There are many reasons why people enjoying a relationship might find themselves separated by distance – work commitments, college courses, and so on. Perhaps they met on holiday and aren’t just a matter of miles apart but living in different timezones! Online dating sites has given singles the opportunity to contact prospective partners from a variety of locations. Many join dating platforms because they aspire to connect with individuals from a variety of colourful cultural backgrounds or age groups. There are many generic sites that will cover a diverse range of bases; other outlets like this focus on more specialized areas like senior matchmaking, lgbt dating or any other niche you could think of. But can these virtual relationships ever work? Of course they can, and here are some of the reasons why.
3D conversations
The single greatest drawback to any relationship where there’s a lack of face-to-face contact is diminished affection. This isn’t just down to missing the physical side of things. It’s to do with the simple things in life. Snuggling on a couch watching a movie. Or strolling hand-in-hand around a mall. But technology has come up with a solution to this deficiency. In a virtual relationship it is possible to enjoy almost as much intimacy. Utilizing everything from video-chatting software to virtual reality headsets, couples can not only touch case virtually, but they can also get very familiar indeed.
Shared hobbies
For a virtual relationship to provide the same levels of fulfillment and amusement as its offline equivalent, the parties can indulge in shared hobbies and interests. Take one of the commonest leisure activities of the modern era – watching films. Netflix now offers the facility to enjoy the same feature, even if you aren’t even watching the same screen. With synchronized video playback and a group chat facility, you can pause at key moments and chat about the drama, just as you would if you were together.
Scheduled meetings
A virtual relationship can work by adhering to a strict communication calendar. When the time comes to touch base, it is important for both parties to be aware of how crucial it is to commit to a specific schedule. So rather than haphazardly getting in contact in the hope of your significant other being in the right place at the right time, it would be a better idea to introduce a degree of formality to these occasions. Agree a prearranged time when it will be most convenient for you to commit to a phone call, live messenger contact, or any other type of virtual communication. If you are going to miss this get-together for any reason, ensure you give advance warning.
Honesty
Another aspect of virtual relationships that is of paramount importance is honesty. It might be the case you have acknowledged that what you have need not necessarily be exclusive. If you are both in agreement that you should feel free to see other people when circumstances dictate it is impossible for you to be together 100% of the time, then this has to be mutual. If either of you ever starts questioning this arrangement it will never work, in which case you’ll have to think of alternatives.
Plan your next liaison
When you are separated you need to focus on the times you will be together. This might mean making plans for a weekend break, perhaps in some resort conveniently located for you both. It could mean looking further to the future and booking a holiday at some future date when you will both be free to reunite. This activity will give you something to look forward to, the anticipation increasing as the date draws ever nearer. A good idea would be to pop this into your laptop or smartphone so that regular reminders can ping onto your screen as the countdown continues.