Can distance affect a relationship? Yes!
But, does it increase the chances of infidelity? yeah!
So, how to stay loyal in a long-distance relationship?
All these and a million other thoughts might have crossed your mind while being in a long-distance relationship. Long-distance relationships are the truest test of patience and as much as you want it to work, it does not always! Whether it is the different time zones, the poor Wi-Fi connection, or the thousand miles between you, there is so much that needs to be taken care of when talking about LDR.
People are afraid of staying in a long-distance relationship just because of the inconveniences that come with it. There is so much happening around you and so many distractions to ward off which requires a greater discipline that not everyone possesses. In addition to that, the chances of caught cheating in a long-distance relationship are extremely low. But, how to stay loyal in a long-distance relationship? If you are a ‘one-man-woman or a one-woman-man’ kind of person and you really want to make your relationship last, then read on to know some amazing tips on maintaining LDR’s.
7 ways to stay loyal in a relationship
1- Trust is the foundation
Trust is a vital part of any relationship. It is an unbreakable bond that could last a relationship even when love escapes from it. Trust is the faith you have in your significant other that no matter what the circumstances they will always be loyal to you. It is a belief that your partner will always be there for you through thick and thin.
Most relationships pass the hardest trials and tests of life by holding on to trust. It is the companionship in these difficult times that blooms and flourishes a relationship, making it everlasting. There is no denying the fact that it is easier said than done. Building trust is the hardest of all in a relationship. It requires openness and willingness to share the darkest secrets of your personality. As Mom Junction says Trust is a two-way process that requires effort and commitment from both sides.
Although, it is hard to build but, once established your relationship goes to a whole new level of satisfaction. There are no frequent doubts and no checking of phones. You don’t have to spend the whole night thinking about why your partner was rude to you the other day. You understand that work stress and other engagements might lead to abrupt behavior. However, you have an open conversation about it, sort out your differences, forgive each other, and prioritize your relationship. So, how long can a long-distance relationship last without seeing each other? For years as long as the trust is there!
2- Communicate openly to stay loyal in a long-distance relationship
Communication is the backbone of any strong relationship. Whether it is a romantic relationship or a relationship with your family, friends, and peers. In a long-distance relationship, it is even more important as you can’t see your partner. So, you have to talk out everything that you feel, want, and experience.
To stay loyal in a long-distance relationship you need to remind yourself of each other’s presence more often. Create time and never let your busy schedule or your work engagements be a stumbling block in your relationship. Be connected through text messages, voice messages, face-time each other, and make use of technology. It is meant to facilitate you. Download apps like Couple or Loklok that make you feel connected through featured ‘Thumb kisses’ or make you draw cute messages on your partner’s lock screen.
The bottom line is no matter what the circumstances never let your love fade away by not communicating for a greater duration of time. So, if you were thinking about how to say emotionally connected in a long-distance relationship? This is exactly what you need to work on! As Better Health Channel puts it in one of its blog posts the act of communication not only allows you to express your needs but also grows the bond stronger.
Related; Effective communication skills
3- Plan surprises
Coming to my favorite tip of all, I love surprises, and who doesn’t love them, to be honest! Whether it a surprise visit or a surprise postcard among all the boring stuff that you receive. Knowing that your partner was thinking about you so much that they actually put an effort to visit you or sent a gift without even informing you is a whole new feeling. It just makes you feel out of this world and you don’t have to wait for a special occasion to make this effort.
Celebrate your partner and make them feel special even when there is no apparent reason. But, the fact that they are your partner and they stick with you through thick and thin is a good enough reason to make them happy. Even if you can’t plan a surprise visit, plan something else to surprise them. It can be something as small as a song dedication, a cute voice message first thing in the morning, or a picture of you in something they bought for you.
You might have heard of the phrase ‘keep it simple yet significant’ so, that is exactly what you need to do to stay loyal in a long-distance relationship. You don’t have to go that extra mile, but a little effort is always worth it if you get to see that smile at the end of the day.
4- Have a life of your own to stay loyal
As much as you would want to spend every second of every passing day with the love of your life, it is not really possible nor advisable. Sure your relationship and your partner are a priority for you but neglecting your own life is not good AT ALL! Get a life of your own, keep yourself busy and stay productive. Not only will it boost your mental health but will keep the long spells of overthinking away from you.
Although you would want to keep your partner the center of your universe, it is not healthy for your own mental and physical health either. Shifting all the focus from you to your partner can have drastic consequences. Because you are so much focused on your partner that even the slightest change of tone or a single missed call begins the vicious cycle of overthinking. So, as Allan Schwartz, Ph.D. beautifully elaborates in one of his articles for the Mentalhelp.net blog that too much of a good thing stops being good eventually.
Thus, keep yourself busy to ward off the worries and negative thoughts. As long as you are busy and have something to look forward to, you won’t dwell on negative emotions and stay positive.
Related; Tips to stop overthinking in a relationship
5- how to stay loyal- Start something together
Couples who work together stay together, well that’s how I like to phrase it! Starting a project together be it as simple as cooking something for dinner from scratch or venturing on a whole new entrepreneurial project. Working together transforms your bond from just personal to being professional as well. It creates a different sense of reliability and trust between you too.
Moreover, it makes you feel connected and that’s what you want to stay loyal in a long-distance relationship. You might be thinking about how to start something together when you are in a long-distance relationship. So, here’s how you go about it. In this digitally moving world, you can start anything digitally and make efforts towards growing it. Start a blog together on Instagram or write blog posts on the web. Create a YouTube channel and make travel vlogs of your respective locations. Do podcasts, try making DIY tutorials, or make cooking videos. There is so much in the world that you can do together even while being physically apart.
Also, starting a project together will not only make your bond stronger. But, you will also be aware of all the aspects of your partner which you otherwise wouldn’t. So, stay loyal in a long-distance relationship by being work buddies along with being cuddle partners.
6- Prioritize your relationship
So, how to tell if a long-distance relationship is serious? It is by prioritizing it and labeling all other things as secondary. Never ever let the love between you fade away due to worldly compulsions. When the distance separates you, your expression of love and affection towards your partner is limited. But it does not have to be confined to just a message or call. Be creative in expressing your love.
Make communication a priority whether you are busy or just not in the mood. Although, your duration of call might vary from 3 hours in a stretch one day to merely 10, 15 minutes the other day. But, no matter what the circumstances schedule a proper time for your relationship. Prioritize it no matter how busy your schedule is. Because you are already separated by thousands of miles of distance. But, it can be shortened by staying connected and making time for each other. This way you’ll also ward off the negative thoughts and worries that might accumulate in your mind if you don’t hear from your partner frequently.
Therefore, prioritizing your relationship is a sure-fire way to stay loyal in a long-distance relationship.
Related; how to build healthy relationships
7- Believe in your love to stay loyal in a long-distance relationship
As clichéd as it can be but yeah ‘Believe in your love’ for it can make your relationship last even through the toughest times. Have faith that one day the distance between you will be over and your heart won’t ache anymore longing for their presence. Believe that you will be eternally connected one day and no barrier will hold you back.
Having faith that you and your partner will be together one day will also prevent you from cheating in a relationship. Because you will have a strong faith that you will be united and so you wouldn’t want to hurt them. The chances of infidelity increase to a greater extent in a long-distance relationship. However, staying connected and taking conscious steps towards growing your relationship is key to an everlasting bond.
Related; 10 smart habits for a positive mindset
Conclusion;
Maintaining a long-distance relationship and staying loyal to each other even when miles apart has always been a point of concern for every person experiencing it. However, if put shortly a little effort and commitment towards growing it together can be a recipe to a lasting relationship. So, how to stay loyal in a long-distance relationship? I am sure you got your answer and liked experimenting with it as much as we liked writing it for you. Let us know what your personal relationship hack is and how it helped in staying loyal in a long-distance relationship.
