I’m so excited to start sharing more guest posts again, starting with this blog post on long-distance relationships. But I’m not on vacation in Paris for two weeks, so why do I need so many guest posts?
If you read my latest Monthly Goals post, or if you follow me on social media, then you know that Dan and I just bought a house! Yay! Which also we moved about an hour from Duluth to Cumming. For those of you not in the area, that means we’re still in Georgia, just further north.
Moving takes time. Moving into the first house you’ve ever owned takes a lot of time. So I’m cutting back on blogging for a few months to focus on settling into our new home. Luckily I have some awesome bloggers like Jennifer ready to keep you occupied!
Jennifer Craig is a long-distance relationship success story, just like Dan and I! She started Survive LDR for women who want to survive and thrive in long-distance relationships. For more advice on how to make long-distance relationships work, check out her social media channels.
Instagram // Facebook // Twitter
No one wants to be far away from their partner, but sometimes life inevitably calls for it to happen. Whether you are an hour away, or oceans away, long distance can actually strengthen your relationship.
The Science Behind Long-Distance Relationships
Researchers at Queen’s University conducted a study looking at the difference between those in long-distance relationships (LDRs) and those in geographically-close relationships (GCRs). Contrary to the negative stereotype towards long-distance relationships, they reported there was no difference in relationship satisfaction.
The same study reveals certain factors that make a long-distance relationship work. Individuals who are less distressed in general and who have a positive attitude towards LDRs tend to have greater relationship security. Meaning, when couples take on a positive attitude about being in a long-distance relationship, they are able to maintain relationship satisfaction.
The science behind LDRs shows that geographic closeness alone does not determine whether your relationship will stand up against the test of time.
How Long Distance Strengthens Your Relationship
Long distance has the power to strengthen the intimacy in your relationship. When you are far away from your partner, you learn to communicate in other ways. Distance reveals the preciousness of time with one another, as well as the need to maintain quality communication.
Being far away from your partner can be incredibly difficult. Yet, by changing your perception about the time apart, you can create deeper intimacy through communicating in different forms.
The Beauty of Long Distance
Being in a relationship is more than just about hanging out, having sex, or being able to watch movies together. It is about learning how to connect on multiple levels. Those who experience both the hardship and beauty of being in a long-distance relationship know that there are far more ways to create intimacy together than just being in the same location.
When miles and circumstance are in the way, learn how to appreciate the small things in a relationship. Through thoughtful messages or surprise gifts, there is strength in communicating your affection in various ways.
Shed the negative stereotype that long-distance relationships cannot last. The science behind LDRs reveals the truth. LDRs have the same chance as GCRs for relationship satisfaction. Find the beauty in the distance, so you can create deeper intimacy and greater strength in your relationship, no matter the miles.
Thank you, Jennifer, for writing this guest post! Dan and I spent our first year together in an LDR. I then moved to Ohio, but we were still about two hours apart until one month before our wedding, when I finally moved in with him. And now we’ve been happily married for three years!
Related: What My LDR Taught Me about Communication
Have you ever been in a long-distance relationship? What advice would you share with other couples?
