Some years ago, anyone could tell you that long-distance relationships are bound to fail. Because there are no such things as physical connection, control, trust, etc. Is it a challenge when you’re offline dozens of kilometers from your girlfriend and don’t know what she’s really doing? Or is it complex when you miss your boyfriend so much but can’t really touch him, or do it very rarely?
Good old times, we’ll be thinking of you with bitter nostalgia. But what now? Who cares about the distance? Yeah, we’re not everyone’s voice, but times have changed, and now it is much easier to keep those sparks alive. New technologies, new hobbies, new psychology – they are changing how we think and how we react. And dating sites play merely the first role in this matter if not the last.
The Role of Online Dating
Is it small? Well, the role of online dating starts when you’re seeking a nu date and ends when you’re finding one. Sometimes on repeat, but still. Each time, for each nu date you stump yourself with, you’re looking for ways to move on – offline or another, more comfortable platform to communicate or call each other.
Because it is easy to find someone through dating platforms, but it is hard for relationships to evolve there. As we said, there are some challenges that are still present. And though most dating sites have yet not made important improvements to resolve them, nu-date can offer the best possible experience from seeking partners to flirting to reading some actionable tips on the blog.
Seek to Establish Trust and Connection
First of all, you shouldn’t fear those obstacles you can face while dating someone at a distance. There are no perfect relationships, not a single one. And some things you think are important, like physical connection, may prove overrated. There are bad endings in IRL relationships that have had physical connection, you know countless bad examples. Because it is not really important. The trust is, buddies. Trust and a deep connection are what you should keep alive at all costs. When dating online, using different platforms, chats, or just calls, you need to trust your partner. If you have one, ask yourself right now.
Oh, chill, guys. Building trust is about being honest, first of all, being honest with yourself. If you trust someone, it doesn’t mean you can demand that trust back. Trust should be earned. When you call her every two hours asking what she’s doing and waiting for selfies (whatever in what manner, demanding or manipulative), it isn’t trust. It works both ways, btw. So remember, it is okay if your partner takes time to reply or goes out with friends. If you love your partner – you trust them. If there is no trust without reason, you are probably not honest with yourself.
Expectations and Boundaries
As said above, trust is there, or it is not. You can’t force someone to trust you at a distance. But you can build a deep connection, and it’ll help you to sleep at night. But try not to overconnect with your partner. You know, people are different. Someone wants to hear your voice 24/7. Someone is okay with some personal space and 1h call per day. Dating at a distance, when offline dates are rare occasions or merely possible, communication is all we have. So, weigh up your expectations and keep them balanced. You’re not one person in this relationship. It will be fair to be happy together, right? It is where boundaries come in. And boundaries are healthy.
Everyone has their Do’s and Don’ts, and at a long-distance dating they’re as important as in IRL relationships. Here are some of them to keep you informed.
Do’s:
- Regular communication: It feels good to know your best half is thinking about you and doesn’t forget to call.
- Be honest and open: Share your feelings and concerns; don’t stack a pile of them inside.
- Plan visits: Having a future meeting to look forward to can be exciting if possible, video calls can be useful as well.
- Be supportive: Understand the challenges of distance and support each other. Remember, there are two of you.
- Keep things interesting: Surprise each other with gifts, letters, or virtual dates.
Don’ts:
- Overdo communication: Bombarding messages or calls can feel suffocating and can show mistrust.
- Neglect your personal life: Don’t let your relationship consume all your time. You still need to work, receive education, etc. Long-distance relationships are not IRL ones.
- Ignore issues: Don’t let problems fester; address them promptly, and don’t jump to assumptions.
- Rely solely on digital communication: For a more personal touch, try mixing in phone calls or video chats.
- Forget to set expectations: Be clear about your relationship goals and timelines.
Find Creative Ways to Connect
The “Good” part of new technologies is that when you date someone online or at a long distance, you may be present in the life of your partner on all levels. We mean all when we say all. Physical – partially, but anyway. Let us drag you through some ideas.
Presence and Face-to-Face Contact
Well, obviously, video calls. We have an endless pool of tools: nu dating sites, Skype, Zoom, and Telegram. Even the cheapest, worst, and smallest chatting apps these days can usually use a camera. The problem is in quality and safety. So no Nonames.
But wait… There are VR technologies that can make that experience much more immersive. Well, you’re not the type who thinks VR headsets are for games only, right? VR calls will appear in the near future, probably. Have you heard about Kokomo for Quest? If not, you can probably research it.
Doing Things Together
There are countless things you can do together in LDR: watching movies, cooking, and during video calls, it makes you feel closer to each other. You can walk together during video calls, showing places that your partner has never been in. Playing games as well.
Physical
With new portative gadgets like smart rings and bracelets, you can watch each other’s activity, even stalking a little bit. Also, you can send vibrations to each other, kinda “Here I am.”
Conclusion
Making a choice, thinking over LDR or IRL, is time-consuming and complicated. There are some pros and cons, obviously, but there are also clichés. The new tech era is solving our problems one by one, and right now, long-distance dating can be way more different than ten years ago. And in five years more, it probably will be no difference.
You just need to keep in mind that meeting people online, on dating sites or other platforms, can be unexpectedly easy. But building connection, respect, and keeping feelings warm is work and demands effort, patience, and honesty. Not each of your nu date can become “that one” that you’ll want to keep that long, that hard. But if you’ve found your love – we want to wish you good luck.