How to make a long distance relationship work

Today Larry and I have been together for a whole year - go us. During that time, we've been physically in the same country for six months & two weeks and in different time zones for the rest. So how did we make a long distance relationship with a 5 hour time difference work? 

The internet makes it a whole lot easier to find inventive ways to stay close and keep in touch. Here are our favourite ways to spend time together while apart, and some quick tips on managing the ups and downs of being in love and separated by an ocean.

Instead of video chats, try Google Plus hangouts

If you are apart from your partner for a prolonged period, you need Google Plus. Unlike FaceTime or Skype, a Google Plus hangout allows you to do extra things during your video call, like watch YouTube videos together, share written chats and play games. Or watch your fiance bite a kettle. Yeah, he's a bit odd sometimes. Also, if you're feeling generous with your hangout time, you can add mutual friends and do things like play drinking games while watching Rhett and Link.

Use Skype for free voice calls

Skype is god awful. It drops every other call, hangs, gets confused, tells you you're offline when you're staring at the contacts screen, and generally stamps on your toe while laughing. However, we've tried Viber, Tango and all kinds of other voice call clients to stay in touch without incurring international call costs, and Skype is the least awful. You can add calling credit if you need to get through to your partner's actual number, for instance if their Skype account is offline, and you want to alert them to something fantastical or of vital importance, like the Minecraft remix of Macklemore's Thrift Shop. 'Wood, wood, wood, wood'.

Get a countdown timer app

I have a countdown timer app that lets me know exactly how many days, hours and minutes are left until Larry comes back to the UK in July. It helps me stay calm when I feel sad that my best friend in the world is separated from me by a giant ocean. I have an iPhone, and I use Countdown + Event Reminders Lite.

Find hobbies you can share while apart

I know I keep on about Google Plus, but it has been a lifeline for us. You can use your hangouts to enjoy shared hobbies via hangout:

- Share your favourite music and create an ultimate couples playlist for your next road trip together,
  or even find your wedding song ^-^. To create a music playlist in the YouTube part of the hangout app,
  just search for videos within the app and click the plus symbol to add them to the feed. This gives you great   insight into your partner's musical taste and helps you find common ground. 

- Find a YouTube video series that you both like to watch and make a date to watch it every week, day
   or whenever it is posted, and write cute messages to each other in the chat side bar while you watch it.
   Here's a clip from our current favourite - the Mythical Show by Rhett & Link:

- Create a couples blog or join a forum with other long distance couples, for support. We write this blog

   to share our experiences and stay close to one another, it's really fun and makes us happy. While writing   may not be a passion for everyone, if it's something you both enjoy, why not take the opportunity to
   provide advice and support to others in the same situation by sharing common ground?

- Get your game on. Play online multiplayer games on your laptop or PC together, or invest in a

   PlayStation 3/PS Vita and download some multiplayer games that you can enjoy together.

Make the time difference work for you

The worst thing about being in a transatlantic relationship is the time difference. Ours is 5 hours. Here is how we work it:

- I get up at 5:30 am to talk to Larry when he goes to sleep at 12:30

- I work long hours and commute 2 hours each way to work, so Larry works until 3pm part time, which is
  8pm in London, so we can spend around 2 hours hanging out online a day

That's about as good as it gets for us in terms of time together when we're apart, but it certainly makes every hour we do get in each other's company feel precious. The months when we are physically together, I've never been so happy.

Stay in touch during down time

With a 5 hour time difference, it isn't always possible to stay connected. When it's your turn to be awake and missing your partner, record them a cute message or write them an email, so that they'll find it later when they wake up and be grateful to know that you missed them while they were gone.

If you're in a similar situation with your loved one, good luck. It can work if you are dedicated enough - both of us are passionate and can find it difficult to compromise, but we always make it through, even during a 4 month separation with only a couple of hours a day on hangout. From July we'll be back together in the UK, and I can't wait ^-^.

If you're also in a long distance relationship with a time difference, and you have some helpful tips of your own for other couples, please post in the comments. It's always great to get advice and support. 

Happy first anniversary to my Larry, I love you.