When one spouse travels for work, the other may feel isolated and disconnected. Unfortunately, work-related travel is inevitable in many couples’ lives, but that doesn’t mean your relationship has to suffer as a result. Here are some key tips to help your marriage remain strong even when one partner is away.
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Key Points
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First of all, communication is key. Try to make sure that you both stay connected throughout the day via text or video chat, even if it’s just for a few brief minutes. Keeping an open line of communication is important to ensure that you remain in sync with each other. This regular connection can also help ease any feelings of loneliness or anxiety caused by being apart.
Plan For When You'll Be Reunited!
It’s also important to set aside time as soon as possible after the business trip so that the person who was traveling can tell the other person what happened while they were away and catch up on any news from home. This ideally should be spent in a quiet or romantic setting. Holding hands over dinner at home or a leisurely walk around the neighborhood are two good examples.
Create a Shared Countdown Calendar
Establish a shared digital calendar to mark important dates, including the day you'll be reunited. Use this as a space to add small reminders or notes, like "2 weeks to go!" or "Can't wait to see you!" This simple tool can help keep the excitement alive and give you both something to look forward to.
Plan a Special Activity Together
Instead of just returning to routine, plan a special activity for when you’re reunited. It could be a romantic weekend getaway, a dinner at a new restaurant, or a hobby you both enjoy but haven't had time for lately. Knowing you have a memorable experience waiting can help sustain you through the separation.
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Create a Surprise for Each Other
Prepare a surprise for your partner to make the reunion even more special. This could be a heartfelt letter, a small gift, or even a planned event that they weren’t expecting. Surprises can reignite the spark and add a sense of excitement to your return.
Set Personal Goals for the Separation Period
Work together to set individual or joint goals to accomplish during the time apart. This could be related to fitness, personal development, or a shared project. When you reunite, you’ll have something new to celebrate and discuss, showing how you both used the time apart productively.
Schedule Quality Time Right After Arrival
Ensure your schedules are cleared for at least the first day or evening after your reunion. Plan to spend that time together without distractions. Whether it's a cozy night in or a planned date, having undisturbed time right after arrival is crucial for reconnecting and easing back into each other’s presence.
Creative Activities For Long Distance Couples
Another tip to consider is planning creative activities together during long absences, such as collecting postcards from every place traveled or taking up a new language together through online classes. These types of projects help keep the spark alive and provide an activity for you both to look forward to when back together.
Virtual Date Nights
Plan regular virtual dates, like watching a movie, cooking together, or playing an online game to create shared experiences and foster closeness.
Collaborative Storytelling
Take turns writing parts of a story to explore each other’s imagination and humor, sparking deeper conversations.
Couple’s Journal Exchange
Maintain a shared digital journal where you both write about your day, thoughts, or feelings to stay emotionally connected.
Take a Virtual Class Together
Learn something new together, like a cooking or dance class, to foster teamwork and provide fresh conversation topics.
Play “20 Questions”
Regularly ask thought-provoking questions to deepen your understanding of each other’s dreams, fears, and future plans.
Plan Future Adventures
Spend time planning future trips or activities to keep the anticipation alive and encourage meaningful discussions.
Send Handwritten Letters
Exchange handwritten letters to express emotions more deeply and create tangible keepsakes during the separation.
Share a “Photo a Day” Challenge
Send daily photos of meaningful moments to stay engaged with each other’s lives and maintain a sense of closeness.
Create a Joint Playlist
Build a playlist of meaningful songs to share a musical connection and feel closer through shared listening experiences.
Practice Daily Gratitude
Share three things you’re grateful for each day to encourage positive communication and strengthen your emotional bond.
Don't Forget To Show Affection Despite The Distance
Finally, it’s important to remember that relationships aren't solely based on physical presence. There are plenty of ways that long-distance partners can show their affection even when miles apart. Try writing love letters, exchanging special gifts, sending photos or playing on-line games together! These small gestures will remind both partners of how much they still mean to each other despite the physical distance between them (and no doubt give them something fun to look forward to after the trip).
At times like these, it's easy to forget how much power lies within our ability to reach out and stay connected with those we care about most – especially when faced with work trips that get in the way of seeing them face-to-face constantly. No matter what, though, don't forget to make quality time for each other whenever schedules allow. If nothing else, those moments shared together ultimately form the foundation for sustaining a healthy relationship through time apart!
