FIRES-UP your passion… SUPERCHARGES your love

1. Many people believe that long distance relationships are never going to work out. Your family may discourage it, and some of your best friends may advise you not to take it too seriously, in case you get your heart broken. Nobody says it is going to be easy — the extra distance makes many things unachievable. Things could get complicated, and you could get sad and lonely at times. However, the extra distance also makes the simplest things the sweetest, being able to hold the other person’s hand, eating together at the same table, feeling each other’s touch, taking a walk together, smelling each other’s hair… these small wishes could suddenly mean so much more in a long distance relationship. Long distance relationships may be tough but they have their own surprises too. To

2. keep your love alive and strong, here are 21 tips to make your long distance relationship work: Avoid excessive communication: It is unwise to be overly “sticky” and possessive. You two don’t really have to communicate 12 hours a day to keep the relationship going. Many couples think that they need to compensate for the distance by doing more. This is not true. And it might only make things worse. Soon you would get tired of “loving.” Remember: Less is more. It is not about spamming — you are only going to exhaust yourselves. It’s really about teasing at the right moments and tugging at the right spots. See it as an opportunity: “If you want to live together, you first need to learn how to live apart.” – Anonymous View it as a learning journey for the both of you. See it as a test of your love for each other. As the Chinese saying goes, “Real gold is not afraid of the test of fire.” Instead of thinking that this long distance relationship is pulling you two apart, you should believe that through this experience, the both of you will be bound together even stronger. As Emma says it to Will in season four of Glee,

3. “I would rather be here, far from you, but feeling really close, rather than close to you but feeling really far away.” – Emma, Glee Season 4 Set some ground rules to manage your expectations: Both of you need to be clear with what you expect of each other during this long distance relationship. Set some ground rules so that none of you will do things that will take the other party by surprise. For instance, are you two exclusive? Is it alright for the other person to go on dates? What is your commitment level? It’s better to be open with each other about all these things. Try to communicate regularly, and creatively: Greet each other “good morning” and “good night” every day — this is a must. On top of that, try to update your partner on your life and its happenings, however mundane some of the things may seem. To up the game, send each other pictures, audio clips and short videos from time to time. By putting in this kind of effort, you make the other person feel loved and attended to. Talk dirty with each other: Sexual tension is undoubtedly one of the most important things between couples. Sexual desire is like a glue that keeps both parties from drifting apart. Not only is

4. sex a biological need, it is an emotional one as well. Keep the flames burning by sending each other teasing texts filled with sexual innuendos and provocative descriptions. Sexy puns work pretty well too. Avoid “dangerous” situations: If you already know that going to the club or going drinking with your group of friends late at night will displease your partner, then you should either 1. Not do it or 2. Tell your partner beforehand so as to reassure him/her. Don’t be careless about this sort of matter because your partner is only going to be extra worried or extra suspicious, and of course, very upset, because you are putting him/her in a position where he/she feels powerless or lacking in control. Also, It could be easy for you to fall into the trap which you, unconsciously or not, set up for yourself by “hanging out” with your office eye-candy after work, or going out with a girl or guy from your past who has been flirting with you. You need to recognize the dangers before entering into the situation. Don’t just listen to your heart. Listen to your mind too. Do things together: Play an online game together. Watch a documentary on YouTube or Vimeo at the same time. Sing to each other on Skype while one of you plays the guitar. “Take a walk together” outside while video-calling each other. Go online-shopping together

5. — and buy each other gifts. Picture this… boy meets girl in New York City and it is automatic love at first sight. The first kiss becomes instantaneous love. Everything is seemingly perfect for the new couple until she suddenly moves to San Francisco to finish her journalism degree. What does this mean for the new love birds? Going the Distance, 2010 movie blockbuster, paints this perfect picture of the classic long distance love story. The film follows the journey of Erin and Garrett who decided to keep their love alive despite the challenges of distance, ending in a successful vivacious love story. Long distance relationshipsare definitely not the easiest ones to maintain. Many end up committing subtle mistakes as they try to maintain a quality connection with their partner despite the distance and time difference. Long distance relationships are often more challenging and complex than typically portrayed on the big screen like in Going the Distance. Now, add college on the top

6. of the list of challenges. College long distance relationships can work, but it depends a lot on the personality and the motivation of the individuals involved. In a survey conducted by the Pace Press of 50 college students nationwide, 46% entered into a long distance relationship at some point in their college careers. As the statistics show, college long distance relationships are more common than often thought to be. But what is the common consensus of long distance relationshipsin college? Are they successful or are they too challenging? Should you get into one yourself? “So definitely at times there are challenges cause obviously it’s hard like when you guys don’t get to see each other, but in the end when you do get to see each other that moment is really rewarding,” said Kameron Kamel, a freshman at Pace University. Kamel and his girlfriend Jennifer Piekarz started dating in high school and are currently in a successful long distance relationship.

7. “You have to plan it out. You have to plan out when you’re going to see them in advance,” said Piekarz, who happened to be visiting Kameron in the city. “Plan out when you’re going to talk to them. Plan out when you’re going to fit them in your schedule and its definitely more technical than some people think relationships should be, but that’s how you have to make it work.” But, there was a common trend in survey results regarding long distance relationships and their challenges. Students feel that trust, jealousy, and the space apart are all prodigious challenges in long distance love. The looming idea of the “wild college student” sometimes plays into the fear associated with long distance relationships. Movies like Spring Breakers, starring hit celebrity Selena Gomez, help to paint this image further. The media constructs the ideology of a typical “wild college student” who partakes in a rebellious lifestyle full of crime, drugs and partying.

8. “My biggest challenge in a long distance relationship is not being able to physically be with my boyfriend,” Nina Mojares, freshman at Boston College shared. “As a freshman at a school in Boston while my boyfriend is in Arizona, it is definitely a challenge being so far from him, but that only makes our communication and trust are a lot stronger, which is most important in any relationship.” College long distance relationships are not always successful though. For some, the distance is too much to handle between college and finding themselves as individuals. “For me, it was more that I had a lot on my plate and I didn’t feel like I had the mental capacity to support both her and myself without bringing myself down,” said an anonymous Pace student who fell out of a long term long distance relationship. “We were living different lives, and I feel like we are going in separate

9. directions right now and I just felt like it wasn’t the best time.” Kamel had a different perspective on the reality of living different lives in a long-distance relationship. “Communication is key. And being on the same page. Facetime has obviously been a big part. We sometimes write weekly letters to each other,” Kamel added while smiling at Piekarz who nodded in agreement. “It’s like living separate lives together,” Jenn responded. “The biggest perk is being able to have so much more time to do other things,” said Pace freshman Emma Note. “You get to have your own friends and be more of your own person without worrying that you are neglecting your significant other.”

10. But long distance relationshipsare not for everyone. Sometimes these challenges become too overbearing, and therefore impact the overall college experience for some students. “In college, I feel like I found who I am and I discovered a lot about myself, and I feel like I missed out on a lot of what could’ve shaped me because I spent a lot of time living the same life I did in high school,” shared the same anonymous Pace student. “I’m not saying that long distance is unhealthy for you, it’s just about where you put your commitments and your priorities that will drive you positively or negatively for what it is you want.” Common Mistakes In Long-distance Relationships: When you start learning new things about each other, it might be a little unsettling at the beginning. However, there are ways to fix all these problems created with the miles.

11. Doubting the Relationship: Long distance relationships don’t let you be together for a substantial amount of time every day. However, that doesn’t make you eligible to question the legitimacy of the relationship. No matter how far are you from your partner, what matters are emotions and feelings for each other. If you care for your partner, the distance won’t get in the way for sure. The people in your life might say long distance relationships don’t work. But you shouldn’t be taking all that negativity to your heart. What will always matter is how you and your partner feel for each other. Trying To Talk Constantly:

12. When you are in a long distance relationship, you try to stay connected with your partner throughout the day. The problem begins when you forget to offer space to your significant other. Many end up talking 24 hours a day and that slowly becomes a problem. Once you develop this habit, it is hard to let it go. What you need to do is step back and think. You won’t be able to talk to your partner throughout the day even if he or she was in the same location as yours. So, it is crucial that you give each other the space to breathe. Once you start doing this, both of you will value the time, even more, when you talk. Text Fights:

13. Text fights can be misleading in any relationship. Men and women often stay in touch with their partners via text. A little different tone is what it takes to create all the misunderstandings. If you are angry at each other, it is a good idea to resolve the issue over a quick phone or Skype call. Many make the mistake of solving fights before going to bed. Since your partner is physically present with you, it is a good idea to take some time out, think about it, and respond. Overlooking Interests: Showing interest is not the easiest thing to do when you are thousands of miles away from your partner. This often creates problems between partners living far away from each other. You can easily overcome this by being a little interested in your partner’s work, friends, and activities. Always remember that even the smallest gesture matters and shows that you care. So, don’t forget to cheer up your partner when they are feeling down. Sharing Trivial Things: A long distance relationship doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to share intense emotions at all times. While you might want to discuss important things first, don’t refrain yourself from sharing trivial things either. You might consider sharing the silly joke that you shared with your colleagues today or even the tiniest thing that frustrated you. While the frequency of communication matters, so do the things that you actually speak. Making Memories Together:

14. Having fun memories together strengthens the emotional intimacy between you and your partner. Many men and women forget to do things together during their long distance relationship. This impacts the relationship in a negative manner. Even though doing activities together is much easier in an in-person relationship, long distance makes it a little challenging. In order to make fun memories, you can consider chatting on video while doing the same activity together. You can watch movies or have dinner together too. A long distance relationshiptakes more commitment and hard work than an in-person relationship. But that shouldn’t be the reason for you to give up on your partner. If you are feeling low or facing problems, be open about it and discuss it with your partner. People seeing each other every day also end up having problems. In your case, the distance adds to it. But the only way to keep it at bay is to communicate with, care for, and develop bonding with your partner. What long distance relationship quotes do you turn for reassurance or inspiration on lonely days? What long distance love quotes do you look for a guiding light when the distance seems overwhelming? A good quote is a powerful thing. So much nostalgia, longing, and tenderness can be telegraphed in just a few words. Long distance relationship quotes that are just a couple of lines long can be the match that kindles fresh inspiration or determination. A dozen words can sometimes articulate thoughts and feelings you’re finding hard to pin down, or grant you new perspectives. They can thrill you with that singular relief that only comes from feeling completely understood. A good long distance love quote will shiver through you on some deep level—as if the words have struck a large bronze bell in your soul. Here are some of my favorites long distance relationship quotes. Some of them

15. are sad, some poignant, some inspiring. These classic long distance love quotes have all rung that bronze bell for me at some point during my (many) years of being in a long distance relationship. Click to Read more about "Long Distance Relationship"