Although long-distance relationships are not necessarily doomed to ruin a relationship, maintaining them is indeed very challenging. Of course, no matter whether you are in different cities, countries, or even across different continents, the pressure on both parties (usually) increases as the distance grows. Those who refuse to admit that adjustments are necessary in such situations may hesitate about when to give up the long-distance relationship and choose to break up.

The situation doesn't have to be so gloomy.

The precautions for long-distance relationships do not need to be overly complicated or cause unnecessary stress. In fact, as long as you master and follow the most important few elements, your relationship can develop smoothly no matter whether you and your partner live in different cities or one of you is living abroad.

To do: Have long-term thinking

If you and your significant other are considering starting a long-distance relationship, short-term thinking is likely to cause your love to gradually fade. Instead, you should jointly think about how to keep your relationship vibrant during the time apart. Maybe you can continue as usual, but some adjustments are needed. Perhaps this means you can consider an open relationship until you can meet each other frequently.

Don't: Get bogged down in the negative aspects of the situation

Long-distance relationships are not easy for both of you. When facing difficulties, we often tend to get trapped in negative emotions. This not only harms our mental health, but also does not help maintain the relationship or actively solve the problems that may arise during the period of your separation.

To do: Manage your expectations

Whether you have been living in different cities from the very beginning, or have decided to move abroad after years of interaction, you both need to clearly define your expectations for each other during this period. Make sure these expectations are achievable; that is to say, if you are on different continents, meeting once a month may not be feasible. However, having a video call once a week is acceptable.

Don't: Avoid addressing your concerns

When it comes to long-distance relationships, it's normal to feel worried and hesitant when separated from your partner for a long time. Whether you feel lonely during a boring period or when you're alone in bed without your partner's company, you should share your concerns with your partner.

To do: Have regular communication

Even when starting a long-distance relationship, establishing an intimate connection without sexual intimacy is easier than you might think. Although text messages are great, especially for daily communication, you can also use photos and videos to record your locations and activities, making the text messages more personalized. As long as conditions permit, phone calls and video chats are ideal choices because you can hear each other's voices.

Don't: Lose sexual attraction

When you live in different countries or even different cities, it's not always feasible to use physical contact to seduce your long-term partner. However, (if both of you are willing to do so), you can send nude photos or other forms of pornographic text messages, and masturbate during hot video calls. There are even some sex toys that can be controlled by your partner who is thousands of miles away through a mobile app!

Don't: Ignore self-care

Starting a long-distance relationship can be stressful, but that doesn't mean you should forget to do something for yourself. Take care of yourself and look after yourself - whether it's going for a walk or taking time to travel around the world - all are equally important. Don't forget to take good care of yourself!