Surviving a Long-Distance Relationship During a Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has brought with it a huge range of difficulties and unexpected challenges, but for those who have found themselves in a long-distance relationship, a whole host of other issues come with it.

Long-distance relationships can be challenging at the best of times, but throw in a global pandemic into the mix and the challenges are unimaginable. From canceled flights to arguments and miscommunication, the pandemic has caused a lot of issues for those in long-distance relationships.

While many things are out of our control at the moment, there are certain areas such as communication and making time to connect with your significant other that can be controlled. Here are some ideas to help to get you through this incredibly challenging time from miles, cities, or countries apart. 

1. Communicate, communicate, communicate

Relationships thrive on communication and communication alone. It doesn’t matter whether you live with your partner or are in a long-distance relationship, communication always matters. However, for the long-distance couple, communication can be a challenging aspect. Things that can be said with a hug and a kiss in person need to be communicated in different ways while the couple live apart. More and more people over the world are experiencing the need to communicate with their loved ones in different ways, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Modern technology offers a wide range of apps, websites, and networks that allow people to stay in contact with each other easier than others.

Even a quick text to say hello, making the time for a quarantine date night, or sending emails makes all the difference when things get hard. While apart, it is even more important to say things as they are- there’s no room to be cryptic when body language cannot be read or comfort given with a gentle touch. 

2. Ride out the frustrations

All couples fight. That is natural, but especially so with the uncertainty that is going on around the world right now. However, if you want to maintain a healthy long-distance relationship, then you should still try to live by the golden rule of not going to bed with unresolved conflict. This is especially important for couples with differences in the time zone in addition to their distance. Feelings of loneliness and being heard cause tensions in most relationships. It is incredibly important to be open and honest with your partner when loneliness hits, as it will, and is natural to do so. So, as well as talking things through, talk to your partner about how you wish to resolve the issues that may arise. Tensions are incredibly high all around the world so make sure you give each other the grace and patience as you ride out your frustrations.

3. Live your own life 

As much as LDR couples may dream of being the ‘joint at the hip couple’, becoming too dependent on their partners can raise some red flags in a relationship- long-distance or otherwise. 

Even during this time when you may find yourself to be emotionally vulnerable. It’s important to keep pursuing personal hobbies and interests without your person. Yes, it’s perfectly good and fine for a partner to bring happiness, but relying on that joy coming from a partner is less OK. 

4. Plan for the future

Soon enough, you’re going to be back in the arms of your partner. So, even if you don’t feel like it, planning for the future is a must. This can look like looking at getting a virtual card issuing API so that you can spend money in either country or shopping for dream houses. 

Discuss your future relationship ambitions, such as what your ideal Sunday together will look like, the first place you’ll go together when the travel restrictions are lifted, and what you’d like your next steps to be if nothing were holding you back. 

Having thousands of miles, oceans, and several time zones between a couple can add to the urgency of needing to be together- especially when the world around you shuts down and you feel stuck in the hideous world of the unknown. The pandemic will not keep the world closed forever, and the frustrations you feel will soon fade as you find yourselves back where you belong.