A Locum Tenens assignment allows you to focus on work-life balance, generate a great income and increase your skills in different healthcare settings. Which is already an encouraging start. Throw in some travelling to different parts of the country, meeting new people and discovering new areas, and you have yourself a pretty dreamy set-up. There is just one thing, your spouse or special person has their own life. Working to live out their dream while you take on yours. While it sucks — a lot — to have to be separate from each other, it’s what you do to keep the connection strong that can make the distance that much easier to bear.
One of the most fundamental aspects of a relationship is the effort you put in. In today’s technology era, there is no way you can skimp out on the effort when there are so many alternative ways to communicate with each other. Though, that doesn’t make the physical distance less hard, it’s a start in the right direction. We want to do what we can to make our special person feel just that, special. Make sure they know just how much we appreciate them, cherish them, care for them, love them and miss them. So, what can you do to make sure they feel all of that and more?
- Clear Communication
Naturally, communication is key. We absolutely can’t say it enough. The important part though is understanding what both your communication styles are and how to best match them up to each other. It should be clear between the two of you how much or how little you would like to communicate. Some of us like good morning messages, to ask how you slept and be able to wish you a good day. With maybe some sneaky cute messages or need to share news in between. Others aren’t big on that style. Maybe they’d prefer a morning phone call and to wait until after work to communicate again. Which style you appreciate more doesn’t matter so much, it’s more about making it work between the two of you.
If you aren’t really sure which route to take, remember technology is pretty great now in relation to communicating in alternative ways. Say, for instance, photos and video. You could be better at sending each other random pictures throughout your day, even without captions. This allows you to still connect while appreciating each other but not distract your work days with too much chatter. Or, you can go old-school and send each other cute handwritten letters!
Make sure to also put time differences, time of the work days that are better suited for both of you to communicate and boundaries for when moments happen and you aren’t able to respond at regular times.
- What Are Your Love Language
Regardless of how long you have been in a relationship, understanding your love language can be a great way to go deep into what makes the both of you happy. There are 5 love languages. These include words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time and physical touch. If you take the quiz, you can find out how much percentage of each of these you have and base your communication and activities on that. Even though physical touch is out of the picture, you will have a second favorite that you can bank on making you feel loved in separation.
- Do Things Together
Video chats are such a great way to really feel like you are in the room with your person. What’s great is you can be doing anything and have them follow along with you. Cooking, eating, getting some paperwork done, laundry, you name it.
If you’d like to make the video chat a little bit more romantic, you can set up date nights! In this case, you can either cook for yourselves or order each other takeout that you know they will like. Create a nice set-up and sit down to enjoy your food together. Once you’re both full, you can sit down on the couch, pick out a movie you’d both like to see and enjoy it together.
- Trusting Your Partner
There will always be moments where your spouse has a crazy day and therefore a lapse in communication, or, has days or nights out with friends or family. Trust is always going to be the number one priority and strength in a relationship as well as their needing to be time for them to enjoy other things and other people. It’s very healthy. While it’s important to provide them with space, sometimes we really just want to send them something to communicate with them. Instead of sending them something wordy or blunt, send something cute. For instance, you can always go with a “thinking of you” message. However, the humorous approach can be good for both of you so go ahead and send a goofy emoji or picture of yourself. Both show them that you are thinking of them, but not trying to jump into their time forcefully.
- Gift Giving From Afar
In the world of love languages, maybe your spouse loves to be given gifts, or you yourself love to give them. Gifts from afar are much simpler to accomplish now than back in the day.
Firstly, a keepsake for when you are gone is a great start. This could be a stuffed toy of their favorite animal, a pillow with a picture you both love on it, something they can use every day like a mug or maybe even some piece of jewelry if that’s what they are into. Something that they can look at and think of you while you are away.
Secondly, sporadic gifts are always a great way to make them feel special. This can come in the form of flowers, something you know they need or even an Uber Eats delivery. Get creative if you want to, that effort truly does make a huge difference.
- Important Events
Whether it’s those events that your spouse has been talking about for months, events they are nervous about or simply birthdays or anniversaries. All we can say is that if you can, show up. Don’t just show up, but be there. Rid yourself of distractions and be there in the moment for them.
If your assignment doesn’t allow you the luxury of popping back out to see your spouse, arrange something halfway or even try and have them come visit you. All we are saying is to do your best to make these special occasions and be there to fully support your partner through their special times too.
- Talk Out The Negatives
Miscommunications are inevitable. It happens to the best of us. What we need to do is make sure we talk it out. Whatever it may be or however uncomfortable it may seem. Communication is key, and you both need to be confident enough with each other to talk out whatever it is you need to discuss. You also need to be open to each other’s opinions, thoughts and feelings and do your best to create common ground. When you don’t discuss what is happening, they burrow below your foundation, and when that breaks, it’s much harder to bounce back from.
Our relationships are essential to us, but our opportunities in life shouldn’t be diminished because we are in one. Having a good balance between the two is crucial, but without clear and solid communication on how your time apart will be and the effort put in while away, you’re looking at a troublesome time. Follow the tips above to keep your relationships strong and secure. Remember, distance makes the heart grow fonder!