Every Valentine’s Day for the last 6 years has been hard for me. Every year I see my friend’s getting to be cute and cuddly while the love of my life is across the country. I cry. Every year.

And when I’m done crying I read the cute cards Josie sends me and I call her up on Skype and we talk about nothing for hours and it’s like she’s here with me. I feel a lot better after these talks on a regular day, but they’re always a little longer around Valentine’s Day, or our anniversary, or birthdays and it makes them just a little special.

For those of you going through a long-distance relationship I do a few things in February to make it a little easier.

Take a Social Media Break

First, I allow myself to take breaks from social media. This is super hard because I work on social media, but I throw myself into other things that need to get done. Like blogging or homework. I might let myself take a break and binge Netflix. Or I study or read–anything to distract myself.

Do Something Special for Your Partner

I also like doing little projects for her. This year I put together a tiny care package and picked the best pictures for my Instagram collage (in response to her digging up the most obscure picture of me from my last trip out there for hers.)

(Spamming social media with your favorite pictures of your S/O is also just as acceptable as with traditional couples, and anyone who says differently is simply wrong and you don’t need that negativity in your life.)

Doing little projects helps your S/O feel special even from miles away, which makes you feel a little better because you’re not a bad partner because of distance. In fact, I grin like an idiot all day when Josie sends me things on random days. So, you can imagine what flowers or the awesome book she got me this year do for my mood!

Remember You Are Human

Finally, remember that it’s okay to be upset. It’s okay to feel like the world is against you. It’s okay to be jealous of your best friend and her gifts from her boyfriend. It’s okay to be angry and sad and feel a little lonely. It’s okay to cry and miss your partner, too. All are valid and perfectly human emotions that don’t make you any less of a good partner.

Set boundaries with the other people in your like and maybe just tell them you need to be alone for a few hours. Then go do that. I like to watch a horror movie and binge eat ice cream. (I watched Stranger Things and binge ate cookie dough ice cream.) So, no matter where you are this Valentine’s Week just remember that your emotions are valid.

I hope you all are having a wonderful Valentine’s Week weather you’re in a traditional relationship, an LDR, or if you’re rocking Galentine’s Day with your besties. Tell me what you do when your LDR gets to be a Valentine’s Day.

Let me know how you’re spending Valentine’s Day this year!

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Be sure to check out my gorgeous partner, Josie’s, blog here.

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