Long-distance relationships - the very concept seems completely illogical. Being figuratively 'together' but physically apart is very difficult to come to terms with. It also takes up a lot of your time, energy and money. But because of the growing world of communication, more and more people are entering into these relationships. Couples often meet on holiday, only to discover their homes are hundreds of miles from each other. And an increasing number meet online - for example, on eHarmony dating UK singles might mean being matched with someone from another part of the country. Others are forced to be apart because of changes in their work situation. But whatever the reason, there are ways to cope and ensure your relationship survives. Here are a few of them...

Communication

Keep communication constant. You should be speaking at least once a day and not just for a five-minute chat - you should get a true sense of what they've been getting up to. This will help you deal with the lack of their physical presence. Also, vary how you communicate as much as possible. Follow up a late-night conversation with a goodnight text. Send surprise packages in the post.

Trust

Being apart is also a sure way to fuel paranoia. If you live far away from someone, how will you know if they start seeing other people behind your back? For this you just need to have a mutual trust. Accept you are both in the same boat and never let yourself get suspicious, unless you have a genuine reason to. Always talk about any doubts you may be having - it's too easy to hide your feelings in this kind of relationship, so make sure you're aware of what's going on in each other's heads.

Money-savers

There are many ways to tackle the expense of an LDR. The best approach is to keep on top of everything - book tickets as far in advance as possible to get the cheapest ones and make sure to note down when tickets are released for your next trip. Use the internet as much as possible when you're chatting for long periods of time. Skype is a lifesaver here, as you can chat for as long as you like at absolutely no cost. You can also see each other over the webcam.

Light at the end of the tunnel

You don't want the relationship to always be like this, do you? Having an eventual end to the long-distance drama is a must. A murky future is just not an option: you must have an achievable goal, no longer than a year away, to bring the two of you geographically together. The hope of this eventual outcome will be essential to keeping your morale up and the relationship healthy. Whether you met on an eHarmony Sheffield dating site or on holiday in Turkey, don't give up on a relationship because it's long distance! These fail-safe ways to survive will help!

Steve Davis
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