Long-distance relationships suck. They’re expensive, stressful, and often end badly. But sometimes, you just have to cut ties with someone who doesn’t deserve you anymore.
Sometimes it takes a while before you realize that you’ve made a mistake. But once you do, it’s not always easy to move on. In fact, it can be downright painful. It may not be fair to the person you left behind, but you’ve got to do what’s best for yourself.
But here’s the thing…you don’t have to stay stuck in a relationship that doesn’t work anymore. There are times when you should end a long-distance relationship. And these are the times when you should really listen to your gut instinct.
In this article, I’ll share how to know whether you should stay or go when you find yourself in a long-distance relationship. Then I’ll guide you on exactly when you should cut ties with a long-distance partner. After that, I’ll share how you can make sure you never feel that way again.
Table of Contents
How do I know when to let go of a Long-Distance Relationship?
When you’re in a long-distance relationship, many things make it difficult to know whether or not you should end it. You might find yourself wondering how much longer you’ll be apart, what you’ll do without each other, and whether you’ll ever see one another again. Sometimes, though, letting go isn’t about figuring out the future — it’s just knowing when enough is enough.
There is no set time frame to decide this. Your emotions will dictate whether you should end your relationship or keep trying to save it.
Don’t force yourself into staying in a relationship that isn’t working anymore.
Six main factors determine whether or not a long-distance relationship works:
- How much do you value each other
- What do you want out of the relationship
- Your ability to compromise
- You both agree that you want to end things.
- You have tried to make things better, but nothing seems to help.
- You feel like you just aren’t compatible anymore.
A healthy relationship needs to contribute to your life and well-being. Don’t give up too soon if your relationship doesn’t seem like it is helping you.
When Should a Long-Distance Relationship End?
Long-distance relationships tend to suffer most when there is a communication issue. Don’t rush into calling it quits on your relationship. Take a week or two to think things over.
Talk about your relationship issues openly. This will help each of you understand where the other stands. Don’t run away from problems. Face them head-on.
When you notice yourself turning to your partner less often for advice or support, it’s probably time to end the relationship. Tell them before you leave. This shows respect and consideration for them. When you’re ready to move forward, don’t hesitate to leave the relationship.
There’s nothing wrong with ending a long-distance relationship, it does take some planning. Here are five things to consider before calling it quits.
1. Determine Why You Want To Get Out Of The Relationship
Before deciding whether to end your long-distance relationship or stick it out, it helps to understand why you want to break up. Is it because you’re bored? Or do you think your partner isn’t being fair? Do you feel like you’re no longer compatible? Before you make a final decision, ask yourself what you really want.
When you feel like calling it quits, it’s important to take a step back and look at why you want to leave your current relationship. When you’re feeling desperate to break up, all you want to do is move on.
This approach will help you with your future relationships and also ensure that you don’t repeat the same mistakes in your next relationship.
2. Understand How Much Time You Have Left In This Relationship
If you decide to move forward with breaking up, you’ll need to determine how much time you have left in this relationship. Are you still together for another month? A few weeks? Three months? Six months? Make sure you know how much time you have before deciding whether to end your relationship.
3. Decide Whether You Need Help From Family Members
Sometimes, family members can help you get over a breakup. They can provide emotional support and offer practical advice. If you choose to involve your parents or siblings in your decision, make sure you explain the situation thoroughly. Let them know what’s happening and why you want to end your relationship. Ask them what they think about your plan. Then, listen carefully to their feedback.
Your friends and family will tell you what to do, but your significant other won’t.
4. Consider What Will Happen After You Break Up
Once you decide to end your relationship, you’ll need to figure out what will happen next. Will you continue living apart? Will you live together? Will you try to find someone else? Will you remain friends? These decisions depend on many factors, including your age, financial status, personal goals, and preferences. Think through these questions before making any major changes.
5. Be Prepared For Reactions
Finally, remember that people often react differently to breakups. Some people might be upset or angry. Others might be relieved. Still, others might even celebrate. Regardless of how you feel, prepare for reactions from those around you. Don’t expect everyone to be happy for you.
Reasons For Long-distance Relationship Break-Ups
When you live far away from your partner, it becomes harder to maintain a healthy relationship. You shouldn’t jump too quickly into a breakup because of how far apart you live.
Arguing is a sign that your relationship is falling apart. Lack of communication is another warning sign that your relationship is ending.
There are plenty of reasons why people end relationships, and there’s no way to know what those reasons are unless both parties talk about them.
1. Uncertainty Due to Distance
The distance brings many uncertainties to your relationship. For example, you might worry that your significant other doesn’t care enough about you to make the effort to travel across the world. Or maybe you think that he or she isn’t interested in having kids and wants to focus on her career. Either way, you might feel like your situation is unfair.
2. Having No Sex
The hardest thing about being in a long-distance relationship isn’t the physical separation; it’s the lack of sexual intimacy. For women, the idea of having sex without actually touching anyone else can feel like a huge turnoff. But research suggests that denying yourself sex could do more harm than good.
According to one study, couples who had less frequent sex experienced greater levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. And another study found that people who are sexually satisfied tend to report better overall health and happiness.
Sex is a strong, undeniable human instinct, and research shows it’s one of the best predictors of how well couples are doing in their relationships.
So what happens when someone’s partner is hundreds or thousands of miles away?
A lack of sex will eventually lead to cheating because sex is a human need and we can’t deny it. Technology can help keep you connected, but it won’t replace the physical touch of a partner.
3. Lack of Intimacy
When things go wrong in a relationship, there are usually two sides involved. One side may be responsible for the problem, while the other side may feel hurt and angry. This is normal, because we’re not perfect, and sometimes our partners let us down. However, when this happens repeatedly over time, it becomes unhealthy.
If you notice signs of emotional distance between you and your partner, it’s important to talk about them. Don’t ignore these signs. Instead, try to understand where your partner is coming from. Try to find out what’s going on inside his or her head.
The most common reason for emotional distance is a lack of intimacy. Lack of intimacy means that your partner doesn’t share enough personal information with you. He or she may withhold details about his or her feelings, thoughts, dreams, fears, hopes, etc.
Another sign of lack of intimacy is emotional absence. Emotional absence occurs when your partner shows little interest in you or your life. Your partner may seem distant, uninterested, or uncaring.
Emotionally absent behavior is often a symptom of underlying problems in the relationship. If you suspect that your partner is emotionally absent, ask him or her about it. Ask questions like, “What’s going on?” and “How can I help?”
4. No Polarity
When you’re dating someone over a phone, video chat app, or email, it feels like you’re constantly talking about things. You talk about what you did yesterday, what you want to do today, where you’ll go next weekend, etc.
There’s lots of talking, but very little action. This creates a lack of polarity. Because we don’t know how our partner feels, a lack of polarity makes it difficult to feel attracted. We don’t know what they think about us, what they want, what they want to do together, etc. We can’t begin to build attraction unless we know those things.
The beginning stages of a long-distance relationship can be exciting and romantic. But over time, the lack of physical contact and communication kills the spark.
5. Negative Thinking Goes to Suspicion Mind
You are a man who loves his woman very much. But lately, things seem different. She’s always busy. Sometimes it seems like she doesn’t want to see you. Sometimes you even feel like she’s avoiding you. And you start wondering whether there could be someone else.
We don’t like to admit it, but we’ve all been there before. Long-distance relationships are hard enough without having to worry about someone cheating on you. It’s a natural feeling that develops in our minds when we’re far away from our loved ones. Science has proven that jealousy can cause us to act irrationally.
While she may be just having some kind of bad day. Or maybe she’s feeling insecure and wants to avoid being alone with you. If you suspect your partner is cheating, talk to him or her about it. Don’t just keep thinking about it.
Otherwise, you’ll break up your relationship due to an insecure, suspicious mind.
How To Solve These Problems
There are many ways to solve problems in a long-distance relationship.
Poor communication is the biggest cause of breakups and divorces. Communication is the most important part of any relationship. There are many ways to communicate effectively.
“Give up” is a negative term. Do not let yourself think about giving up. When you feel like you want to end the relationship, tell her how you feel.
Be honest with yourself. Don’t force yourself into something you don’t really want.
How To Move On After A Breakup
Moving on after a breakup can be difficult, especially if you still care deeply for someone. But sometimes, it’s necessary to put yourself first and focus on moving forward. Here are four tips to help you move past a breakup and into a happier future.
1. Don’t Dwell on the Past
It’s normal to feel sad, angry, confused, hurt, and upset after a breakup. When you’re going through a tough time, it’s easy to spend hours thinking about the person who hurt you. You may miss him or her, but you shouldn’t allow yourself to dwell on negative feelings. Instead, try focusing on the present moment and doing whatever feels right for you.
2. Take Control of your Emotions
Sometimes, letting go of a relationship can feel liberating, but it can also lead to feelings of sadness and regret. Try taking charge of your emotions instead of allowing them to run wild.
Give yourself time to grieve. Breakups can be cathartic, especially if you write down your thoughts and feelings. You should always keep in mind why you broke up.
Write down all the things you’ve gained from the breakup.
Start by taking care of yourself. Take time off from work, spend time with friends and family, and enjoy life. Then, look for signs of improvement in your behavior. If you notice that you’re happier, then you can begin to rebuild your self-confidence.
3. Be Positive While Not Blaming
Next, try to put the past behind you. Don’t talk about your ex or obsess over his or her actions. Focus instead on the future and what you two could have had together.
A breakup is never easy, even if you think you know exactly what you want.
Don’t blame your ex for ending things, and do everything you can to keep the good memories alive.
Seek help if you’re having trouble moving on.
4. Find Support
Lean on family and friends for emotional support or talk to someone who will listen. Whether you choose to talk to friends and family members or seek professional counseling, finding support during a rough patch can really help you heal. Ask them to support you during this difficult time.
Focus on building a life for yourself that includes positive relationships with others. You deserve to be happy, and no matter how much pain you’re feeling now, you’ll eventually heal.
FAQs
Does Distance Ruin Relationships?
The distance can certainly complicate matters when it comes to maintaining a healthy romantic relationship. But does it really matter whether two people are physically close together or far apart?
Distance between couples can cause problems in a relationship. When people live far away from each other, they might find themselves feeling lonely. A long-distance relationship can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Studies suggest that physical proximity is less important than emotional closeness. According to relationship experts, couples who spend more time together tend to experience greater levels of satisfaction with their relationships.
This study was conducted among college students, but it could apply to other types of relationships as well. So while it might seem easier to maintain a strong connection when you’re living under the same roof, it’s possible to build a lasting bond over years spent apart.
Of course, there are exceptions. Some people prefer to remain friends rather than become romantically involved with someone else. And others choose to end a relationship after spending years together. Either way, it’s important to remember that no matter how much time passes, you shouldn’t lose sight of the person you love.
What’s the Percentage of Failed Long-distance Relationships?
According to statistics published by Match.com, over 90% of couples who meet online end up breaking up within six months. While this statistic might seem discouraging, it does provide insight into the reasons why people break up.
One reason for the high number of failed long-distance relationships is that people tend to fall in love with someone based on physical appearance rather than personality traits. Another common mistake is thinking that a long-distance relationship will be easy because you’re both living far apart.
Can Long Distance Relationships Be Successful?
Long-distance relationships are tough. There’s no denying it. But, it’s possible to maintain a healthy relationship over long distances.
It takes patience, communication, and flexibility. Here are three tips to help you succeed in a long-distance relationship:
- Make Time for Each Other: This is probably the biggest challenge for long-distance couples. When you’re together every day, it’s easy to forget about each other. So, try making plans to spend time together. Whether it’s going to dinner, watching movies, or just hanging out, make sure you carve out time to connect.
- Keep Communication Open: Communication is key to maintaining a successful long-distance relationship. Try sending emails instead of text messages. Also, schedule face-time whenever possible.
- Don’t Give Up Too Easily: Don’t give up too easily when things aren’t working out, rather, seek out solutions to problems. Maybe you could both agree to meet halfway between the two cities. Or maybe you could switch jobs so that you’re closer to each other. Whatever solution you choose, make sure it’s mutually beneficial. You should try to keep the relationship alive until you meet face-to-face.
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