Is your partner often away on business? Discover top 10 tips to flourish in your long-distance relationship and keep the romance burning bright.
My partner traveled for work a lot, from the early days when he was my boyfriend, he traveled about 2/3 of the time.
And some of my new female friends are quite curious about how I maintain a close relationship so well with my partner, they say I cope really well. Actually, I wasn't able to handle it well right from the start.
I've gone through two painful periods of separation from my partner. The first was at the beginning of our relationship, I didn't feel the sweetness of love during he was travel, and it took some time for me to handle our relationship well. However, after we got married and had a baby, the added responsibilities at home coupled with his frequent business trips brought back my anxiety all over again.
I now effortlessly maintain a strong relationship with my traveling husband because I invested in consulting with an expert in family relationships, extensively reading, engaging in conversations with women facing similar challenges, and closely observing life to adapt. I'll be sharing 10 effective tips I've learned to help women struggling to maintain good long distance relationship.
1. Try to understand your partner
Understanding that separation is not what he desires is the key. Instead of immediately thinking about pushing him to resign, consider that not giving up a job requiring long-term travel often has two main reasons: a deep passion for the work or the opportunity to earn a better salary.
In my husband's case, he genuinely loves his job, and the travel aspect actually boosts his income compared to colleagues with similar roles but no travel. This higher income has improved our quality of life.
He also paid a price. For him, both his physical and mental well-being have been affected.
Try to compliment his career and support him.
2. Enjoy your free time
Think about how you spent your time before you were involved with him.
You don't have to be with him to live a fulfilling life.
Spend your free time doing what interests you, such as reading, meditating, practicing makeup, or learning a new language. It'll make you happier and more captivating, indirectly enhancing your long distance relationship.
3. Ongoing communication is essential
Make sure to stay in touch with your partner through video calls, texts, and emails, so even when you're apart, you can still feel close.
Highly recommend to have a video call at least a week.
4. Traveling to your partner's city
When he travels for extended periods, he is likely to be tempted. Even staying closely connected remotely might not prevent this issue, so please don’t go on for a long time in these circumstances.
Speaking for me and my husband, our longest separation has been two months. I cannot accept anything longer than three months.
Can't afford the plane ticket to visit his city? For whatever reason, I strongly recommend finding a solution. The money spent on flights to maintain a long-distance relationship is worth it.
5. Try to solve home duties problems with money
This trick is especially helpful for moms whose spouses frequently travel for work.
After our child was born, I found myself facing increased household responsibilities, which caused me anxiety. Initially, I voiced my frustrations about handling tasks that we should have shared. To address this, I resorted to using money as a solution.
When I wasn't up for cleaning, I hired a cleaning service.
If I wasn't in the mood to cook, I'd take the kid out for dinner at a restaurant.
Sending the kids to the playground allows me to enjoy some free time for myself.
6. Buy a long distance vibrator to fix the lack of sex and physical closeness
Feeling anxious during long separations can also stem from missing out on physical intimacy needs.
Having a Yami remote control vibrator can effectively ease this issue.
Yami is great for private personal time or partner time, it's enjoyable for both, and it even works well from a distance, which is a big plus.
7. Preparing a small gift for him for each trip
Giving him the sweet little gift you prepared for him to take on his trip can help ease the anxiety of separation before he leaves, and keep him thinking of you while he's away.
The small gift can be a personalized keychain with both of your initials or a special date engraved on it, a handwritten letter or note expressing your love and support, comfortable travel pillow or eye mask, thoughtful snack pack with his favorite treats for on-the-go snacking, and more.
These gifts can be meaningful and practical, making his trip more enjoyable and reminding him of your love and care while he's away.
8. Suggest your partner bring home a small gift
Receiving a gift is always a delightful surprise that can bring both parties closer together.
Tell your partner, you will be glad to receive a gift from him.
Some gift suggestions for your partner: local delicacies, mall piece of traditional or local art or craft, a book or music album related to the region's culture or history, a bottle of locally-produced wine or spirits etc.
9. Plan for reunion
When your spouse comes back from a trip, plan something special to celebrate their return, like:
A fancy dinner, either at home or at a nice restaurant.
Book a relaxing spa treatment or massage.
Plan a romantic weekend getaway or a day out together.
Organize a small gathering with friends or family.
Have a cozy movie night or outdoor activity.
These ideas can make your returning spouse feel welcomed and appreciated.
10. If you're experiencing severe anxiety in this relationship, consider reassessing it
If you're not married yet, you hate your boyfriend for work, you have severe depression, unable to manage long-distance relationships effectively, and your partner can't transition to a non-travel job, it might be advisable to consider parting ways.
Don't blame yourself. you're not the only one going through this. I had a female friend who couldn't calm her anxiety when her partner had a busy schedule, she had tried all sorts of things to keep herself busy and tried different ways to keep her relationship close. Eventually, she found a new partner with a stable job in town and they built a happy family together now.
In conclusion
I want to highlight that regardless of whether he travels or not, it takes effort from both of us to cope an intimate relationship. However, with frequent travel comes more challenges, requiring us to invest more time and thought into nurturing our bond.
Life is seldom fair, but finding happiness is about adopting the right mindset—appreciating the many blessings we have, such as strong relationships, good health, financial stability, and a loving family. It all boils down to attitude, making the most of our circumstances to improve what we can and gracefully accepting what we cannot change.
We hope you found our tips helpful in nurturing your long-distance relationship. Remember, every challenge is an opportunity to grow closer. Feel free to discuss and ask for advice in the comments!
Mia Bennett
