New year, new you! Or should I say: new year, new boo? If you’re anything like me, winter break has served as your chance to rekindle a romance with your ex, start something new with an old friend, or break out of your shell and finally go on that long-anticipated —but totally low key— tinder date. (Anyone else? No? Just me, I guess.)
Whatever your love story is, if you and your bae are trying out this new relationship hundreds of miles apart, have no fear. For I hold the (major) keys to making it work long distance. These six tips, inspired by the ever-wise DJ Khaled, will guide you through the journey of a successful relationship and keep the anniversaries coming for a long time. #Anotherone.
“Always have faith. Always have hope.”
It’s no secret that the last few days of winter break are bittersweet, especially if you’re unsure of when you’ll see your S.O. next. At this stage in your relationship, the best thing you can do is cherish the time you have left and not worry about the obstacles you’re soon to face. Keep your spirits high and stay optimistic. If you want it to work, it will.
“Smh they get mad when u have joy.”
Being back on campus after a shamelessly unproductive month can feel like a total drag, but when you have someone who wakes you up with emoji-filled good morning texts, listens to you complain about daily nuisances and talks to you on the phone until you fall asleep, you’ll find an unusual pep to your daily routine. It’s no surprise that the people around you might become a little bitter when you can’t stop talking about how great it is to “not have to try” when getting ready in the morning, or how you finally have someone to be in constant conversation with throughout the day. If their responses keep getting shorter and colder every time you talk about how happy you are, it’s probably time to lay off the relationship topic for a while. This might be a good opportunity to put your love skills to the test and be an awesome wingman or wingwoman for your single friends. Besides, what else are you going to do at parties now that hookups are out of the question?
“They will try to close the door on u, just open it.”
So a few weeks have passed, and you and your S.O. are getting antsy about seeing each other. This is usually the time when the random, stupid arguments you swore you’d never have come into the picture, along with one worded texts and drama over who that person in the photo they just instagrammed is. It’s easy to spiral into a jealous craze, especially with how prevalent social media is in our lives these days. But don’t let it get to you. Whenever you feel like picking apart a half-assed text message or getting angry over their liking someone’s photo or tweet, take a second and breathe. It’s one thing to catch them blatantly flirting, but being friends with people of the opposite sex doesn’t warrant a fight. Whether you’re starting the fights or trying to end them, don’t call it quits just yet. Keep the door to your heart open, because chances are, these fights are really just misplaced emotions stemming from the eagerness to see each other.
“Those that weather the storm r the great ones.”
There is no better feeling than the weekend your planned visit finally arrives. One thing you should absolutely do before this weekend arrives is finish up all of your outstanding work because, I promise you, you’ll be lucky if you leave bed to eat. Take this weekend to enjoy yourself and relax. You owe it to your sanity to spend every second together worry-free.
“The key to more success is coco butter.”
This one’s just a friendly reminder to keep your hygiene in check and those lips moisturized for all the kissing and touching you’ll be doing when you finally get your hands on each other. The honeymoon phase is at its finest the first few months of a new relationship and definitely heightened when you don’t see each other all the time. Your first few visits will consist of Netflix— and a whole lot of chill.
“I changed…a lot.”
If there’s anything my long distance relationship has taught me, it’s patience, how to overcome temptation and how to have a fun night out without depending on a hookup to make it all worthwhile. It’s natural to let a relationship change you, but be aware of the types of changes you make. Don’t let the experience convert you into a hermit who’s constantly glued to technology. Of course, you should take pride in staying connected to someone who’s so far away, but don’t forget to take pride in being able to focus on other things that are important to you and staying tight with your friends at school.
