My childhood crush and I rekindled our relationship a little while ago, and there are a few things I have realized. My boyfriend and I put up with a lot, from loud roommates to complicated jobs and annoying time zones. There are a few things we have realized help make our situation doable.

1. Trust is everything

In a long-distance relationship (LDR) trust is everything. It does not matter if you’re planning on telling a huge lie or a small white one. Don’t. Do. It. I promise you, it is not worth it. You’re not protecting anyone by lying, and if they find out then it is going to cause more problems than telling the truth would have. Communicate with your significant other. It may be difficult at times, but it is necessary for your relationship to survive.

2. Communication is key

Communication in an LDR goes hand in hand with trust. When you communicate with your significant other you keep them involved in your life, despite how far away they are. Tell them about your day, what is bothering you, complain to them about the person who cut you off even. Just, talk. If you do not communicate with your significant other then the relationship will fail. That is true for every relationship, but it is crucial for any LDR.

3. Make time for one another

My long-distance relationship may not be like yours. My boyfriend is in the Army, so his job is very time-consuming. However, we make time for each other each day, even if it is in little bursts. Phone calls and Skype are your lifelines in an LDR. He has met my friends on there, we’ve had dates, and even fallen asleep on the phone together when our schedules permitted it. They allow you to talk for hours without having to text paragraphs.

4. You can still go on dates

My boyfriend asks me on dates each week. We sit there on Skype together and talk about anything and everything. If you want to have a dinner date together, order food for one another then sit on Skype together, eat, and talk. If you want to watch a movie or tv show together, get on the phone, turn on Netflix, match your start time, and press play! Just because your long- distance does not mean you need to give up your date life together. These little hacks can keep your relationship interesting and fun.

5. Distance is temporary.

My biggest piece of advice is to never give up, even when times get tough. There are days when I am beyond annoyed with my boyfriend’s job and my own college life. There are weeks where I’m not able to talk with him for several days because of his training. I’m not going to lie, any LDR is difficult. But, at the end of the day getting to laugh with him and enjoy him is worth all the frustration. One thing that he has taught me is that the distance between us is temporary, but the happiness we bring each other is everlasting. So, don’t give up whatever you do.