Why Long-Distance Relationships Can Work

1 I Feel More Confident

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Anyone who's in a long-distance relationship knows it's not a relationship of convenience — it's (literally) far from that. We're both making the active effort every single day to reach out and communicate with each other to feel as though we're as close as we were when we lived a block apart in school.

To know that someone thousands of miles away is making that decision and effort to talk to me every day is powerful, and that sense of confidence carries me through life — whether I'm getting ready for an important meeting at work or at a bar where my six-foot-tall model friends keep getting hit on. I'll keep sipping my tequila soda in the corner with a smile on my face knowing that someone already loves me.

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2 I Focus More on My Career

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We've all seen relationships where one person focuses on their career and the other becomes resentful. Of course, not many people mean to do this at the expense of their partner and relationship, but it often happens organically. In a long-distance relationship, that doesn't happen. I feel no guilt whenever I decide to stay late at work, and my evenings and weekends are free to plan networking meetings and tackle big projects if I need to.

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3 I Can Dedicate a Lot of My Free Time to My Friends and Family

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My family is Indian, and any fellow child of immigrants can relate to having to make the time to call their family abroad at obscure times of day. Now, nothing stops me from doing so. Saturday isn't just about date night — it's about calling my tri-continental relatives in India, Australia, and the Philippines.

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4 I Can Put My Health First

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Working out and eating healthy have always been a big part of my life, but they've become even more of a priority since I was diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), which affects my hormone levels, last year. I would be lying if I didn't admit that sometimes I chose to skip a morning workout in turn for spending more time in bed with my boyfriend when we were living in the same city. Not only do I not have that excuse anymore, but now we see each other so little that when we do, I want to look my absolute best.

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5 I Feel Better About My Priorities

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Long distance has enabled me to be selfish and prioritise myself and my needs over anyone else's, which is something you can't always do in a relationship. Whether or not this relationship ends in "happily ever after," I'll never regret having spent most of my energy on my career, friends, and family with all the support of my boyfriend every step of the way.

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