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More and more people are having long distance relationships. The internet makes it much easier to communicate and maintain love connections at a distance. Even if you can’t see your partner in real life, you can still maintain a relationship by texting, calling and FaceTime. And in addition, it is much easier to travel everywhere these days. Whether you need to travel to Germany or Brazil , trains and flights depart all day long – for ever-lower prices.
What is a long distance relationship?
A long distance relationship is a relationship between two people who live a long distance apart. This could be in different cities that are more than 5 hours apart, but it could also involve two people living on the other side of the world. A long distance relationship takes a lot of effort, time and dedication to maintain. When you live so far apart, nothing is easy. It can be a challenge with a lot of frustration and even more loneliness. But if you really love each other, nothing is impossible. However?
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10 disadvantages of a long distance relationship
There are quite a few disadvantages to a long distance relationship. The physical distance, loneliness and many more disadvantages mean that it is not an easy form of relationship. These are the 10 disadvantages you can experience when you are in a long distance relationship.
1. You can’t see each other every day
In a ‘normal’ relationship you can usually see each other every day if you want to. You may Facetime with your partner every day, but it is never the same as seeing each other in real life. When you do see each other, it is extra special. But that does not alter the fact that it can be very difficult if you cannot spontaneously go to the cinema together for a normal evening.
2. Loneliness
In a long distance relationship you can feel very lonely in your relationship at times . Even though you have each other, you can’t always be real with each other. So you can feel sad and need a hug. On a Sunday you would like to do something with your partner, but this is not possible because he or she is 1,000 kilometers away. Unfortunately, loneliness cannot always be remedied by calling or seeing each other briefly on a screen.
3. Costs
Another disadvantage of a long distance relationship is the high costs. Frequent travel can become expensive, as can high telephone or internet costs. If one person flies to the other more often because that person has more travel options due to work, it is fair to split the travel costs.
4. Misunderstandings
In a long distance relationship there is a high chance of misunderstandings. Because you only speak to each other online and communication is largely verbal, there will be more misunderstandings. A text message can be misinterpreted more quickly than you would have a good conversation in real life . If the other person lives in a different part of the world, you also have to deal with different time zones. This makes communication even more difficult if you cannot always speak to each other because it is nighttime at the other person’s home.
5. Traveling a lot can be tiring
If you have to travel to a different city every weekend, or fly to another country several times a year, this can be quite tiring. All the traveling takes up quite a bit of time. The hours you spend every weekend or month traveling to others could be spent more usefully. This can be frustrating and have a negative impact on the relationship. You may even have to recover from jet lag when you finally reach the other person.
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6. The physical aspect of the relationship is minimal
In a long distance relationship, sex life is of course minimal – with the exception of phone sex and virtual sex. But kissing, cuddling or holding hands is also not allowed. The physical aspect of the relationship is limited. All communication between you is verbal and this can sometimes be very difficult. You also want to be able to express your feelings in a relationship non-verbally.
7. You can grow apart because of the distance
Especially when you are younger, it often happens that you grow apart in a relationship . Especially if you move to another city to study. Your environment and contacts change drastically, the relationship fades into the background and it is more difficult to make time for each other.
8. You live on a fixed schedule
In a long distance relationship there isn’t much room for flexibility or spontaneity. The hours that you call or FaceTime are usually agreed upon and the dates that you travel to each other have often been fixed for weeks. Especially when you live in different time zones, you live according to a fixed schedule.
9. Distrust
When you both have different lives, living apart with friends and parties, it can sometimes be difficult to fully trust the other. You have to be able to trust each other blindly, because you are not there to see how the other person behaves.
10. Contact with your partner’s family and friends is minimal
In a ‘normal’ relationship you also have contact with your partner’s family and friends. It is very important to see how your partner interacts with his or her family and how they behave in social situations. It is also difficult because you can hardly make contact with your partner’s family and friends.
10 benefits of a long distance relationship
Fortunately, there are not only disadvantages to a long distance relationship. There are also many advantages to mention. These are 10 benefits of a long distance relationship.
1. Good communication
In a long-distance relationship, you develop a strong form of communication together. Because you miss the physical aspect of the relationship, you have to talk a lot and get to know each other. You have no choice. As a result, the personal connection is often much stronger.
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2. You get to know each other without the physical aspect of a relationship
Many relationships start because of the physical attraction between two people. In the beginning of a relationship you are often attracted by someone’s appearance and it is mainly about the physical aspect of a relationship. As these love hormones slowly disappear, you may discover that your personalities don’t match. In a long distance relationship you miss the physical aspect and you lay a strong foundation for the relationship.
3. You always have something to look forward to
Planning the next trip to your partner is sometimes almost as much fun as the moment itself. You know that you can call or Facetime each other at the end of the working day. You know that you can travel to that person again at the end of the month and it’s nice to always have something to look forward to.
4. It gives you travel options
One of the best parts of a long distance relationship is the travel. You have the opportunity to discover your partner’s city or country. Having a relationship abroad and the travel opportunities that come with it is also something that others are often jealous of.
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5. Modern technology makes it much easier
In the past, if you were in a long-distance relationship, you had to communicate by writing letters to each other . Fortunately, that is different nowadays. Modern technology makes it much easier to communicate and keep in touch with each other. You can call, text or Facetime. We also always have our telephone with us, so you can contact each other at any time of the day.
6. Both people should put the same amount of work into the relationship
In a long distance relationship, it takes the effort and time of two people if you want the relationship to continue to work. A long distance relationship requires more work and planning than a ‘normal’ relationship. Both people have to put in the same amount of work, which in itself is an advantage.
7. It’s exciting
The time you are far away from each other makes the time you are together extra special. The moments you spend together are cherished more. In a ‘normal’ relationship you sometimes get bored of each other because you spend so much time together. In a long distance relationship, the distance actually makes it more exciting.
8. Having time alone is healthy
Having time alone without your partner is healthy for the relationship. You always have something to tell each other and it makes the moments when you are together extra special. When you are alone, you also have more time to develop yourself and build a healthy relationship with yourself. You will learn how to be independent as you can rely less on the relationship with your partner.
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9. You have to learn to trust each other
In a long distance relationship, trust is very important. You are not together when you meet up with friends or go to parties. So you will have to trust each other blindly. This can make you very jealous, but as long as you communicate it well, it will not cause further problems. Trust is one of the most important things in a relationship, so as long as this is good, there is a strong foundation for the relationship.
10. If the relationship can survive long distance, it can survive anything
A long distance relationship is generally a lot more difficult than a ‘normal’ relationship. It brings problems that you normally don’t encounter in a relationship. This also means that if you survive all these problems together, you can call it a strong relationship . If you can survive a long distance relationship, the typical challenges couples face are a piece of cake.
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