How to make your long distance relationship work

Graphic courtesy of MCT Campus.

In college, long-term relationships (or any relationships for that matter) are tough. When there's a significant other miles away from you, keeping that close connection you two once shared can seem impossible. But there are ways to keep it going. And absence makes the heart grow fonder, right?

Here are some tips to keep your long distance relationship strong.

1)Most importantly, trust must be established. Your significant other has to know that you will not be unfaithful, and vice versa. If you are always honest about what you’re doing, and your partner is honest about what he or she is doing, you can reassure one another that you'’re both serious about the relationship. And that way, you can eliminate the arguments about the friend from your class of the opposite sex that you’ve just added on Facebook.

2)Talk on the phone or Skype for at least 10 minutes a day. This does not mean sending several texts and/or emails to each other. Sending texts can supplement the phone calls, but actually hearing your boyfriend's/girlfriend's voice or seeing his or her face every single day (if even for a short time) is much more effective in keeping that connection established.

3)Never say “nothing happened today.” There is always one thing in your day that stands out, and you must make it a point to share it with your long distance lover. It doesn’t matter if it's a monumental moment like an internship opportunity or something small and funny like a joke you heard waiting in line at Einstein's Bagels, giving your partner something to relate to is a good way to picture how your life is like at school.

4)Make a strong effort to visit each other. It isn't fair if only one person is visiting the other every weekend, or however often you two see each other. Compromising by making the trip to his school or hometown and insisting that he or she visit you also shows that you both are as willing to put in the effort to make it work. And that way, he or she has met your new friends you're always referencing in your phone calls every day, and you understand what he or she means about their long walks to class or what have you.

5)Finally, make the most out of the time you spend together. Instead of lounging around on the couch together the whole time, plan something fun to do that always keeps it interesting. Go bowling, ice skating, or take your sweetie out to dinner to meet your new college buds or gals. It will eliminate the consistency and will prevent the relationship from becoming boring or dull.

Long distance relationships are tough, but they are not impossible. My own experience has proven that they can be successful, and even strengthen the relationship. By using these tips, you'lll increase the chances that you and your long distance sweetie will make it last these next few years. Plus, by establishing a healthy relationship through college, you will be setting the foundation for a healthy relationship in life.

Read this article from Discovery about how a little jealousy can actually be healthy for a long distance relationship.

Read how social media can make or break a relationship!

Here is a little (harsh) but pretty true outlook by the NY Press on what you can do to make your own relationship work, no matter the distance.