In a perfect world, there would be no long distance relationships. You and your sweetheart could see each other on a regular basis, and everything would be great. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible, especially for travel nurses. Sure, bringing your partner on assignment with you would be awesome, but what if they can’t come? What if your assignment is in Colorado, and your honey needs to stay home in Indiana for work? Well, have no fear! We’re here to offer some long distance relationship advice for travel nurses, so keep reading!
Long Distance Relationship Advice: Travel Nurse Edition
The fact of the matter is, long distance relationships take work. However, they are possible! Here are some tips for keeping your relationship alive and well while on assignment.
1. Set Expectations
Before you leave for your assignment, it’s beneficial to sit down and talk with your partner to set some ground rules or expectations. While it may be a tough conversation to have, especially for first-time travel nurses, it’s crucial. Make sure that you and your partner are on the same page and know what to expect from each other. Discuss and agree on things like frequency of phone calls and visits.
2. Communicate
This may seem obvious, but proper communication can really make or break a long distance relationship, or any relationship for that matter. During phone calls with your significant other, don’t dedicate the whole conversation to big news or heavy topics. You may feel more inclined to share that crazy thing that happened at work the other day, but don’t be afraid to share the smaller moments too. Talk about what you had for breakfast, the weather, current events, or anything to keep the conversation interesting.
Additionally, it’s helpful to mix up your communication methods. Don’t be afraid to branch out from phone calls and texting! FaceTime or Skype your partner, send emails, or even try snail mail! Let’s be honest, even with all of today’s technology, getting letters in the mail is still exciting!
3. Do Things Together
Just because you’re not together physically doesn’t mean you can’t share experiences. Play an online game together, read the same book and talk about it, or watch TV together. There are websites, like Rabbit or Gaze, where you can watch a TV show or movie with anyone, anywhere in the world.
4. Be Supportive
Sadly, long distance relationships aren’t a walk in a park. There will be days where you or your significant other will feel lonely or down in the dumps about the situation. While these feelings aren’t fun, the best thing to do is acknowledge and accept them. Don’t be afraid to share these feelings with your partner, either. If you’re having a bad day, talk it out. It’ll help you to release some of your frustration.
5. Establish a Routine
Whether it’s sending a good morning text message or an after dinner phone call, these small rituals will make a big difference. If you and your partner are used to starting and ending your days with each other, try to maintain the routine when you’re apart. It will help to keep some normalcy in the relationship and make you more comfortable.
6. Grow Together While You’re Apart
You know what they say, distance makes the heart grow fonder. While it may be difficult, try to view your long distance relationship in a positive light. See it as a learning experience and a way to strengthen your relationship instead of looking at it as a roadblock. Chances are, your relationship will be stronger afterward, and you and your partner will be brought closer together. At the end of the day, it’s all about perspective and positivity!
Have you ever maintained a long distance relationship while on assignment? Share some of your travel nurse long distance relationship advice with us in the commments section below!
