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When it comes to healthy relationships, we've talked about how couples make living apart work. But would you believe that researchers have proven, scientifically, that absence does indeed make the heart grow fonder? Turns out, you and you man might benefit from the habits of couples in long-distance relationships!
According to a 2013 study that appeared in the Journal of Communication, long-distance couples may have honed the art of healthy communication in relationships, even more so than couples who live in the same city. The reason? Texting, emailing, and private-Facebook-messaging—you know, the ways couples in long-distance relationships keep in touch—help them create an intimate, lasting bond.
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"Long-distance couples try harder than geographically close couples in communicating affection and intimacy, and their efforts do pay back," Crystal Jiang, Ph.D., coauthor of the study, said to upwave.com. "People in long-distance relationships often have stronger bonds from more constant, and deeper, communication than normal relationships."
So, what can you do to act more like a cross-country couple? Try these two tips tonight!
1. Send him a text: Sure, you text him now for practical reasons ("I'll be home late!" or "What do you feel like for dinner?"), but try dialing up the romance a bit, and send him texts that are more affectionate. For example: "I can't stop thinking about the dinner you made last night, wow! I adore you."
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2. Ramp up the intimacy in your conversations: In all that time apart, long-distance couples hone the art of going deep in conversation. After all, a relationship wouldn't survive if they simply talked about day-to-day details (the kids, work, etc.). So whether it's on the phone while you're on a break at work, or in person tonight, make an effort to talk about the Big Stuff: Revisit your hopes, dreams, and goals for the future... you know, all the things you discussed in your first few months of dating!