5 Things to Consider Before Attempting a Long-Distance Relationship

Different situations can lead to a long-distance relationship. Whether one of you changes jobs, goes off to school or plans to move home to take care of a sick parent, you and your sweetie should sit down for an honest conversation about your future. You can keep your romance alive if you're both willing to work at it. However, there are five things you should consider before attempting a long-distance relationship.
Goals
Ensure your expectations mesh. If you long to settle down while your significant other plans to travel the world, you likely have bigger issues than distance. If you haven't candidly discussed your futures, now's the best time to find out whether you're on the same path. Make your separation as painless as possible if you want the same things out of life. Decide which of you will relocate so you can be together. Set an end date, so you know when you can look forward to living in the same place.

Communication
No matter how busy your schedules, plan to share details about your lives so you feel connected to each other. Otherwise, it's easier to drift apart. From video chats and cell phones to photo blogs and email, you have plenty of options to keep in touch. However, you both need to commit to regular updates.

Visits
Phone calls and letters can lead to surprising discoveries about each other. However, you still need physical intimacy if you want your romance to flourish. Decide how often you plan to visit once you're apart. Review your finances to ensure you can afford the gasoline, airfare or train tickets. Plan days off in advance so you can spend your vacation time together.

Trust
Consider how much faith you have in each other. A long-distance relationship likely is doomed to fail if either of you thinks the other person might cheat.

Benefits
If you've decided to commit to a long-distance relationship, use this time for enrichment. It's unhealthy to let your life revolve around one person, regardless of the distance that separates you from your loved one. Building a strong support system of good friends while expanding your outside activities will only strengthen your romantic relationship, according to HelpGuide.org. Instead of hanging around moping, take an interesting class, spend time with family and friends, volunteer, or dedicate more time to your favorite hobby.

Author JuliaMyers1234