The phrase "long distance relationship" has a certain negative stigma to it accompanied by winces and an "I'm sorry" whenever it's mentioned. Not being able to regularly see your sweetheart seems like a tough thing to do, so I totally get this reaction. However, it is possible to make LDRs work! In some ways, being in a long distance relationship can even make your love grow stronger. Here's some perks of an LDR and encouragement that your honey is worth the distance.

1. You're Totally Committed

Staying with someone regardless of the distance is already saying something in itself, but just knowing that you have to recommit yourself each day of being apart, says even more. You can't exactly be ambiguous friends with benefits while miles apart. Being in an LDR, your commitment is pretty clear.

2. You Experience More Intimacy

You've heard the phrase, "Distance makes the heart grow fonder." Well, that's pretty legit. There is nothing more satisfying than that first kiss in person after being apart for weeks or months at a time. Conversations also tend to be longer and more meaningful when the effort is made to phone call or FaceTime rather than everyday small talk. It also makes you appreciate the time you are together that much more special.

3. You Have More "You Time"

Being apart from your S.O. can give you a lot of free time to be by yourself and focus on your individual development. Spending too much time together can also hold you both back from growing as individuals and as a couple. This space will also allow you to focus on whatever you’re doing at the time whether that be going to school, working, away overseas on a mission trip, or sight seeing across the world. Having time to yourself, you will be able to focus on you when you need to, and focus on your other half when you need to.

4. You Become Healthier

Having some space in your relationship is also really beneficial to your health. Couples tend to not only eat less when they’re apart, (aka no fancy restaurant meals once a week), but they make more efforts to take care of themselves. This includes sleeping in when they need to, working out, spending time with friends, and attending to mental health as necessary. Another benefit to being apart is that you will no longer have those little tiffs about random stuff throughout the day that you both realize doesn’t matter at all in the end. If you’ve ever been in a relationship, you know exactly what kind of mini arguments I’m talking about. The ones where you both mutually give up in the end because you realize what you’re arguing about is actually really stupid. Eliminating these fights will save you both from a lot of unnecessary stress!

5. Your Communication Is On Point

When you’re in an LDR, communication is so important, and you get so good at it. Regularly planning out FaceTime and phone calls becomes a very normal thing. And with planning out those calls, comes asking about each other’s schedules. Asking about each other’s schedules will keep you both more in the loop about each other’s day to day lives. And being more in the loop about each other’s day to day lives, brings you closer! (sorry for that “if you give a mouse a cookie” feel there) But really, if you live together or even in the same town, it’s easy to fall into the same conversations day in and day out and to lose interest in each other. Being apart keeps you asking those questions like, “How was your day today?” or “What was your favorite part about your weekend?” I know these questions can sometimes seem corny and all, but whether you’re in an LDR or not, when was the last time you asked your S.O. what made them smile that day? Little questions like these can go a long way in getting to really, personally know your boyfriend/girlfriend.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying long distance relationships are at all better than others. I would love to be able to spend as much time as possible with my amazing man. However, knowing that LDR’s aren’t as rough as they seem, helps on the bad days. And trust me, there will be bad days. This is coming from a girl who has been in a relationship with the same great guy for nearly 5 years, with about 3 of those being long distance. There will be days when you wonder if it’s even worth it and there will be days when you wonder why it has to be so hard. But, if you clicked on this article looking for some kind of hope and reason to keep going with your LDR, this is it. I know how hard it is to love through the distance and make it work, but when you truly love someone, the hardest things in the world seem effortless.