinks. This takes the pressure off of having interesting things to say, as the focus is not on carrying on a conversation.
The point is just to share the experience of eating at the same time in their company. As unusual as this idea sounds, if you give it a try, you'll be surprised by how close it makes you feel, and you'll probably want to do it as often as possible.
7. Movie night care package
This can be in addition to your video call date night or as an alternative. Try ordering your spouse's favorite snacks and treats from their local online supermarket. Or simply send them a list of things that you will buy, too. Share the experience of watching the same movie at the same time while texting each other at the interesting parts.
8. Send handwritten letters by courier
These are the kinds of romantic ideas long-distance relationships survive on. Words of love are more powerful when read from a handwritten letter. Sending letters by courier is not as expensive as you might think. However, if you are concerned about the cost, you could write a letter every night for a week or more and send them all at once.
Make your partner promise that they will only read one letter a day. If the letters you write are full of your deepest affection, then this will be an extremely romantic activity that will improve and strengthen the bond of your relationship even well after the time apart.
9. Send pictures of your day
The things we miss the most about having our partners near are the missed experiences you would have shared together. You can reduce the number of lost moments if you send pictures of them instead.
Whenever you see something funny or strange happen during your day, just take a quick snap of it and send it to your companion. It's very amusing receiving random photos from your partner and trying to figure out what's going on in the picture. This is a clever way of keeping communication going.
Sending the pictures as you take them will keep you from forgetting the funny thing that happened that morning. This idea will also give you the feeling of connection as it helps you in maintaining the closeness you are yearning for.
10. Learn a new language together
You can decide to make good use of your time apart by thinking of romantic ideas long-distance relationships can gain an advantage from. Learning to speak a new language together is a bonding activity.
It will give you something to focus on rather than just talking about how much you miss each other. You'll have someone to practice and test your progress with. The longer the time apart, the better you can expect your knowledge in the language to be.
In the years to come, you will have gained a lifelong skill during a difficult period of time for which you will actually be thankful, as opposed to looking back with sadness.
11. Make an LDR playlist
Back in the days of cassette tapes and CDs, compiling songs to give to your lover was quite popular. It was much more of a labor of love in those times than it is now. Nevertheless, it can still be as romantic now as it was then.
A good tip to do this well is to have a theme. If you want to let your beloved know how much you miss them, then make sure that all the songs you choose are about the pain of longing for the one you love. Or for a less tear-jerking playlist, put together all the songs you can find about the joy of reuniting with someone you're excited to see.
12. Take a trip down memory lane together
You might not be able to travel anywhere as a couple at the moment, but you can take a trip together down memory lane. Dig out the oldest pictures of yourselves either together or alone. If you have photos of you both from a long time ago, you can share them and try to recall as much as you can about the times they were taken.
Mention the things that you were afraid to say at the time, and laugh about how unsure you were about each other. If you only have old pictures of each of you alone, those can work too. Everyone loves to see the younger versions of the person they love. Share your memories of the time the pictures were taken, and use the opportunity to get to know each other better.
Being apart from the person you love the most can be one of the hardest experiences in life. Regardless of the time and distance between you, there's no reason why you can't make the best of a bad situation.
These long-distance relationship activities will keep the lines of communication between you and your loved one going. Choose the ones that best suit your partner's preferences, and your love will not just survive - it will thrive!