Seven ways to make the most of a long-distance relationship as a uni student

They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder, and anyone who has experienced any sort of long-distance relationship will probably be able to vouch for that.

Although most students are excited to come to uni and experience independence perhaps for the first time, there are a fair number of people who maybe would have preferred to bring their s/o along with them. Instead, they are now trying to make the long-distance thing work.

If you’re one of these people then don’t worry, you’re definitely not alone. That’s why we have put together this list of seven ways to get through being in a long-distance relationship while you’re here…now we just need to figure out how to send this to our partners without actually sending it to them.

Keep in contact

Probably a fairly obvious one as all we want to do when we’re away from our partner is talk to them, but making time to shoot them a quick text or call them when you’re thinking about them is guaranteed to make both of you feel better. Something that a lot of people struggle with when being away from their partner is feeling disconnected from them, so keeping your partner in the loop about what you’re up to and how you’re feeling is a great way to combat that feeling.

Virtual dates

Calling and texting is great and all, but why not jazz things up a bit? We all remember Netflix Party (now Teleparty) during lockdown, so let’s bring it back for old time’s sake and have a virtual movie night together. There are also loads of games that you can play together on your phones, laptops or games consoles which allow you to spend some quality virtual time with your partner doing something a little different. A personal favourite for this is Scrabble Go, but you can choose something a little less nerdy if you prefer.

Have a plan to look forward to

It could be days, weeks, or months away, but you will see each other again at some point – so get excited! Whether it’s taking a stroll around Bute Park or introducing them to the crows of Cathays, make a plan with your partner about what you’ll do together when you’re finally reunited, that way you’ll be able to see some light at the end of the tunnel and have something to look forward to.

Remember the romance

Just because you’re not physically together, it doesn’t mean that any effort has to stop being made in the romance department. From sending cute texts for them to wake up to, to sending them presents in the post, small gestures that remind your partner you care about them and appreciate them despite being apart will always go down well. If in doubt, Bloom & Wild is a shout.

Your partner should add to your life, not be your life

It’s only natural to miss your s/o when you’re apart, but what we’re not going to do is sit around and pout about it until you next see them. Instead of wallowing in any feelings of loneliness or sadness you might have, use this time to your advantage and start to focus more on yourself. You came to university for a reason, so get stuck in to your course, join a new society or just make plans with friends – we guarantee that it will take your mind off it plus it’ll give you something new to talk about on the phone.

Make the most of technology

You don’t need us to explain the wonders of FaceTime to you, but there are a couple of apps you might want to look into which might help spice things up as well as help you to open up to each other about how you really feel.

‘Paired’ asks you both one question a day (usually related to your relationship) and only allows you to see your partner’s answer once you have answered it yourself. ‘Official’ is a similar vibe, asking you both a relationship-related question a day, but also helps you pick date ideas and sex positions to try for when you next see each other. And ‘obimy’ (pictured below) allows you to send your partner physical gestures over the phone, so if you really want to hug them (or really want to give them a slap in the face) then you can do it there.

Do what works for you

Every couple has a different relationship and therefore different expectations of how long distance will work for them. Talk as much or as little as you like, but the key is ultimately communication so that you and your partner can fulfil each other’s needs as best you can. It can be tough at times, but you’ve got this!

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