We make money from advertisers and affiliate partners. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

staying strong despite long distance relationship

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.

Questions

No answer selected. Please try again.
Please select either existing option or enter your own, however not both.
Please select minimum {0} answer(s).
Please select maximum {0} answer(s).
/community/single-poll.html?task=poll.vote&format=json
4
radio
1
[{"id":10,"title":"Cruise","votes":4,"type":"x","order":1,"pct":19.050000000000000710542735760100185871124267578125,"resources":[]},{"id":11,"title":"All Inclusive Resort","votes":8,"type":"x","order":2,"pct":38.10000000000000142108547152020037174224853515625,"resources":[]},{"id":12,"title":"Cabin In The Woods","votes":4,"type":"x","order":3,"pct":19.050000000000000710542735760100185871124267578125,"resources":[]},{"id":13,"title":"Road Trip","votes":5,"type":"x","order":4,"pct":23.809999999999998721023075631819665431976318359375,"resources":[]}] ["#ff5b00","#4ac0f2","#b80028","#eef66c","#60bb22","#b96a9a","#62c2cc"] ["rgba(255,91,0,0.7)","rgba(74,192,242,0.7)","rgba(184,0,40,0.7)","rgba(238,246,108,0.7)","rgba(96,187,34,0.7)","rgba(185,106,154,0.7)","rgba(98,194,204,0.7)"] 500
Votes

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.

video chat is a great option for long distance relationships

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.

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.

handwritten love letter

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!


Written by:
Pro-BloggerExpert BloggerThought Leader

James Hills is a travel blogger and relationship content creator who, alongside his wife Heather, a Certified Recreational Therapist, has spent over 20 years discovering how shared travel experiences strengthen marriages and deepen emotional connections. Through two decades of marriage, they've learned that the most meaningful relationships grow through intentional adventures, quality time together, and the kind of authentic experiences that create lasting bonds between partners.

Drawing from their extensive travel experience and Heather's professional background in recreational therapy, James founded CouplePlaces.com to help sophisticated couples enhance their relationships through thoughtfully chosen getaways, romantic experiences, and premium travel opportunities. His approach focuses on substance over spectacle - identifying the specific elements of luxury resorts, cruises, and destinations that truly contribute to relationship building rather than just impressive social media posts.

James specializes in helping established couples navigate the balance between comfort and adventure, creating travel experiences that accommodate different preferences while fostering deeper intimacy and connection. His practical advice stems from real-world experience managing the complexities of long-term relationships, from newlywed adventures to empty-nester rediscovery phases.