Long-distance relationships can work.
In fact, Business Insider's Jessica Orwig reported on research that found couples in long-distance relationship can be just as happy as couples who live closer together. One researcher told Orwig that the key is communication: stating your needs and setting expectations.
Over on Quora, hundreds of people, many with LDR experience, contributed to a thread titled, "Do distance relationships work? How can you make it work?" Their advice was more substantive than simply, "call and text a lot."
Below, we highlighted the most creative and most insightful pieces of wisdom from that thread.
SEE ALSO: A relationship therapist breaks down the 10 most common fights couples have
'Trust each other, and be worthy of one another's trust'
Betsy Megas says trust is "by and far the most important thing" in her long-distance relationship with her partner. "I don't feel we have any secrets between us," she adds.
'Talk through doubts and uncertainties together, and work on them together'
Megas says she and her partner have hashed out tough topics like, "Is he going to be homesick when he gets here?" and "Am I ever going to know enough Swedish to carry on a conversation with his mom?"
"I don't know the answer to either of these questions," she admits, but discussing them has helped them find some potential solutions.
'Be social'
"If you aren't together, you need to occupy your time. Engage in activities and develop your friendships. I've found that LDRs that have failed often came from isolation and unnecessary degrees of loneliness. You aren't doing yourself — or your partner — a favor by being home and available all the time. You should mutually agree to be active in order to stay happy."
See the rest of the story at Business Insider