While college is all fun and games with unlimited amounts of time and a lack of parental control, summer is that awkward phase between your years of college -- or the best years of your life. With that being said, if you have a significant other, summer can be the place where previously flourishing relationships struggle. If both people in the relationship are mature adults who actually communicate, a long distance summer won't be too difficult. These three tips are the best ways to maintain your summer long distance relationship:

1. Skip texting. Talk on the phone.

This is so crucial. When you have to go such a long time without actually seeing your significant other, the next best thing is talking to them on the phone. That's the only way to actually know by their voice how their day went/is going and what they're truly feeling that day. It doesn't matter how long you talk on the phone -- I've talked to my boyfriend for less than three minutes before just because that was all the time we both had to offer that day. But a phone call shows a continuous effort to check on them and care about the quality of their day -- and that will keep the relationship alive.

2. Be independent.

Your significant other may have an incredibly busy day and only be able to call you for twenty minutes in the evening to see what you did that day. You have to let that be OK. You can't pout because your significant other didn't give you enough attention that day. You have to both live your own lives.

With that being said, you still need to be able to lean on each other. If your significant other has an especially awful day, it is still your responsibility to be there for them and to help them through their struggles.

3. Trust them.

If you try to control too much about their lives just because they're far away and you try to be over-involved, you're both going to have a very miserable summer. You have to trust that you've chosen a good partner in the relationship and that even if you're far away, they'll respect the values that you two share in the relationship.

No long distance relationship is easy. However, my relationship thrives just as much when we're apart as it does when we're together because we do these three things. Summer isn't fun. Spending any length of time away from your partner isn't enjoyable, but it's made a lot easier when you can trust in each other, be independent and actually hear each other's voice and care about their days.