11 Special Long Distance Relationship Gifts to Help You Survive LDR

There is no two ways about this - long distance relationships can be a challenge for the most committed of couple. No one likes it, they are only trying to make the most of a difficult situation. Being physically connected to your partner is an important part of a relationship and being forced apart is difficult. On the other hand, couples that survive the separation come away with a much stronger relationship than people who stay together. The distance makes them focus on emotional closeness and meaningful exchanges, which in turn increases the sense of intimacy. So if you are in a long distance relationship, it can be done and it will be worth the effort, all you need is to stay strong.

Communication is just a few taps on the smartphone away and you can always call your loved one to hear their voice. But a big problem LDR couples face is the miscommunication, specially over texting because the message goes through but not the emotion attached to it. Different time zones and work pressures throw even more problems in the mix. Which makes it even more important to communicate regularly and dispel suspicions and worries as soon as they arise. Use every technology and means at your disposal - call, Skype, chat, message, Facetime, email, social media or a mix to ensure you stay emotionally connected.

Jealousy every now and then is common in a relationship, more so when several miles separate you from your partner. A little bit adds a spark to the relationship, too much can spell its doom. Learn to trust one another, it is the only way you can survive this. He or she is far away and there is nothing you can do about who they meet or what they do, not that you can do anything about this even when they are close.

You have to build and keep trust that they will be faithful to you. Give your partner reasons to trust you, and stick to being honest, and have faith they will do the same. This is the worst time to let an active imagination get the better of you. Yes she will meet several eligible men, many of whom may even be interested in her, but she chose to be in a relationship with you in spite of the distance so have faith in her.

Not having a loved one around prevents you from taking them for granted. You know each moment spent with them in precious because those moments are so rare. Each communication and gesture is of immense value. You learn to cherish your partner much more, appreciate their finer points and realise their flaws are too small and insignificant when seen in the larger picture.

Just being in a long distance relationship is proof of your strength and your commitment to be together despite all odds. Use this as an opportunity to strengthen your relation so that when the times comes for you to be reunited, it will be all the more sweet.

If you met in a foreign land it is your love for travel that brought you together so explore that aspect further. Make travel plans together so you can be reunited and see new places at the same time. Even otherwise this is a great way for long distance couples to keep the magic alive.

Don’t waste your time moping over your girlfriend. Use the time you would have otherwise spent together on self improvement, learning new skills, trying out new experiences or pursuing opportunities. These will keep you occupied so you don’t have time to sit around feeling sorry for yourself, develop you as a person and make you lead a more fulfilling life.

The happier and more fulfilled people are as individuals, the more satisfying their relationships become. Because you stop relying someone else for your happiness, instead you choose to be with someone because you have so much to offer and simply love them for who they are. Your level on contentment will pass onto your relationship.

There are times in a relationship when your loved one is not around, or available on the phone but you need their presence in your life. These sweet and thoughtful letters are drafted for different occasions and fulfill different needs, such as open when you are sad, open when you need a laugh, open when you miss me. Send a stack of letters to your beloved to be there emotionally when you can’t be around to comfort them physically.

They are incredibly intimate as you need to know and anticipate a gamut of emotions, and a pen a letter which will be just right for that moment. Include small gifts or treats to make it extra special. This gift lasts a long time and provides them with exactly what they need. You can make this yourself, all you need are several envelopes and writing paper. But if you need a little help try out Lea Redmond’s Letters to Open When...: Write Now. Read Later. Treasure Forever. The pack includes 12 prompted letters to write meaningful messages to a loved one which can be sealed with a sticker and gifted for them to open them when needed. Buy it for Rs.861 on Amazon.

If you want to add a little gift with your letters there is another option for Open When Letters which comprises 7 letters meant to be open for specific moods, each in an individual gift box with a small gift. 1. open this when you miss me, comes with two polaroid fridge magnets customised with your pictures; 2. open this when you are feeling naughty, has a list of naughty dares to be completed when you are reunited; 3. open this when you are stressed, has a piece of bubble wrap, some balloons and a pin; 4. open this when you need a laugh, has a joke book; 5. open this when you are mad at me, comes with note paper for your partner to write their frustrations and matchsticks to burn it with; 6. open this when you need attention, has a list of compliments; 7. open this when you are feeling low contains a magic mirror them they are special. Buy it for Rs.1,440 on Oyehappy.

A set of matching mugs is a nice way to remember each other as you sit down to have a cup of coffee in the morning. Your partner may not be next to you but you can imagine them drinking from the other cup and stimulate memories of having a drink together. You will be on each other’s mind every time you use the mug.

Get customised mugs with your own message and maybe even a picture. You can even buy something like these D&Y Mr. & Mrs. Right Couples Ceramic Printed Coffee Mugs, two mugs, one for her and the other for him. They are the same size and hold 325 ml of liquid and are dishwasher and microwave safe. One says Mr Right and the other Mrs Always Right. Buy it for Rs.247 on Amazon.

Print and frame your favourite memories as a constant reminder of the presence of each other in your lives. Supplement this with a photo album that you can flip through when you are missing your partner and want to relive the special memories. You can make a scrapbook style album and add small notes, stickers and posts to make it more memorable. It will hold a lot more value to them than a plain picture album or framed picture.

You can get this Sehaz Artworks 'ForeverLove' Wood Pasted Photo Album to make it. The covers are made of a deep brown wood and it is filled with high quality black sheets which will highlight your pictures and notes perfectly. It has 30 pages and a wire binding, and is priced at Rs.499 on Amazon.

A couple living in two different time zones can benefit from dual dial watches so they can easily keep track of the other’s time zone. It is a practical gift as you won’t have to keep calculating the time and missing the time slot to give the other a call. A quick glance at the watch will keep you updated. He will also be reminded of you each time he looks at the time.

The Oulm Sports Men's Watch with dual movement and a leather band is something you can consider. It has an easy to read double watch face and is made of a good quality alloy with a white vacuum ion plating layer cover. It has a fashionable design and is suitable for wearing on all occasions. It is also water resistant, though not suited for swimming or diving, and at Rs.2,002 is a good buy. You can order it on Amazon.

If you can’t physically touch your significant other, reach out to them with a pair of synchronised lamps. Fitted with touch sensors, a simple touch will switch on the lamp, and cause the other pair to light up at the same time, even if it is on the other end of town, or the other end of the country. Each lamp is set up and connected to the Wi-Fi and can be used to remind a loved one they are being thought of and missed. The lamp takes on a different colour with each touch, going through all colours of the rainbow. It needs a 2.4 GHz connection and will not work with 5 GHz connection. Once lit, the lamp will fade after an hour and a half, but the timer can be reset to fade after a shorter or longer duration. Buy it on Uncommon Goods where a pair of lamps are priced at Rs. 9,780. You can also buy a single lamp for Rs.4,890.

When waiting for the moment to be reunited with your loved one, every minute counts. What makes the wait easier is marking off the days on a calendar. Customise a calendar by filling out all the important dates that hold special meaning for you, anniversaries, birthdays and other celebrations, add the days when you will meet and give it to your partner.

You can make one yourself, use an app on your smartphone, or a buy them a clock with a calendar countdown option. A tear off calendar works well too as there is the satisfaction of literally tearing away a day from the time spent apart. You can buy a 100-Day Tear-Off Calendar from Amazon for Rs.799.

If you want a more permanent timer that can be used again, buy a digital clock that has a countdown feature. Like the I-Mart Big Number Digital LED Clock with alarm, snooze feature, thermometer, digital calendar and a countdown timer. The large digits make it readable from even 25 meters away and the brightness can be adjusted to a comfortable level. It can be used as a desk clock and also be put up on the wall. Buy it for Rs.6,622 on Amazon.

Coordinated personal objects such as jewellery are a good way to stay connected with a loved one. Have it personalised with important dates or a message to feel like your loved one is always close to you in spite of the physical distance. It can be a pendant or a bracelet which both of you can wear.

This Young & Forever Couple Combo Onyx and Howlite Natural Stone Bracelet combines the properties or Reiki and Yoga in a healing bracelet for men and women. Onyx absorbs and transforms negative energy, it also attracts positive energy, while Howlite brings mental clarity. Together they uplift the wearer’s spirits, inspire and remind them of daily intentions, helping a couple deal with the agonies of separation. Buy this set of two matching bracelets for Rs.750.

Make up for lack of physical proximity by strengthening your emotional bond. Exchange messages of tenderness telling them why they are special to you, and all the things you like about them. While phone calls, instant messages and emails are all very practical ways to keep in constant touch with a loved one, surprise messages, love notes and thoughtful gifts add a special touch to the exchange.

Fill a bottle with all kinds of sweet, thoughtful, love and funny messages. Your partner can reach into this bottle for a heart warming message from you whenever they need it most. The Shvas Little Message Bottle is one such option. It comes with multi color capsules and writing paper for you to write your messages on. There are 8 colourful capsules in a glass bottle and it comes with a finger ring as well. Fill the notes with nice messages for your beloved. You could use an ordinary bottle and regular paper too, but the cute capsules make it a little more special. Buy it for Rs.389.

In a fast moving digital age where memories are created and recorded on apps and in folders, create a tangible record of your relationship. When your loved one is not beside you, it is important to have memories that you can touch and see outside of a electric screen. Create a shared journal where each of you takes turns to write notes, tape pictures and keep letters in. You can take it with you on a visit, let them keep it and fill it till it is your turn again.

It will allow you to fill it with thoughts and memories of your time together, so each can get a perspective of what was on the other one’s mind, and while writing new notes, you can flip back to past memories, yours and theirs. It will soon become a treasured record of your relationship. Keep two journals if one isn’t enough, exchanging them each time you see the other. It will be a beautiful record for time to come.

Get a sturdy bound journal or diary which can withstand long periods of use and will endure over time. We liked this Tej Gifts Beautiful Silk Saree Cover Diary with handmade paper. It is a size 4 writing pad and weighs a mere 100 gm, making it easy to carry. Buy it for Rs.305.

On cooler days when all you want to do is cuddle up with your loved one under a cozy blanket is when you miss them the most. Why not give your partner a customised plush to wrap themselves in so they think of you when they use it. A customised blanket with a personal message or a picture of you can translate it into a warm hug.

There are several options to customise throw blankets on Etsy. Such as this one with a custom message. You can either have their name on it, a message and even a picture of you. Available in cream and soft grey colours, the blanket measures 50” x 60” and the print does not peel, crack or fade even after being machine washed several times. It is hemmed and made entirely from polyester. There is even an option to link videos to images on the blanket! An image is printed on the blanket and linked to a free app, so when the phone or tab is pointed at the image, the video will be streamed on the phone. Order it on Etsy from Say It With Your Words for about Rs.3000

Spending time together is the best thing you can gift your loved one, and yourself, when you are in a long distance relationship. Schedules meetups are planned for, awaited and looked forward to, but nothing can beat the unexpected pleasure of seeing your special someone turn up at the door unannounced.

The most important step in planning this gift is to know his/her schedule beforehand. If you communicate frequently you would know their schedule pretty well and have an idea of the daily routine too, but make discreet, innocent inquiries to double check. It will be very disappointing if you show up to find he/she has gone out of town for an important meeting.

It can be a short visit of a few hours and up to a few days. A weekend plan when they are free to spend time with you is a good idea. Make a plan of what you can do together, take along a small gift and think of how you will actually make your surprise appearance - show up on the door, meet her outside her last class for the day, pick him up from his office, etc. Buying tickets for going elsewhere and whisking your sweetheart away is another romantic idea. Again, make sure you aren’t interrupting an important plan. Make the best use of this time, take pictures, make videos and express all the pent up emotions that don’t easily come through a chat window.