I’m sorry to say that after over 2 years in a long-distance relationship, I can confirm that saying goodbye never gets easier. Separation is difficult and comes with heartbreak, fear, and anxiety. After many painful moments of goodbye in a long-distance relationship, we’ve learned a few tricks that help us get through the farewells and the lonely days that follow.

If you’re having trouble surviving your time apart, check out this blog post on surviving Winter loneliness in a long distance relationship.

Let us know what works for you!

Take lots of pictures while you’re together

Having photos together to look back on always makes the separation less painful. When you’re having a lonely day, seeing a photo of the one you love can change your entire mood. We use photos as a way to capture the beautiful memories and moments we shared. Photos are also a great way to help document your relationship as you move forward as a couple.

Hold each other up until the last moments

Is your love language physical touch? In a long-distance relationship, make sure you take advantage of the moments together. Hold each other close and make those moments last as long as you can until you see each other again. You will never regret those final embraces together.

Print out photos to keep

If you’re sentimental like me, you’ll probably agree that there’s something special about having photos of your loved ones in physical form. My home is filled with images of trips and memories with my partner to keep him in my thoughts. We also have photo albums and memory boxes where we keep special photos to look back on.

On our latest trip, we bought an Instax camera to get a few special shots to take home. I love the images we captured and now he has a little photo of me in his wallet to take with him everywhere.

Send a postcard for them to look forward to

The memories of your trip don’t have to stop there. Write a postcard back to them from where you are with a little reminder of your adventure. Maybe include an inside joke! I wrote a postcard and mailed it the day he flew home so that he has something from me to look forward to at home after the journey. It might take a little longer to make it to his house, but I know he will love to see it when it arrives and cherish a little reminder that soon we’ll be together again.

Exchange something small to remember your trip

A dear friend recently gifted the two of us matching bracelets so we can have something to remember each other by while we’re apart. Something like this is a simple way to think of each other when we’re apart, and the compass design reminds us that we’ll always find our way back home to each other.

One day we did a date at an arcade together, and won a mini frisbee. Now we mail the frisbee back and forth with love notes to each other when we’re apart. We also got matching magnets on one of our adventures and keep it on our fridges as memories.

A few other small mementos that would be an adorable idea to exchange would be some souvenirs from where you’re visiting, a ring or necklace, a small notebook, or a keychain.

Write a love note to read after the two of you part

On one of our trips, we played “We’re Not Really Strangers” together and enjoyed the connection it built between us. It’s a great game to spark valuable conversations and be fully open with your partner. The last card prompts you to write a note to each other to only be read once you part. We both wrote each other sweet notes about our love and our adventures together that weekend. He read his note on the plane, and I read mine once I got home. I feel it helped with my anxiety as he left, and we felt less alone during the trips home.

Start planning for your next ldr meet up as soon as possible

Long distance isn’t easy; but having a countdown until you’re reunited helps make the days apart pass quickly. Set a date and book those tickets; maybe even while you’re together! I even like to have a countdown on my phone so I can look forward to our next reunion. If you can’t book tickets or set a date: make plans for all the things you plan to do when you see each other next. A bucket list is also a super fun activity to make with your partner, and gives you lots to get excited about for your next visit.

Make plans for a roadtrip, a special concert together, a picnic somewhere beautiful; or other in person activities that excite you both.

“Don’t count the days – Make the days count!”

Don’t say “goodbye”

My wonderful partner started a tradition that whenever we meet we never say goodbye. We say “see you soon”, “until we meet again”, “I’m right behind you”, “we’re only a plane ride away”, “I’ll miss you”, “Drive safe”, “I’ll text you when I’m home,” “I’ll see you in my dreams” and “have a safe trip” Parting is such sweet sorrow, but knowing it’s not goodbye forever always helps my heart to accept that we’re going back to long distance. It’s important to remember that this moment of pain isn’t the end: it’s just temporary. Your patience will pay off and soon you’ll be together again!

Saying goodbye is one of the reasons why a long-distance relationship is difficult, but we’re all in this together, and please know you’re not alone with the hard moments.

If you have any tips that help you say goodbye in a long-distance relationship, please share them with us!