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Long Distance Relationship Tips!
Part 2
By Michelle Williams
© 2010

31. Show The Love After An Argument
Yes, we all argue and we should every now and then. But nobody likes to keep resentment after an argument. After an argument, BOTH people should apologize and you should then proceed to make up. Holding on to any negative feelings only makes the situation worse for both of you. Also, stay with each other after an argument, don't just hang up, block them, and storm off. Once again, this makes matters only worse. When you abandon the argument in a bad mood, you avoid fixing the problem entirely and leave room for more tension to come. Both of you can take some silent time to cool off, just stay on the line with each other.
After an argument, strive to still go on to say "I love you". It can be immediately after or half an hour after, but try to say it within a few hours of the argument. The sooner the better, and showing that you still care and love your partner even after a spat puts a brighter outlook on your future together.
My boyfriend and I rarely go an argument without sharing love for each other afterward. I can recall one time when my boyfriend came home from a friend's house one night and we had an argument. He got really frustrated and didn't even want to speak to me after the argument had taken place. He decided to go back over to his friends house that night and I was left really upset. The next morning I woke up to find an IM from him saying: "Hey I hope you're okay, I miss you and I love you.". From there I messaged him back and it turned out he was still online. We talked a bit and he apologized and explained what happened. When we departed each other we were both happy and well again. Little things certainly go a long way.
Another thing you could try is to write a journal after an argument, talking about your feelings in higher detail and apologizing to your partner. This can be done during your "cooling down time". When finished, send it to your partner and you two can discuss the issue from there. I often write journals for my boyfriend when a problem arises, and he tells me that they make him understand a lot more of how I feel as well as realize his own faults and how to avoid them.

32. Social Networking Drama
Chances are you and/or your partner have a page on some social networking site (Twitter, Myspace, Facebook, etc.). My boyfriend and I tend to stray away from that kind of stuff. Why? Drama. Places like that are just leaking with drama and it certainly doesn't do any good for you relationship. With the rise in popularity of social networking sites, it's opened up a whole new area of trouble for people in relationships. Now we've got arguments about your relationship status info, that comment you made on that guy/girl's picture, adding your ex to your friend's list, and so on...
The best way to avoid this kind of drama is to stay away from social networking sites altogether. If this kind of abstinence isn't for you, just be watchful of what you do on these sites. Your interactions with other people shows a lot to your partner, so don't be careless. As I've mentioned before, just be yourself.
If you happen to find something suggestive on your partner's page, you can calmly and collectively ask them about it. You may even screenshot it if you're worried your partner may deny your claims. Be sure that if you ever confront your partner about something, don't come on too harshly. There may be a reasonable explanation and you could be getting all fussy for nothing. It'd be very embarrassing to be bitching about that dude/chick who left a ton of posts on your honey's profile, just to find out it's their brother, sister, or cousin. Think before you speak.
Now, if you're the one who's getting questioned then consider why you are and how your partner is approaching it. Did he/she blow up at you because someone commented on your profile picture calling it "Cute"? If you've had an experience with your partner along these lines, then the problem lies with them, not you. Innocent little comments shouldn't be made into a big deal by you or your partner. Now, if someone leaves a message saying something like: "Whoa your f****** hot I wanna bang the s*** outta you!", then your partner has the right to feel slightly discomforted, but still no right to go at you about it. Remember that we can't control what people say. It is mainly about how your partner responds, not what was actually said. If your partner responded by telling the person not to comment that way, deleting the comment, ignoring the comment, or blocking that person, then there's no reason to fret. You could even lighten up and laugh about it together. Just don't let the social networking drama seep into your relationship.

33. Don't Photoshop All Your Pictures
If you can't send a picture to your babe without taking it for a fix in photoshop--you've got a problem. Keep in mind that when I say photoshop, I mean ANY program in which you can edit pictures. Whether you've met your sweetie in real life yet or not, it doesn't matter. When I said to be yourself, this also applies to being yourself physically. If your partner gets used to your face being porcelain-smooth and flawless, then how will they react when they see you without all the editing? I'm sorry to say, but constantly enhancing your images is a form of lying to your partner. I'm not saying that you should feel guilty if you've edited a couple photos. But you should feel guilty if you edit most of your photos to make yourself look "enhanced". Your partner should get used to seeing you naturally.
It's okay to have flaws! You should embrace them! When you show confidence in yourself, your partner will notice and admire it. If you let your partner see you all natural, it displays your self-confidence and they certainly will appreciate it. As I said, your partner wants to fall in love with you, not a false image of you. Besides, looks shouldn't matter anyway but that doesn't mean they don't have an effect on people. If your partner is shy of going unedited, reassure them that it doesn't matter the way they look. Tell them that they're still beautiful in your eyes, and encourage them to take more natural pictures. I myself used to be afraid of showing my flaws to my boyfriend. He constantly told me how looks don't matter to him and that I was gorgeous anyway so I wouldn't have to worry. He also did this really clever thing where he'd have me take spontaneous pictures that I had to send to him within a certain time frame. This way he could catch me and see me naturally. It turned out that he adored many of the features that I hated so much, and he was always reassuring me of how beautiful I was. He was a huge confidence-booster. Try doing some of these things for your own partner too!

34. Don't Make Each Other Jealous On Purpose
A lot of people think that by making their partner jealous it will give them insight as to how much their partner really cares. But in reality, it will probably just make your partner very upset. Testing your partner in this way is just asking for trouble and putting your relationship at risk. So avoid doing things that you know are wrong solely for the purpose of making your partner jealous. People do this in hopes that their partner will show more affection, prove how much they love them, or get irritated in a way that shows they still care. Do your relationship a favor and avoid this kind of thing at all costs. Your partner should not have to prove themselves to you by reacting to your stupid excuse to get affection. It's easy, if your partner loves you and is considerate about you, they will automatically show it. If you're still not sure, then ASK. There are plenty of ways to check if your sweetie still cares.
Don't make them jealous on purpose! This will probably hurt their feelings and make them question how much YOU care. It doesn't matter if you have an excuse to do it and it doesn't matter if it was "innocent" or not. Imagine if your boyfriend/girlfriend came online and called you while they had a friend over. Throughout the whole time you can hear your partner flirting with them and doing seemingly harmless, playful things with them in the background. After your partner's friend leaves and you get angry at your partner, their excuse is that they were trying to see if you still cared about them. Sound right? No. Does it matter that they were only checking to see if your feelings were genuine? No. Your partner shouldn't be doing such things for ANY reason. Lesson is: Don't test your partner by making them jealous. Just don't.

35. Retain Independence
Don't sacrifice your independence just because you are in a relationship! Keep your independence and any of the things you did before you entered the relationship. Make time for yourself and those around you every now and then, but still don't forget about your partner. Your partner will appreciate how you have a life outside of the relationship and that you won't need them for every single little thing. As I've mentioned in a previous tip, balance in your relationship is key. Balance your time between friends, family, yourself, and your partner. Keeping your independent life will also prevent you two getting bored of each other in the relationship. In a relationship you don't want to be around a person too much or too little. Your partner shouldn't expect you to spend every waking second with them, and you shouldn't expect that in return either. Also, neither of you should expect the other to be pacified by only speaking to each other an hour a week when there is more time to spend together. Don't let your schedule depend solely on your partner's schedule. So take some time for yourself, and pick up your old hobbies again. Be proud of your independence! Many find that a partner who still keeps their independence while in a relationship to be even more attractive.

36. Revenge
No no no, I'm not here to encourage you to do it! Getting revenge on your partner for something they did wrong (or you think they did wrong) is a very damaging thing to do in your relationship. If you think that getting back at your partner will make them "learn their lesson" and that it will finally solve everything, you are sadly mistaken. This will only hurt your partner and won't solve any problems. If your partner did something, talk to them about it! If you choose revenge as the solution all the time, it shows poor ability to handle issues. Soon you and your partner will get into a never ending cycle of revenge, until finally you both fall apart. When you become tempted to get revenge on your partner, you may feel justified to do so because making them feel as bad as you felt will teach them a lesson. Why not TELL your partner how what they did made you feel? If they flirted with someone, don't go flirting left and right just to get back at them. If you start using revenge as an attempt to solve your problems, you'll never actually solve your problems. In a relationship you shouldn't go against each other. You two aren't in a competition, so work together when it comes to an issue.

37. Do What You Say You Will
If you told her you were going to email her as soon as you got home, then do so. If you told him that you'd text him back while you were out, then do it. Unless there is some serious obstacle preventing you from fulfilling whatever you say you'd do, then there's no reason to why you can't perform the task. Keeping your word is a great way to display to your partner how reliable, honest, and sincere you are. If you can't do something, then don't tell your partner that you will! This is the same for making promises. If you know you can't keep your promise, don't make it.
Another thing, if you tell your partner that you're going to do something you should make two commitments: First, you should commit to your partner that you will do it. Second, you should commit to yourself that you're going to do it. If you don't tell yourself that you will do something, then what's the point? So next time you tell your honeybun that you'll be back by eight, remind yourself at around seven-thirty that you told your partner you'd be back and maybe you should start making plans to return. Keeping up with your promises and commitments shows just how much your partner can rely on you in the future.

38. Have A Plan
When I say to have a plan, I mean for some of the setbacks you encounter during a long-distance relationship. It may not seem too important, but when the time comes you'll probably wish that you'd planned things out beforehand. Seeing as you are in a long-distance relationship, you have to rely on technology in order to keep in contact. Thing is; this technology can fail at any time. That is why you should probably consider making different plans for different situations. But they don't just have to involve the devices you use in your LDR. It could involve times when one of you can't be home on time, when there's an emergency, or something else you think that is appropriate for a plan. Be prepared!

39. Blogging Drama
Don't blog about all your troubles with your boyfriend/girlfriend. Just don't. This goes along with Tip #14; Keeping issues between yourselves. Chances are (and very high chances, might I add) your boyfriend/girlfriend will not appreciate whatsoever that you've scripted last night's argument for all 234 people on your friends list. Aside of that, don't complain about your partner publicly in any way. So no more inviting the girls over for this weeks boyfriend-bash, or calling up the guys to see who's with the biggest bitch. If you've got a problem, keep it between yourselves. Your partner will feel embarrassed by you putting up the details of the relationship and will be hurt by it. If you need to write something, then write a journal—a PRIVATE one.

40. Forgive & Forget
This can go along with several previous steps that I've mentioned, but it is also another issue of it's own. When you hold a grudge against your partner you aren't able to move forward and past the issue. Holding a grudge will not make you or your partner feel better, and it only acts as a parasite to your relationship. Also, you don't have to bring up every mistake they've made in the past when you get into an argument. Keep current and stay with the issue at hand; past issues are in the past. You and your partner should learn to move beyond those issues in order to handle future ones. So the next time you want to mention the time they didn't return your calls for two days, or the time they forgot about your anniversary--think twice about it. Bringing up past issues shows your partner your lack of ability to "move on". They will then feel less confident in the relationship, knowing that when they do wrong you won't let it go. Show your management skills and avoid bringing up past conflicts. Feel free to learn from the past, but don't use it as a weapon against your partner. By now you both should have apologized for the problem, and accepted each of your wrongs.

41. Achievement Unlocked: Impressed Your Partner
When you're in a relationship you should avoid just being there. By that I mean you should be more than just someone in your partner's presence. Impressing your partner with different things will hold their attention and affection for you. However, keep in mind that you shouldn't have to impress your partner every time you want some love.
Do remember; love letters and poetry shouldn't be the only way to impress your partner. Work to impress your partner with a personal achievements more often. Why? It not only shows your partner how successful/good/sufficient you are at something, but it benefits you too. Go out and get a job, get your grades up higher than they normally are, or give yourself a big project to do. There are many ways you can impress your partner, and harnessing your skills to create something is a wonderful option. If you're into music, you could record your own song. For writers, publish something that interests others and receives praise. Whatever it is, remember to focus on the personal achievements more often. It will boost your independence and further show your partner what a great person they're with!

42. Cut Some Slack
Yes, your partner is going to make mistakes. Your partner will not always be back on time. Your partner won't always remember your anniversary. Your partner will get irritated sometimes. Your partner won't understand every single thing about you. Your partner won't always recall your favorite movie. Realize that your partner isn't a superhero, and they aren't going to be able to do EVERYTHING. So, as stated above, cut some slack with each other sometimes. If your partner naturally has a bad memory, don't blow up at them if they forget an important date. Also, don't fly into a rage if your partner doesn't understand something. If they don't get why you're crying over a character dying in a book, don't take it out on them. We're all only human, and we can only do so much. So do each other a favor, and cut some slack every once in awhile. If your partner is a bit later than usual, just be glad that they're home and don't throw a hissy fit. If you cut some slack every now and then, your partner will feel more relaxed and comfortable knowing that you won't get upset over little things.

43. Accept Change
You should prepare yourself to be in a long-term relationship by understanding the different aspects of it. One thing that couples should understand is that relationships change over time. The change may be small or large, good or bad, but change is bound to happen. Do not fret if there are no major changes occurring within the relationship. Little changes are normal and natural. However, be sure to realize when change is inflicting incompatibility or stress on the relationship.
In the beginning of a relationship is when affection, attachment, and adoration is usually highest. If these things deplete over time (so long as it is not drastically) then do not assume that your partner has lost feeling for you. Remember that at the beginning of a relationship is when things are new and exciting.
You should also learn to differentiate between reasonable change and unreasonable change. If your partner gets a job or has more responsibilities to deal with and they begin to behave differently, understand that their work may be stressful and has become a higher priority. So long as the change is not huge, there is no need to freak out. However, if for no apparent reason your partner begins to exhibit negative feelings or shows little to no affectionate behavior, you may need to find out what is going on. Don't assume things, just find out what's going on. There may be an explanation not visible to you.
But just because a relationship changes doesn't mean that it can never be the same again! First, you should make yourself content with the way the relationship is now. Then, you can use some of the previous tips to aid in bringing the spark back in.
Finally, know that your relationship is bound to change at one point or another and that you should prepare to handle it accordingly. Know what the change is, understand it, and if it isn't something major--accept it.

44. Don't Expect Perfection
Once again, your partner can only do so much, and expecting them to meet your every want and need is ridiculous. You are allowed to have expectations in a relationship, but those expectations should not be radical. You shouldn't flip out or threaten to break up with your partner every time they make a mistake. They should not be doing the same to you either. Also, both people should avoid trying to craft their partner into a "perfect" image. If you truly love your partner for who they are, then you should not have to alter them to fit your image of "perfection". If you don't like who they are, then maybe you shouldn't be together in the first place. By accepting each other's flaws, mistakes, and imperfections in a relationship, it puts a lot less stress on the both of you. If you really love them, why should you expect more? If they make you happy, why do you need extra? You do not need your partner to meet all the criteria of "perfection" in order to be happy with them. In actuality, you would probably become bored and unhappy with a "perfect" partner. By being with someone imperfect, it means you have to look and work past their flaws. This takes much more care, love, and dedication to do as well as meaning a lot more. It's easy to love someone who is "perfect". It takes real love to be with someone who has imperfections.

45. Understand
It's difficult to understand someone when you aren't in their place, but you could always try. Trying to understand your partner will show them that you care about how they think and feel. It may also lead you to actually understanding your partner's issue. Put yourself in your partner's place. For a moment, disregard your opinion and personal thoughts, and try to think like your partner. Being considerate and open-minded is key. When you don't make an effort to understand and simply contradict your partner, then you risk hurting their feelings and the relationship. Even if you don't understand completely, or if you have a different opinion on the subject at hand, offer support to your partner anyway. Whether you are trying to understand a problem, hobby, opinion, or anything of theirs, do keep an open mind. Understand that there are many things that may be important to your partner, and by refusing to consider the importance of those things you can cause serious harm to your partner's feelings.

46. Flexibility
A disagreement, whether it be over a problem, thought, preference, or opinion, should not become a war every time in a relationship. If you or your partner is stubborn, it creates an intense barrier between the problem and the solution. By being stubborn, it not only hurts your partners feelings and frustrates them, but it holds the relationship back. Being frequently stubborn or inflexible hangs like a heavy cloud over the relationship. It upsets both people, especially the one who must deal with the person being stubborn. Dealing with a stubborn person can make someone highly upset and scar them by draining their faith, trust, and affection for their partner. Aside of that and other damaging effects, it places a serious issue in the relationship. Work against this by avoiding being stubborn. If you are the one being stubborn , take your partner's feelings into higher consideration. If you are dealing with someone stubborn, discuss with them how it makes you feel and try to understand why they become stubborn. Talk about it with each other, and realize how inflexibility causes damage to the relationship.

47. Praise
When your partner accomplishes something, especially if they are excited about it themselves, then give them praise for what they've done. Acknowledge their work and effort. Make them feel even brighter when it is their time to shine! You are not only raising your partner's self-esteem, but showing that you have interest in their achievements. Nobody likes attention more than from the people they love.

48. Mind Your Own Business
Honesty is key in a relationship, but that does not condone or encourage nosiness. Know your limits. It is fine to get curious every once in while, but if you find yourself snooping often then it may be a problem. You don't always need to know exactly who they're hanging out with, talking to, or instant messaging. In previous tips, I have encourage partners to share info with each other and to be open. However, there is a limit to the way you seek information and how often you do so. You can ask who, what, when, where, and why in moderation, just don't take it too far. It displays insecurity and lack of trust, which is not a good image on your part.
If it is your partner who is questioning you and/or snooping, first ask yourself whether they do it to excess. If so, then why do they do it? Are they simply nosy, or is there an underlying reason to it? Ask your partner if they have any insecurities or jealousy issues. Most of the time these are the reasons why a person tries to intrude in their partner's business. Your partner may even be doing it on accident, due to a past habit or natural curiosity of some kind. Whatever the reason, let your partner know when they get too nosy and ask them why they are doing it.

49. Fix Your Own Problems
Not every issue requires assistance from your partner. When possible, try to build some strength within yourself and fix personal problems on your own. In fact, there are many problems that can't be fixed by anyone but you. Not only does fixing your own problems create personal reassurance, but it also shows your partner that you are independent and sturdy. When there are less of your own difficulties to deal with, it eases up stress in your life and gives more space for a happy relationship.

50. Don't Be The "Fairy Tale" Couple
By that, I mean don't always be the "perfectly lovey-dovey dripping with sweetness all the time" couple. Still don't get it? Think of a typical couple in an old story book or film. Sure, it's just a fictional production, but the couple usually spend all their time saying sweet-nothings and poetic love phrases to each other. Get's boring after awhile, right? Unless you're into that sort of thing...
Either way, take some time to break away from the old cliché of love. Be mean to, pick on, insult, tease, hang out with, and joke around with your partner in a playful manner. But don't seriously be mean to your partner, do it in a playful and childish way. Eventually your partner should catch on, and soon enough you'll both be in a funner relationship. Just be sure to let your partner know you are kidding if they don't know whether you are or not sometimes.
This is how I mentioned earlier with keeping a friendship within the relationship. Have fun with each other! Your relationship doesn't have to solely consist of one thing. Mess with each other, enjoy yourselves, be weird, and just act like typical friends who joke around. Relationships should be enjoyable, so loosen up and have some fun.

51. Don't Get Caught Up In Jealousy
When you get caught up in jealousy, it makes you become paranoid. A lot of times, if you get too paranoid about losing your partner to another person it'll actually happen. Not because the other person is better, but because your partner got tired of dealing with the lack of a relationship due to your insecurity. Most of the time that people get severely insecure, it makes them forget what really matters. They start to focus so much on another person taking their partner away from them that they don't actually focus on their partner. This is where things start to go wrong, regardless of the actions or advances of another person. So next time you feel yourself getting jealous, pay no mind to it. If you do, you may slowly lose yourself in the process. Deep insecurity eventually rips apart a relationship, so stray from it as much as possible. Keep your mind set on your partner, the relationship, and being yourself: the person your partner fell in love with.

52. Stay Positive
Keep a positive attitude about yourself and about the relationship. Refrain from making negative assumptions or focusing on the more upsetting things. When you feel bad, look to the brighter side and do whatever little things make you happy. If you're feeling bad about your partner, look back at some good times and refresh your memory as to why you love them so much. Negativity builds tension within you and the relationship, which is something you do not want. Staying positive will be a huge benefit to you and your relationship with your partner. If your partner seems negative, help reassure them and do your best to aid them through it. If it becomes too serious, seek additional help for them. Life is too short to be anything but happy.

53. Forget The Phone!
Aside of demolishing your phone bill, these little buggers aren't very fun to hold up to your ear all day and no one wants to get used to their partner's voice having that "phone sound". Times have changed, and with it came new technology and software. Finally, you can put your phone to rest. I really haven't found a more convenient way of speaking to my darling than by using a nice headset and VOIP application. I use an inexpensive Logitech headset (which lasts me almost an entire year) and Skype. Skype is a wonderful program, because with it you can set up different options for sending and receiving calls. Also, with the higher-quality sound from a microphone, you can get used to your partner's natural voice (no more phone tone!). Even better: Many VOIP programs offer services that allow every call to be as long as you want and whenever you want—FREE!

54. Get A Webcam
Pictures are all good, but with a nice webcam you can get so much more. You'll become more affiliated with your partner's mannerisms and facial expressions. Also, you'll feel more connected to them and get more in touch with their emotions since you can see them in real time. It's an enjoyable experience for both people and you'll definitely be thankful for it later. But what can you do other than stare at each other all day? Show off your room, house, pets, family, or belongings. Share your talents and hobbies, play games together, or just act stupid! The possibilities are endless!

55. Take Lots of Pictures
Yeah I know, I went over the webcam thing but that doesn't mean you have to throw out your camera. If you don't have a camera, then go buy a digital camera PRONTO! Taking pictures on a regular basis to share with your loved one is a great thing for the relationship. Do they have to all be of yourself? Of course not! Take pictures of what's going on in your life, your friends at school, your family, your stuff, the breakfast you had, the cute puppy you saw, the awesome hoodie you just bought, anything at all! It let's your partner in on your life and get to know more about what's happening on the other side. Take pictures even daily if you can. You can send files over most major messaging programs, but sometimes downloading the files all the time can become tedious and time-consuming. Instead, you can find a photo-sharing application. It displays the photos to the other person while you simply drag-and-drop the files into the window. You can both scroll through the photos and sometimes these programs include other features. Many instant-messaging programs have their own built-in photo-sharing application. Finally, your partner can choose which photos to save with a simple click. This is especially useful if you have lots of photos to share at once. I had hundreds of photos from a vacation that I went on, and I used a photo-sharing program to share them with my boyfriend without making him download every single one. But what about pictures of yourself? Take lots of them and be sure to mix it up every once in awhile so it isn't the same old thing (change your hair, do a goofy pose, dress up, dress down, add effects, hold up a sign, blow a kiss, etc.). Your partner will love seeing you and having the pictures, and you'll have fun taking them!

56. Share What's Happening—On Your Computer Screen
Plenty of instant messaging add-ons and independent programs offer a great screen-sharing option while you talk. But why on earth would you do that? Lots of reasons actually. Using screen-share, you have the ability to show your partner different things that are going on on your computer. Show them a game you're playing, project you're doing, or cool web page you're visiting. If your computer is acting up, you can do screen-share and get help from your partner to work it out. You can also go on a nice little tour of your computer and documents (which can sometimes end with interesting or funny results). With the screen-share ability you can also learn more about each other by seeing the desktops, applications, and files you have. My boyfriend and I kind of have this thing where we go through our computers and we have to click on whatever the other tells us to (folders, favorites, files). It ended with embarrassment on both sides, but we ended up laughing our asses off at what we found and we learned a bit more about each other. There are lots of things you can do with screen-sharing, you just need creativity.

57. Get A Countdown
Several programs offer a customizable desktop countdown to add to your computer. Use it to countdown until the next time you get to see your sweet pea again. You can even take a screen-shot of it for your partner. They'll think it's sweet, and it let's them know you can't wait until you two are back together again.

58. Make A Playlist
Create a playlist for your partner of "your" songs and other love songs. There are many programs you can find online for doing this. It's also a nice way to pass time, and you can keep updating it as you continue to find new songs.

59. Save Up All The History You Can!
It's the computer age now people, and you can store tons of valuable things on that hard drive of yours. I am always thankful of all the history I have saved up from my boyfriend and I's relationship, and I am also somewhat remorseful of some of the little history that I didn't save. I still have conversations that we had over Yahoo when we were friends saved on my computer. We enjoy looking back at our past every once in awhile, and it's something that other couples should take up as well. Not only do you get to see how you two have evolved, but it may also remind you of some old things that you may want to bring back into the relationship (activities, nicknames, phrases, whatever!). I love to reflect on our past with my boyfriend. We look at old pictures, emails, letters, conversations, and recordings. Reflection on your relationship's past can be a great benefit to your relationship now. You'll be able to look at past mistakes and other ups-an-downs that you two have been through, therefore learning how to slip past them in the future. As Theodore Roosevelt said: "The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future". But what are ways to save up your past? You can create a special folder on your computer specifically for memories of you two. Make sure to tell your instant messenger to save all conversations, and maybe even invest in downloading a Voip recording program so you can listen back on some of your conversations. Save letters, screenshots, pictures, and anything else that has to do with you and your baby. Since I have so many files on my computer that have to do with us, I invested in an external hard drive which backs up my entire computer automatically everyday. Now, in case something goes wrong I still have all those wonderful memories. I'd lost several documents in the past due to my computer failing and nothing to back it up with. But now, I don't have to worry and I'll have plenty of memories to look back on in the days to come.

60. Sleep Together
Another reason why more people should drop the phone and get on the computer. I never knew the comfort I could get just by falling asleep with my boyfriend on the mic. I personally have sleeping problems, and when I am sleeping with him while the call is still running I feel much safer and at ease. We both get great comfort and security from sleeping together, and there are many benefits to doing so. One of them is that in case you have a bad dream or something goes wrong you can get up and know that your partner is still there if you need anything. It is also great to wake up to your lover's voice in the morning. Sometimes my boyfriend and I have trouble sleeping when we are unable to be together at the time, just because we get so much comfort from sleeping together. We've been sleeping on the microphone together since we started going out, and when we wake up it feels as if we're actually together. Worried about the call dying during the night? No problem. Many programs have an auto-answer feature which allows the person's phone to answer automatically when you call back.

Description
Long Distance Relationship Tips!
Part 2
By Michelle Williams
© 2010

31. Show The Love After An Argument
Yes, we all argue and we should every now and then. But nobody likes to keep resentment after an argument. After an argument, BOTH people should apologize and you should then proceed to make up. Holding on to any negative feelings only makes the situation worse for both of you. Also, stay with each other after an argument, don't just hang up, block them, and storm off. Once again, this makes matters only worse. When you abandon the argument in a bad mood, you avoid fixing the problem entirely and leave room for more tension to come. Both of you can take some silent time to cool off, just stay on the line with each other.
After an argument, strive to still go on to say "I love you". It can be immediately after or half an hour after, but try to say it within a few hours of the argument. The sooner the better, and showing that you still care and love your partner even after a spat puts a brighter outlook on your future together.
My boyfriend and I rarely go an argument without sharing love for each other afterward. I can recall one time when my boyfriend came home from a friend's house one night and we had an argument. He got really frustrated and didn't even want to speak to me after the argument had taken place. He decided to go back over to his friends house that night and I was left really upset. The next morning I woke up to find an IM from him saying: "Hey I hope you're okay, I miss you and I love you.". From there I messaged him back and it turned out he was still online. We talked a bit and he apologized and explained what happened. When we departed each other we were both happy and well again. Little things certainly go a long way.
Another thing you could try is to write a journal after an argument, talking about your feelings in higher detail and apologizing to your partner. This can be done during your "cooling down time". When finished, send it to your partner and you two can discuss the issue from there. I often write journals for my boyfriend when a problem arises, and he tells me that they make him understand a lot more of how I feel as well as realize his own faults and how to avoid them.

32. Social Networking Drama
Chances are you and/or your partner have a page on some social networking site (Twitter, Myspace, Facebook, etc.). My boyfriend and I tend to stray away from that kind of stuff. Why? Drama. Places like that are just leaking with drama and it certainly doesn't do any good for you relationship. With the rise in popularity of social networking sites, it's opened up a whole new area of trouble for people in relationships. Now we've got arguments about your relationship status info, that comment you made on that guy/girl's picture, adding your ex to your friend's list, and so on...
The best way to avoid this kind of drama is to stay away from social networking sites altogether. If this kind of abstinence isn't for you, just be watchful of what you do on these sites. Your interactions with other people shows a lot to your partner, so don't be careless. As I've mentioned before, just be yourself.
If you happen to find something suggestive on your partner's page, you can calmly and collectively ask them about it. You may even screenshot it if you're worried your partner may deny your claims. Be sure that if you ever confront your partner about something, don't come on too harshly. There may be a reasonable explanation and you could be getting all fussy for nothing. It'd be very embarrassing to be bitching about that dude/chick who left a ton of posts on your honey's profile, just to find out it's their brother, sister, or cousin. Think before you speak.
Now, if you're the one who's getting questioned then consider why you are and how your partner is approaching it. Did he/she blow up at you because someone commented on your profile picture calling it "Cute"? If you've had an experience with your partner along these lines, then the problem lies with them, not you. Innocent little comments shouldn't be made into a big deal by you or your partner. Now, if someone leaves a message saying something like: "Whoa your f****** hot I wanna bang the s*** outta you!", then your partner has the right to feel slightly discomforted, but still no right to go at you about it. Remember that we can't control what people say. It is mainly about how your partner responds, not what was actually said. If your partner responded by telling the person not to comment that way, deleting the comment, ignoring the comment, or blocking that person, then there's no reason to fret. You could even lighten up and laugh about it together. Just don't let the social networking drama seep into your relationship.

33. Don't Photoshop All Your Pictures
If you can't send a picture to your babe without taking it for a fix in photoshop--you've got a problem. Keep in mind that when I say photoshop, I mean ANY program in which you can edit pictures. Whether you've met your sweetie in real life yet or not, it doesn't matter. When I said to be yourself, this also applies to being yourself physically. If your partner gets used to your face being porcelain-smooth and flawless, then how will they react when they see you without all the editing? I'm sorry to say, but constantly enhancing your images is a form of lying to your partner. I'm not saying that you should feel guilty if you've edited a couple photos. But you should feel guilty if you edit most of your photos to make yourself look "enhanced". Your partner should get used to seeing you naturally.
It's okay to have flaws! You should embrace them! When you show confidence in yourself, your partner will notice and admire it. If you let your partner see you all natural, it displays your self-confidence and they certainly will appreciate it. As I said, your partner wants to fall in love with you, not a false image of you. Besides, looks shouldn't matter anyway but that doesn't mean they don't have an effect on people. If your partner is shy of going unedited, reassure them that it doesn't matter the way they look. Tell them that they're still beautiful in your eyes, and encourage them to take more natural pictures. I myself used to be afraid of showing my flaws to my boyfriend. He constantly told me how looks don't matter to him and that I was gorgeous anyway so I wouldn't have to worry. He also did this really clever thing where he'd have me take spontaneous pictures that I had to send to him within a certain time frame. This way he could catch me and see me naturally. It turned out that he adored many of the features that I hated so much, and he was always reassuring me of how beautiful I was. He was a huge confidence-booster. Try doing some of these things for your own partner too!

34. Don't Make Each Other Jealous On Purpose
A lot of people think that by making their partner jealous it will give them insight as to how much their partner really cares. But in reality, it will probably just make your partner very upset. Testing your partner in this way is just asking for trouble and putting your relationship at risk. So avoid doing things that you know are wrong solely for the purpose of making your partner jealous. People do this in hopes that their partner will show more affection, prove how much they love them, or get irritated in a way that shows they still care. Do your relationship a favor and avoid this kind of thing at all costs. Your partner should not have to prove themselves to you by reacting to your stupid excuse to get affection. It's easy, if your partner loves you and is considerate about you, they will automatically show it. If you're still not sure, then ASK. There are plenty of ways to check if your sweetie still cares.
Don't make them jealous on purpose! This will probably hurt their feelings and make them question how much YOU care. It doesn't matter if you have an excuse to do it and it doesn't matter if it was "innocent" or not. Imagine if your boyfriend/girlfriend came online and called you while they had a friend over. Throughout the whole time you can hear your partner flirting with them and doing seemingly harmless, playful things with them in the background. After your partner's friend leaves and you get angry at your partner, their excuse is that they were trying to see if you still cared about them. Sound right? No. Does it matter that they were only checking to see if your feelings were genuine? No. Your partner shouldn't be doing such things for ANY reason. Lesson is: Don't test your partner by making them jealous. Just don't.

35. Retain Independence
Don't sacrifice your independence just because you are in a relationship! Keep your independence and any of the things you did before you entered the relationship. Make time for yourself and those around you every now and then, but still don't forget about your partner. Your partner will appreciate how you have a life outside of the relationship and that you won't need them for every single little thing. As I've mentioned in a previous tip, balance in your relationship is key. Balance your time between friends, family, yourself, and your partner. Keeping your independent life will also prevent you two getting bored of each other in the relationship. In a relationship you don't want to be around a person too much or too little. Your partner shouldn't expect you to spend every waking second with them, and you shouldn't expect that in return either. Also, neither of you should expect the other to be pacified by only speaking to each other an hour a week when there is more time to spend together. Don't let your schedule depend solely on your partner's schedule. So take some time for yourself, and pick up your old hobbies again. Be proud of your independence! Many find that a partner who still keeps their independence while in a relationship to be even more attractive.

36. Revenge
No no no, I'm not here to encourage you to do it! Getting revenge on your partner for something they did wrong (or you think they did wrong) is a very damaging thing to do in your relationship. If you think that getting back at your partner will make them "learn their lesson" and that it will finally solve everything, you are sadly mistaken. This will only hurt your partner and won't solve any problems. If your partner did something, talk to them about it! If you choose revenge as the solution all the time, it shows poor ability to handle issues. Soon you and your partner will get into a never ending cycle of revenge, until finally you both fall apart. When you become tempted to get revenge on your partner, you may feel justified to do so because making them feel as bad as you felt will teach them a lesson. Why not TELL your partner how what they did made you feel? If they flirted with someone, don't go flirting left and right just to get back at them. If you start using revenge as an attempt to solve your problems, you'll never actually solve your problems. In a relationship you shouldn't go against each other. You two aren't in a competition, so work together when it comes to an issue.

37. Do What You Say You Will
If you told her you were going to email her as soon as you got home, then do so. If you told him that you'd text him back while you were out, then do it. Unless there is some serious obstacle preventing you from fulfilling whatever you say you'd do, then there's no reason to why you can't perform the task. Keeping your word is a great way to display to your partner how reliable, honest, and sincere you are. If you can't do something, then don't tell your partner that you will! This is the same for making promises. If you know you can't keep your promise, don't make it.
Another thing, if you tell your partner that you're going to do something you should make two commitments: First, you should commit to your partner that you will do it. Second, you should commit to yourself that you're going to do it. If you don't tell yourself that you will do something, then what's the point? So next time you tell your honeybun that you'll be back by eight, remind yourself at around seven-thirty that you told your partner you'd be back and maybe you should start making plans to return. Keeping up with your promises and commitments shows just how much your partner can rely on you in the future.

38. Have A Plan
When I say to have a plan, I mean for some of the setbacks you encounter during a long-distance relationship. It may not seem too important, but when the time comes you'll probably wish that you'd planned things out beforehand. Seeing as you are in a long-distance relationship, you have to rely on technology in order to keep in contact. Thing is; this technology can fail at any time. That is why you should probably consider making different plans for different situations. But they don't just have to involve the devices you use in your LDR. It could involve times when one of you can't be home on time, when there's an emergency, or something else you think that is appropriate for a plan. Be prepared!

39. Blogging Drama
Don't blog about all your troubles with your boyfriend/girlfriend. Just don't. This goes along with Tip #14; Keeping issues between yourselves. Chances are (and very high chances, might I add) your boyfriend/girlfriend will not appreciate whatsoever that you've scripted last night's argument for all 234 people on your friends list. Aside of that, don't complain about your partner publicly in any way. So no more inviting the girls over for this weeks boyfriend-bash, or calling up the guys to see who's with the biggest bitch. If you've got a problem, keep it between yourselves. Your partner will feel embarrassed by you putting up the details of the relationship and will be hurt by it. If you need to write something, then write a journal—a PRIVATE one.

40. Forgive & Forget
This can go along with several previous steps that I've mentioned, but it is also another issue of it's own. When you hold a grudge against your partner you aren't able to move forward and past the issue. Holding a grudge will not make you or your partner feel better, and it only acts as a parasite to your relationship. Also, you don't have to bring up every mistake they've made in the past when you get into an argument. Keep current and stay with the issue at hand; past issues are in the past. You and your partner should learn to move beyond those issues in order to handle future ones. So the next time you want to mention the time they didn't return your calls for two days, or the time they forgot about your anniversary--think twice about it. Bringing up past issues shows your partner your lack of ability to "move on". They will then feel less confident in the relationship, knowing that when they do wrong you won't let it go. Show your management skills and avoid bringing up past conflicts. Feel free to learn from the past, but don't use it as a weapon against your partner. By now you both should have apologized for the problem, and accepted each of your wrongs.

41. Achievement Unlocked: Impressed Your Partner
When you're in a relationship you should avoid just being there. By that I mean you should be more than just someone in your partner's presence. Impressing your partner with different things will hold their attention and affection for you. However, keep in mind that you shouldn't have to impress your partner every time you want some love.
Do remember; love letters and poetry shouldn't be the only way to impress your partner. Work to impress your partner with a personal achievements more often. Why? It not only shows your partner how successful/good/sufficient you are at something, but it benefits you too. Go out and get a job, get your grades up higher than they normally are, or give yourself a big project to do. There are many ways you can impress your partner, and harnessing your skills to create something is a wonderful option. If you're into music, you could record your own song. For writers, publish something that interests others and receives praise. Whatever it is, remember to focus on the personal achievements more often. It will boost your independence and further show your partner what a great person they're with!

42. Cut Some Slack
Yes, your partner is going to make mistakes. Your partner will not always be back on time. Your partner won't always remember your anniversary. Your partner will get irritated sometimes. Your partner won't understand every single thing about you. Your partner won't always recall your favorite movie. Realize that your partner isn't a superhero, and they aren't going to be able to do EVERYTHING. So, as stated above, cut some slack with each other sometimes. If your partner naturally has a bad memory, don't blow up at them if they forget an important date. Also, don't fly into a rage if your partner doesn't understand something. If they don't get why you're crying over a character dying in a book, don't take it out on them. We're all only human, and we can only do so much. So do each other a favor, and cut some slack every once in awhile. If your partner is a bit later than usual, just be glad that they're home and don't throw a hissy fit. If you cut some slack every now and then, your partner will feel more relaxed and comfortable knowing that you won't get upset over little things.

43. Accept Change
You should prepare yourself to be in a long-term relationship by understanding the different aspects of it. One thing that couples should understand is that relationships change over time. The change may be small or large, good or bad, but change is bound to happen. Do not fret if there are no major changes occurring within the relationship. Little changes are normal and natural. However, be sure to realize when change is inflicting incompatibility or stress on the relationship.
In the beginning of a relationship is when affection, attachment, and adoration is usually highest. If these things deplete over time (so long as it is not drastically) then do not assume that your partner has lost feeling for you. Remember that at the beginning of a relationship is when things are new and exciting.
You should also learn to differentiate between reasonable change and unreasonable change. If your partner gets a job or has more responsibilities to deal with and they begin to behave differently, understand that their work may be stressful and has become a higher priority. So long as the change is not huge, there is no need to freak out. However, if for no apparent reason your partner begins to exhibit negative feelings or shows little to no affectionate behavior, you may need to find out what is going on. Don't assume things, just find out what's going on. There may be an explanation not visible to you.
But just because a relationship changes doesn't mean that it can never be the same again! First, you should make yourself content with the way the relationship is now. Then, you can use some of the previous tips to aid in bringing the spark back in.
Finally, know that your relationship is bound to change at one point or another and that you should prepare to handle it accordingly. Know what the change is, understand it, and if it isn't something major--accept it.

44. Don't Expect Perfection
Once again, your partner can only do so much, and expecting them to meet your every want and need is ridiculous. You are allowed to have expectations in a relationship, but those expectations should not be radical. You shouldn't flip out or threaten to break up with your partner every time they make a mistake. They should not be doing the same to you either. Also, both people should avoid trying to craft their partner into a "perfect" image. If you truly love your partner for who they are, then you should not have to alter them to fit your image of "perfection". If you don't like who they are, then maybe you shouldn't be together in the first place. By accepting each other's flaws, mistakes, and imperfections in a relationship, it puts a lot less stress on the both of you. If you really love them, why should you expect more? If they make you happy, why do you need extra? You do not need your partner to meet all the criteria of "perfection" in order to be happy with them. In actuality, you would probably become bored and unhappy with a "perfect" partner. By being with someone imperfect, it means you have to look and work past their flaws. This takes much more care, love, and dedication to do as well as meaning a lot more. It's easy to love someone who is "perfect". It takes real love to be with someone who has imperfections.

45. Understand
It's difficult to understand someone when you aren't in their place, but you could always try. Trying to understand your partner will show them that you care about how they think and feel. It may also lead you to actually understanding your partner's issue. Put yourself in your partner's place. For a moment, disregard your opinion and personal thoughts, and try to think like your partner. Being considerate and open-minded is key. When you don't make an effort to understand and simply contradict your partner, then you risk hurting their feelings and the relationship. Even if you don't understand completely, or if you have a different opinion on the subject at hand, offer support to your partner anyway. Whether you are trying to understand a problem, hobby, opinion, or anything of theirs, do keep an open mind. Understand that there are many things that may be important to your partner, and by refusing to consider the importance of those things you can cause serious harm to your partner's feelings.

46. Flexibility
A disagreement, whether it be over a problem, thought, preference, or opinion, should not become a war every time in a relationship. If you or your partner is stubborn, it creates an intense barrier between the problem and the solution. By being stubborn, it not only hurts your partners feelings and frustrates them, but it holds the relationship back. Being frequently stubborn or inflexible hangs like a heavy cloud over the relationship. It upsets both people, especially the one who must deal with the person being stubborn. Dealing with a stubborn person can make someone highly upset and scar them by draining their faith, trust, and affection for their partner. Aside of that and other damaging effects, it places a serious issue in the relationship. Work against this by avoiding being stubborn. If you are the one being stubborn , take your partner's feelings into higher consideration. If you are dealing with someone stubborn, discuss with them how it makes you feel and try to understand why they become stubborn. Talk about it with each other, and realize how inflexibility causes damage to the relationship.

47. Praise
When your partner accomplishes something, especially if they are excited about it themselves, then give them praise for what they've done. Acknowledge their work and effort. Make them feel even brighter when it is their time to shine! You are not only raising your partner's self-esteem, but showing that you have interest in their achievements. Nobody likes attention more than from the people they love.

48. Mind Your Own Business
Honesty is key in a relationship, but that does not condone or encourage nosiness. Know your limits. It is fine to get curious every once in while, but if you find yourself snooping often then it may be a problem. You don't always need to know exactly who they're hanging out with, talking to, or instant messaging. In previous tips, I have encourage partners to share info with each other and to be open. However, there is a limit to the way you seek information and how often you do so. You can ask who, what, when, where, and why in moderation, just don't take it too far. It displays insecurity and lack of trust, which is not a good image on your part.
If it is your partner who is questioning you and/or snooping, first ask yourself whether they do it to excess. If so, then why do they do it? Are they simply nosy, or is there an underlying reason to it? Ask your partner if they have any insecurities or jealousy issues. Most of the time these are the reasons why a person tries to intrude in their partner's business. Your partner may even be doing it on accident, due to a past habit or natural curiosity of some kind. Whatever the reason, let your partner know when they get too nosy and ask them why they are doing it.

49. Fix Your Own Problems
Not every issue requires assistance from your partner. When possible, try to build some strength within yourself and fix personal problems on your own. In fact, there are many problems that can't be fixed by anyone but you. Not only does fixing your own problems create personal reassurance, but it also shows your partner that you are independent and sturdy. When there are less of your own difficulties to deal with, it eases up stress in your life and gives more space for a happy relationship.

50. Don't Be The "Fairy Tale" Couple
By that, I mean don't always be the "perfectly lovey-dovey dripping with sweetness all the time" couple. Still don't get it? Think of a typical couple in an old story book or film. Sure, it's just a fictional production, but the couple usually spend all their time saying sweet-nothings and poetic love phrases to each other. Get's boring after awhile, right? Unless you're into that sort of thing...
Either way, take some time to break away from the old cliché of love. Be mean to, pick on, insult, tease, hang out with, and joke around with your partner in a playful manner. But don't seriously be mean to your partner, do it in a playful and childish way. Eventually your partner should catch on, and soon enough you'll both be in a funner relationship. Just be sure to let your partner know you are kidding if they don't know whether you are or not sometimes.
This is how I mentioned earlier with keeping a friendship within the relationship. Have fun with each other! Your relationship doesn't have to solely consist of one thing. Mess with each other, enjoy yourselves, be weird, and just act like typical friends who joke around. Relationships should be enjoyable, so loosen up and have some fun.

51. Don't Get Caught Up In Jealousy
When you get caught up in jealousy, it makes you become paranoid. A lot of times, if you get too paranoid about losing your partner to another person it'll actually happen. Not because the other person is better, but because your partner got tired of dealing with the lack of a relationship due to your insecurity. Most of the time that people get severely insecure, it makes them forget what really matters. They start to focus so much on another person taking their partner away from them that they don't actually focus on their partner. This is where things start to go wrong, regardless of the actions or advances of another person. So next time you feel yourself getting jealous, pay no mind to it. If you do, you may slowly lose yourself in the process. Deep insecurity eventually rips apart a relationship, so stray from it as much as possible. Keep your mind set on your partner, the relationship, and being yourself: the person your partner fell in love with.

52. Stay Positive
Keep a positive attitude about yourself and about the relationship. Refrain from making negative assumptions or focusing on the more upsetting things. When you feel bad, look to the brighter side and do whatever little things make you happy. If you're feeling bad about your partner, look back at some good times and refresh your memory as to why you love them so much. Negativity builds tension within you and the relationship, which is something you do not want. Staying positive will be a huge benefit to you and your relationship with your partner. If your partner seems negative, help reassure them and do your best to aid them through it. If it becomes too serious, seek additional help for them. Life is too short to be anything but happy.

53. Forget The Phone!
Aside of demolishing your phone bill, these little buggers aren't very fun to hold up to your ear all day and no one wants to get used to their partner's voice having that "phone sound". Times have changed, and with it came new technology and software. Finally, you can put your phone to rest. I really haven't found a more convenient way of speaking to my darling than by using a nice headset and VOIP application. I use an inexpensive Logitech headset (which lasts me almost an entire year) and Skype. Skype is a wonderful program, because with it you can set up different options for sending and receiving calls. Also, with the higher-quality sound from a microphone, you can get used to your partner's natural voice (no more phone tone!). Even better: Many VOIP programs offer services that allow every call to be as long as you want and whenever you want—FREE!

54. Get A Webcam
Pictures are all good, but with a nice webcam you can get so much more. You'll become more affiliated with your partner's mannerisms and facial expressions. Also, you'll feel more connected to them and get more in touch with their emotions since you can see them in real time. It's an enjoyable experience for both people and you'll definitely be thankful for it later. But what can you do other than stare at each other all day? Show off your room, house, pets, family, or belongings. Share your talents and hobbies, play games together, or just act stupid! The possibilities are endless!

55. Take Lots of Pictures
Yeah I know, I went over the webcam thing but that doesn't mean you have to throw out your camera. If you don't have a camera, then go buy a digital camera PRONTO! Taking pictures on a regular basis to share with your loved one is a great thing for the relationship. Do they have to all be of yourself? Of course not! Take pictures of what's going on in your life, your friends at school, your family, your stuff, the breakfast you had, the cute puppy you saw, the awesome hoodie you just bought, anything at all! It let's your partner in on your life and get to know more about what's happening on the other side. Take pictures even daily if you can. You can send files over most major messaging programs, but sometimes downloading the files all the time can become tedious and time-consuming. Instead, you can find a photo-sharing application. It displays the photos to the other person while you simply drag-and-drop the files into the window. You can both scroll through the photos and sometimes these programs include other features. Many instant-messaging programs have their own built-in photo-sharing application. Finally, your partner can choose which photos to save with a simple click. This is especially useful if you have lots of photos to share at once. I had hundreds of photos from a vacation that I went on, and I used a photo-sharing program to share them with my boyfriend without making him download every single one. But what about pictures of yourself? Take lots of them and be sure to mix it up every once in awhile so it isn't the same old thing (change your hair, do a goofy pose, dress up, dress down, add effects, hold up a sign, blow a kiss, etc.). Your partner will love seeing you and having the pictures, and you'll have fun taking them!

56. Share What's Happening—On Your Computer Screen
Plenty of instant messaging add-ons and independent programs offer a great screen-sharing option while you talk. But why on earth would you do that? Lots of reasons actually. Using screen-share, you have the ability to show your partner different things that are going on on your computer. Show them a game you're playing, project you're doing, or cool web page you're visiting. If your computer is acting up, you can do screen-share and get help from your partner to work it out. You can also go on a nice little tour of your computer and documents (which can sometimes end with interesting or funny results). With the screen-share ability you can also learn more about each other by seeing the desktops, applications, and files you have. My boyfriend and I kind of have this thing where we go through our computers and we have to click on whatever the other tells us to (folders, favorites, files). It ended with embarrassment on both sides, but we ended up laughing our asses off at what we found and we learned a bit more about each other. There are lots of things you can do with screen-sharing, you just need creativity.

57. Get A Countdown
Several programs offer a customizable desktop countdown to add to your computer. Use it to countdown until the next time you get to see your sweet pea again. You can even take a screen-shot of it for your partner. They'll think it's sweet, and it let's them know you can't wait until you two are back together again.

58. Make A Playlist
Create a playlist for your partner of "your" songs and other love songs. There are many programs you can find online for doing this. It's also a nice way to pass time, and you can keep updating it as you continue to find new songs.

59. Save Up All The History You Can!
It's the computer age now people, and you can store tons of valuable things on that hard drive of yours. I am always thankful of all the history I have saved up from my boyfriend and I's relationship, and I am also somewhat remorseful of some of the little history that I didn't save. I still have conversations that we had over Yahoo when we were friends saved on my computer. We enjoy looking back at our past every once in awhile, and it's something that other couples should take up as well. Not only do you get to see how you two have evolved, but it may also remind you of some old things that you may want to bring back into the relationship (activities, nicknames, phrases, whatever!). I love to reflect on our past with my boyfriend. We look at old pictures, emails, letters, conversations, and recordings. Reflection on your relationship's past can be a great benefit to your relationship now. You'll be able to look at past mistakes and other ups-an-downs that you two have been through, therefore learning how to slip past them in the future. As Theodore Roosevelt said: "The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future". But what are ways to save up your past? You can create a special folder on your computer specifically for memories of you two. Make sure to tell your instant messenger to save all conversations, and maybe even invest in downloading a Voip recording program so you can listen back on some of your conversations. Save letters, screenshots, pictures, and anything else that has to do with you and your baby. Since I have so many files on my computer that have to do with us, I invested in an external hard drive which backs up my entire computer automatically everyday. Now, in case something goes wrong I still have all those wonderful memories. I'd lost several documents in the past due to my computer failing and nothing to back it up with. But now, I don't have to worry and I'll have plenty of memories to look back on in the days to come.

60. Sleep Together
Another reason why more people should drop the phone and get on the computer. I never knew the comfort I could get just by falling asleep with my boyfriend on the mic. I personally have sleeping problems, and when I am sleeping with him while the call is still running I feel much safer and at ease. We both get great comfort and security from sleeping together, and there are many benefits to doing so. One of them is that in case you have a bad dream or something goes wrong you can get up and know that your partner is still there if you need anything. It is also great to wake up to your lover's voice in the morning. Sometimes my boyfriend and I have trouble sleeping when we are unable to be together at the time, just because we get so much comfort from sleeping together. We've been sleeping on the microphone together since we started going out, and when we wake up it feels as if we're actually together. Worried about the call dying during the night? No problem. Many programs have an auto-answer feature which allows the person's phone to answer automatically when you call back.