6 Common Challenges in a Long-Distance Relationship and How to Overcome Them

Maintaining a long-distance relationship is not a walk in the park. Despite the convenience that technology brings to communication—free messaging, audio and video call services—making a relationship work while you’re away from your partner is difficult. You will have arguments and fights. Some days, you will feel lonely, and on others, you will even ask yourself if keeping the relationship is still worth it.

Distance is a huge factor affecting romantic relationships in many ways. Many times, it has been the reason why relationships fail. But you know what? The success of a relationship does not entirely depend on whether a couple is physically together or not. Long-distance relationships can work, and it all depends on a couple’s ability to deal with and overcome the challenges their relationship entails.

But what are the common problems and issues faced by couples in online long-distance relationships? And what are the solutions to these challenges?

Loneliness can become common in a long-distance relationship

Being away from someone you love for a considerable amount of time is not easy. Many times, it will feel lonely and sad, especially when you long for their presence and know it can’t be possible to be with them at the moment. There will be days you will miss each other terribly and feel sorry about the situation you’re in because there’s nothing much that can be done about it. This is one of the things you’ll have to fight hard against in a long-distance relationship – loneliness. It is never easy but there are ways to better deal with it.

One is to keep the communication lines open. If there is one thing we all have to be thankful for, it’s the fact that communication with anyone from anywhere in the world is easy and fast. Just think about the what-could-have-been if you were born at a time when the only way to communicate with someone abroad was through letters. It would have been so much harder, wouldn’t it? Instead of dwelling on the sad reality that you and your partner are not physically together, make good use of all the means available for communication. With the help of the internet, it is a lot easier to maintain online long-distance relationships. Thanks to free online audio and video messaging services, you can talk to a loved one anytime, anywhere.  You can chat and do voice calls and video calls to make it feel as if you are never apart. Agree on a consistent schedule for getting in touch and catching up with each other. Make communication regular and consistent regardless of how busy your schedules are. This will help reduce the feelings of sadness for being away from each other.

Drifting apart

Couples drifting apart is one of the major problems in long-distance relationships. It’s not something that happens overnight. It is something that gradually happens because of several different factors. It can be brought about by misunderstandings, arguments, miscommunication or simply because people change in the process.

Whatever the reason is, the important thing is that you learn how to make the foundation of your relationship strong enough to withstand anything. It is easier said than done. But during the days when it feels like you don’t feel the same way anymore, think about how much you value each other as well as your relationship. Look towards the end goal. Remember that your situation isn’t permanent and the distance is temporary. It is also a better idea to discuss things with your partner. Be open about how you feel. Continue to maintain regular communication and stay connected. Don’t stop looking for ways to make each other feel special despite the distance.

Jealousy

A little jealousy is part of any relationship. However, too much of it is a different story, especially when in an online long-distance relationship. Uncontrolled jealousy can be very destructive. It’s a sign that a couple has trust issues or does not trust each other well enough. The absence of trust in a relationship can result in arguments, misunderstandings and unhealthy fights. It can make people become irrational to the point where they will be more controlling of their partner. When this happens in your relationship, the best thing to do is to calm down and think as rationally as possible. Do not feed your jealousy when you know there isn’t enough reason to be jealous. Trust your partner enough to discuss things with them. Let them know what makes you feel jealous and be sure to hear them out. Take control of your jealousy before it starts controlling you.

Miscommunication

Another major culprit in breaking long-distance relationships is miscommunication. Any relationship would not survive without open and balanced communication. When separated by distance, there will be times when staying connected becomes difficult, especially with busy schedules and different time zones. There will also be times when both of you have other things going on or other priorities.

To keep the relationship going, the key is to maintain a balanced communication. Make up for the times when you and your partner haven’t gotten the chance to talk enough. Also, make sure to avoid over-communicating because you might run out of things to talk about and get bored eventually. Just make it a point to keep in touch at least once every day. Tell each other about your day.  Relay anything worth sharing, your feelings and any pressing matter that needs to be brought up.

Neglecting other important relationships

Some couples in online long-distance relationships try to compensate for the distance by staying connected all the time via chat messaging, video calls or audio calls. What happens is that they end up neglecting other important relationships in their lives. While it’s important to spend ample time communicating with your partner, be sure to keep your other relationships intact as well, especially the ones you have with your family and friends.

Boredom and a long-distance relationship

Boredom is not an uncommon problem in many online long-distance relationships. Because you are separated by distance, you won’t get the chance to do exciting stuff and fun activities together. You can’t spend quality time at the beach or go on road trips. You can’t have fancy dinner dates or a cosy movie night. And since you can’t do so much as a couple, it’s easy to feel bored in the relationship.

Again, remember that the distance isn’t permanent. Your current situation will not be your situation forever. So, don’t give up on each other simply because you’re bored. The truth is you can do so many things to keep the fire burning in your relationship despite the distance. All you have to do is to be creative! Who says you can’t watch a movie together? Of course, you can! Pick a specific movie and play it while you two are on a video call. Do the same when you’re digging in a sumptuous lunch or dinner. Also, make vacation plans and visit each other when the schedules are no longer tight. This will give you something exciting to look forward to!

There are many reasons why long-distance relationships fail. But there are also plenty of ways to make it work. So if you and your partner are currently separated by distance, it doesn’t mean that you’re in the wrong relationship. Use this guide to learn how to deal with the challenges and become stronger and closer, even across the miles.

If you need more relationship tips and advice, or if you are looking forward to meeting an ideal match, please feel free to visit Ukraine Brides Agency.

Olga P

Olga loves travelling and learning about different cultures. She enjoys taking photos, trying new foods, and spending time outdoors. A skilled writer, Olga is a language enthusiast as well. She enjoys meeting new people from around the world and trying out new recipes in her kitchen.