One of the most difficult challenges that a couple can go through is the pressure and stress of a long distance relationship. Anything and everything can change once a couple decides to continue their relationship despite the distance. As the saying goes, long distance relationships are as good as just a friendly platonic relationship.

It is important to define your relationship once you or your partner would need to be away from each other. You have to have set goals, mutual understanding and clear expectations from each other. It is also best to be realistic and expect the inevitable from long distance relationships. State your limitations to ensure that both of you will be grounded. Set the boundaries of your relationship and make sure that you know where you stand as an individual and as a couple to avoid heartache in the future. Stop making unrealistic demands like your partner having to come home weekly or bi-monthly or receiving a text message every hour or remotely eating at the same time.

Once you’ve defined your relationship, establish an effective way of communication. Would it be three phone calls per week in an alternating pattern so phone bills wouldn’t be that much? Or what about emails, even short ones on a daily basis or Skype on a specific time in the evenings? Explore all the many channels of communication so both of you can set your priorities. Meet your end of the bargain and set aside the time to check on each other. Communication is an imperative factor when it comes to long distance relationships.

Sure, you’ve got the communication all covered but a couple committed in a long distance relationship needs more than communication. It requires an honest communication. This is very important. From small and superficial things of what time you got home and your whereabouts last weekend to intimacy issues. Honesty is important because more than ever since it will be a sole foundation or a breaking factor of your trust to one another. Any relationship founded in lies and excuses is doomed.

It would also be better to still include your partner on your activities by sharing what you’ve been doing through pictures and videos. Capture the interesting moments of your day and letting your partner her know about it probably through social networking sites is easy. These media will indirectly keep your partner informed on what is happening on your life despite the physical distance. These warm interaction would also push aside feelings of home sickness and self-pitying because in a virtual way, you keep each other involved on what’s going on. Nobody would suddenly feel distant or out of place.

Now, this advice is surely something that is accomplished harder than said and it is exercising patience. This goes especially true to the partner being left behind because for the one leaving, he or she would have a new environment to explore and new people to meet. A natural diversion has already been created compared to the one left behind where every corner and every person might be a reminder of the physical distance. With this, patience is imperative. Waiting for that phone call or waiting for your partner to go online can really be nerve wracking especially when done with whining, ugly imaginations and conclusions. What to do? Occupy yourself with something new like a new hobby or enroll to something that can take your mind away from waiting. You are continuing with your life, being productive and at the same time you would have something new to share to your partner.

Lastly, do not fail to let each other feel how much you miss and love one another and reminding each other that the distance has a reason and eventually will make you stronger. Encourage one another and take pride on each other’s achievements even if you are not physically together. Keep the fire burning by sending surprise cards and little love packages and once everything is settled, plan to meet halfway, or you visiting your partner on his new home so you can also get to know his friends and see his environment. It will be one thing that you can talk about and be excited about –keeping your mind off missing each other too much.

With these long distance relationships tips, your relationship with your partners will work as long as it involves two dedicated individuals who are both willing to make it work.