Together and Apart: Managing a Long-Distance Valentine’s Day

Anyone who says long-distance relationships are easy is lying. Especially on a holiday like Valentine’s Day. Whether it’s just a short business trip or a job/school that has separated you until further notice, don’t just lay on the couch in one of his old T-shirts watching Lifetime movies, eating heart-shaped chocolate you bought yourself, and crying silently into your handkerchief.

I know. That’s totally unrealistic. No one has a handkerchief these days. But seriously. A couple days before the fourteenth, send your special someone a handwritten letter with specific instructions to wait until V-Day to open. This way, they’ll have something from you on that day, even if you’re not physically there. If you have a favorite perfume, think about spritzing the paper a bit as smell is the sense most linked to memory.

Also, consider setting up a Skype (or other video chat application) date. If you decide to do this, treat it like a real date. Dress up and find a place where people won’t bother you so you won’t get distracted by other things. During the conversation, refrain from jumping to conclusions. Maybe he’s talking about work and friends because he doesn’t want to sound whiny talking about how much he misses you. There are always two sides.

This could be difficult since Valentine’s Day falls on a Tuesday this year and one or both of you may be busy with something. Try setting up another time around that date or even visiting each other the weekend before (or after) and having your own Valentine’s Day. Fourteen isn’t a magic number, as long as you spend time with the one you love.