In 2017, the stats showed that 14 million partners were in a long-distance relationship (LDR) while 3.75 million married individuals are in this kind of relationship. 

But how long do they stay in this relationship? The majority of couples can only last 4 1/2 months before they decide to call it quits. Almost 40 percent of marriages in an LDR wind up in divorce.

However, it does not mean that long distance relationships will never work for you. It will work if the two of you want it to work. And of course, you need to communicate regularly. Every human relationship depends on communication. No one can’t maintain a relationship if he/she does not frequently talk with his/her partner. 

If you failed to communicate while you are in an LDR, it could make you and your partner feel distant from each other. It could also breed distrust. 

But how are you going to stay connected if you and your partner are 125 miles away from each other? 

Schedule times to talk 

Communicate more often is one of the fundamental rules of long distance relationships. Do communicate in pre-scheduled times to remove excuses. 

Make sure that you communicate each other throughout the day to share what’s going on no matter how mundane some of those things may seem. Doing so will help your partner feel that he/she is part of your daily life. 

Be creative 

The primary goal here is to keep the spice alive. You can send little gifts. 

If you think that your partner is having a night in, why not try to have pizza delivered to his/her house? 

Various ways can help you creatively show that you care about your partner even if you’re far away from each other. 

From time to time, try to send some audio clips, pictures of yourself or short videos. Play online games together. Watch a show together. Maintain a sacred routine (such as taco tuesdays where you both have tacos for dinner and video chat while enjoying it).

Don’t Be Afraid to Get Steamy Together 

Sexual connection is vital in a relationship. Distance can definitely make this difficult, but it is important that your long distance relationship is different than your long distance friendships.

Get creative. Share your fantasies. Consider connecting your solo sex experiences and share your desires and wishes.

It is also helpful to anticipate connection when you reunite. Talk about what you are looking forward to doing together and feeling. This primes your brain to receive it more fully when it does happen (and helps rekindle your desire).

Find out each other’s schedules 

Doing so will help you know when your partner is busy or free. In that way, you can text or call him/her at the right time. 

Avoid disturbing your partner when he/she is in an important, critical situation, like a business meeting or midterm exam. That’s why it is vital that you and your partner have to discuss every small detail of your activities. In this way, the two of you will know the small and significant events happening in your lives. 

Use a messaging app 

Texting is the most common way to communicate. But you need more than just a messaging app on your phone to interact with more than just words and emoticons. 

The good thing is that most messaging apps are free as long as you have an Internet connection. 

Think of the big picture 

You need to remind yourselves that your situation is temporary. It gives you a perspective on various things while it can help you sail through difficulties. 

On the other hand, if the two of you are finding it difficult to stay connected but you wish your relationship to work, you might want to consider talking to an Edm

onton couples counselling psychologist. Working with a professional counsellor will help you reach clear and workable agreements with your partner.