Unless you met online, the chances are that your relationship didn't start out as a long distance one and, while making that transition can be very difficult, you certainly don't immediately envisage having to think how to actually save a long distance relationship!

Unfortunately, this point is very often reached a lot quicker than most people imagine because the vast majority of us have no experience and really don't know (or haven't given any real thought to) how to actually make a long distance relationship work and consequently save a long distance relationship if it goes wrong. The naive view is that love will conquer all.

Regrettably it doesn't!

Long distance relationships take work and commitment, but if you're prepared to make the effort necessary, the rewards far outweigh the negative aspects. However, while that's true, very often couples don't actually realize that there needs to be a major change in attitude on both sides when one or the other is forced to move away for whatever reason, and the result is that many people really do struggle with the shift in thinking that is necessary to save a long distance relationship.

If you have truly reached the point where you need to save your long distance relationship, there are various strategies that you can both implement immediately. However, the biggest caveat to getting your long distance relationship back on track is that you have BOTH got to want to. If either of you are not prepared to put in the effort, then my advice would be to walk away now.

So just how do you save a long distance relationship?

1. First of all, you both need to reaffirm your love for each other. You may think this isn't necessary, but the chances are that one or both of you have lost sight of why you're actually putting yourselves through this. You need each other's reassurance that the love really is still there underneath of the crap that's gotten in the way.

2. Communication is king! I'm sure that you've heard this a myriad of times when dealing with a long distance relationship; but however tired you are of hearing it said, written or even sung about, the simple fact is that it's true. And more than that, you have to tell each other exactly what your contact expectations are - what you willsilk knots,silk cufflinks be happy with as a minimum. For you, a telephone call twice a week may be sufficient while your significant other could be thinking more along the lines of twice a day plus texts! Of course there has to be a level of compromise, but you do need to decide what your minimum interaction needs are; when and how you're going to communicate and then stick to it. If either of you are unable to keep a phone assignation, then you should let your partner know about it as soon as possible, and ensure that you make another date. It all sounds very clinical but it really is vital that you understand each other's basic communication needs.

3. Once you've got your basic communication needs sorted out, then you can start to think creatively. There are lots of little (and not so little) ways that you can show your lover that you're thinking of them. Hand written letters; e-cards; simple texts and even small gifts can all go a long way to bringing you closer together.

4. If you want to save your long distance relationship, then you need to bridge the miles and recreate the bond that's lost when you don't have that physical connection. Real intimacy is not about being in the same room; it's about sharing yourself with your partner, and you can do that even if you're thousands of miles apart. Keep your lover up to speed about the little things that happens to you throughout your day - even things that you maybe wouldn't think of sharing if you were going to see each other that evening. This doesn't have to take long, a quick text or e-mail; nobody is asking you to write a 'dear diary' (though you can if you want to!) Sharing the trivial things will help to bring both of you closer together and recreate that all important connection.

5. Save your long distance relationship by reigniting the spark and making 'special' time for each other. Just because you're not able to see each other often, it doesn't mean that you can't have a date together. It comes back to creative thinking. There are so many video chat options available now that eating a meal or watching a movie together really is possible, even when you're a bunch of miles apart.

These are just some simple strategies that you can put into action quickly to save your long distance relationship. But of course it may not be that simple. You may have trust issues or be findingsilk knots,silk cufflinks it really difficult to open up to your partner and say exactly how you feel. If that's the case, you might want to consider seeking help from an outside source that will help you both to re-connect and bring back the spark that you've lost.

One last thing: If you can both begin to remember why you fell in love in the first place, you really are half way there to recreating the all important connection that can save a long distance relationship.

Long distance marriage advice is incredibly hard to give unless you've experienced it yourself and for many people, even the thought of being separated from their spouse for any length of time is unacceptable. Being married means living in the same house. Period.

But what do you do if your spouse is in the forces or is required to work away - a situation that is increasing in the difficult economic climate that exists today? And these situations are often exacerbated by that fact that there are also very frequently children involved. This can lead to the spouse being left behind to feel as though they are carrying the sole burden of all the day to day family issues; while the partner working away may experience the horrible sense of being excluded from their family's life.

Being in a long distance marriage is not easy, and lots of people - well meaning friends and family usually - are always more than willing to give you their long distance marriage advice, even though they've never experienced it themselves. When you're feeling lonely, it's very easy to listen and be swept up by well meaning opinions which have no real experience to back them.

I've been in a long distance relationship since 2006 and for the last six months that has become a long distance marriage. My husband is in the armed forces so I really do understand (and experience) that horrible feeling of not actually being married at all. However, over the last few years I have developed some key tried and tested techniques which have helped me and my husband keep our long distance marriage going while he's away at sea.

1. Telling each other that you miss one other is of course vitally important, but constantly bemoaning the fact that you are separated doesn't help either of you at all. You may not mean it, but there is an implied criticism that somehow one of you is at fault for the situation and this can very often lead to placing blame where there is none.

2. Don't get involved in the 'which of you has it worse' scenario. It really is a no win argument. Everyone deals differently with the loneliness and separation caused by a long distance marriage and no matter how well you think you know your significant other, you can't possibly understand fully how they feel silk knots,silk cufflinksor how they will deal with the distance between you. No matter what long distance marriage advice you are given by well meaning friends and family, who are obviously on 'your side', please don't fall into this trap.

3. If you are the one left behind, don't get bogged down by the 'left behind mentality'. It's easy to imagine your spouse living the high life with no responsibilities while you're dealing with the day to day problems at home. The reality is most likely nothing like that and, while your partner may not be accustomed to the chill of coming home to an empty house each night, the chances are that they are feeling the separation just as keenly; knowing that you most probably have a support network of friends and family to call on can make them feel very isolated.

4. Try and set aside some special time for one another. This can get completely pushed to one side when you're dealing with the myriad of problems that come with spending a large proportion your married life apart. But it's so important to keep the romance alive and to remember what it was that made you fall in love in the beginning.

5. Beware of long distance arguments. If there are two pieces of long distance marriage advice I can give, it's to never, ever hang up the phone in anger. Even worse, please don't fire off an angry e-mail using words that can be read and re-read and thrown back at you later! Always try to stay calm - remember you don't have the advantage of body language and can easily misconstrue what is said or written when you are unable to see your spouse.

These are just 5 practices that I try very hard to adhere to while my husband is away, but it really doesn't matter whether you are the one left behind or not, if you follow this long distance marriage advice, it will help both of you. Want to view more elegant silk knots,silk cufflinks?Please visit our online store:www.cufflinks.so.Our online store provide the latest fashion design monthly.And we also provide specials weekly.Up to 60% discount cufflinks,no minimum order.All of our silk knots,silk cufflinks are 100% quality guaranteed!Hope you will like them!