Whether you’re away from your boyfriend or girlfriend, best friends, or your family, living apart from anyone you love can be difficult. You could be one state away or living on another continent; either way, it’s hard to not see the people you love  every day.

I am currently in a successful long-distance - well, if Wisconsin counts as "long distance" - relationship with many people in my life, and I’m here to share some of my tips in surviving college being away from the people you are the  closest to:

1. Use Technology

The technology there for a reason, and once you’re at school in a different  state, your phone will become your best friend. It is your main means of  communication, and it should be used as often as possible. Whether that’s sending a quick "How are you doing?" text, spending hours talking on the  phone, or actually seeing their face over video chat, your phone can help you feel closer to everyone back home - even if it's only just for the 15 minutes you're on the phone. We’re lucky we have this technology, so why not put it to good use?

2. Keep Yourself Busy

Being away from home gives you the perfect opportunity to get more  involved on campus. When you’re busy, time goes faster, and the faster time goes, the faster you’ll be able to see everyone again. Not to mention if you’re busy you won’t think about missing them so much. Join that club that you’ve always wanted to join, or go see a movie at Coffman with your friends. Just find something fun to do so that you have something to look  forward to.

3. Make Time to Go Visit People Out of Town

Going to see all the people you’re living away from is definitely the hardest but most rewarding thing you can do to keep an LDR going. Sometimes it  can be difficult to fit going home into your busy schedule, but it’s always worth it to squeeze it in there just so you can have some piece of mind.  Even if you can only spend one day with the people you care about, do it. One day will make you feel much better, I can guarantee it.

4. Find Your De-Stressor

Not having those people who you are close to in the same area as you can be really stressful, but it is important to have something in your back  pocket that keeps you centered and can calm you down. Getting stressed in college is unavoidable, so you should have that de-stressor anyways, but finding it is very  important for your sanity and for your schoolwork. Maybe that’s doing yoga, listening to music, or maybe even coloring (like I do). Whatever it  is, spend a little time every day doing what makes you less stressed and maybe that’ll make it a tiny bit better to be away.

5. Focus on the Future

Living away from the people you care about doesn’t always last forever. Think about the bright future ahead of you, and even if you don’t know for  sure what you want to do after college, or where you want to live, focusing on the positives and the possible outcomes of the future will probably make you feel better about the present.

College is a time for finding yourself, gaining an education, and becoming independent. Although sometimes it is extremely difficult to be long distance from those people you love most, there are positive aspects to it as well. It gives  you an opportunity to do everything that you want to do during your college career, whether that’s make new friends, volunteer, or join as many groups as  you can. You easy to miss your friends and family all the time, but the hard part  is not letting it control your life. Enjoy college life to the best of your ability and  know that if you control your own experience, you’ll have a great four years ahead of you.