| It's a situation that comes up quite often. One or | | | | other people. Resist this urge. Call your friends and |
| both partners have to go away for a while- maybe | | | | even reconnect with friends you haven't talked to in |
| for an extended business trip or to visit ailing family. | | | | a while and schedule some time with them. When |
| The separation can last anywhere from a few | | | | you're with them, don't talk about your lover, just |
| weeks to a few months. Sometimes the separation | | | | focus on the present and enjoy their company to |
| is a year or longer in the case of the spouses of | | | | the fullest. |
| individuals in the armed forces. It's easy to get | | | | 4. Tie up loose ends- often when you are in a |
| caught up in feelings of loneliness and sadness. This | | | | committed relationship, you find that you have less |
| can affect other areas of your life and you may | | | | time to do some of the things you could do when |
| start to feel depressed, staying home and not doing | | | | you are single. Between work and other |
| the things you'd normally like to do. Here are some | | | | responsibilities, a relationship can take up a lot of your |
| tips to help you avoid falling into a rut when you | | | | free time. That's not a bad thing, but what it means |
| have to deal with an extended absence: | | | | is that you might have some loose ends lying around |
| 1. Keep your mind busy- take this time to find some | | | | that you haven't gotten a chance to take care of, |
| new activities or hobbies that will engage you and | | | | such as fixing the radio in your car or doing some |
| take your mind off of your lover. Go do some | | | | spring cleaning. Now's the time to take care of some |
| outdoor activities like hiking or join a social group such | | | | of the things you've been procrastinating about. |
| as to meet new people | | | | 5. Work on yourself- take into account how long |
| 2. Focus on the present- avoid spending too much | | | | your lover will be away and make yourself a task of |
| time pining away. Even though you love and miss | | | | accomplishing a realistic goal by the time they come |
| your partner, it's not energy well spent thinking about | | | | back. For example, if they are gone for a month, |
| how you miss them. Instead, focus on being mindful | | | | make a goal to hit the gym every day and lose 5lbs |
| and present in all of your daily activities. Even if you | | | | of fat and gain 5lbs of muscle by the time they |
| are doing mundane daily tasks such as washing the | | | | come back, or if they are gone for 3 months, make |
| dishes, put all of your attention on the task at hand. | | | | yourself a goal to write a short novel in that time. |
| This is one of the principles of meditation, take a | | | | Whatever works for you. Just take into consideration |
| meditation class in your local area to learn how to | | | | what your goals are and what you can realistically |
| bring back your attention and focus on the present. | | | | accomplish in that particular span of time. |
| 3. Schedule time with friends- if you are missing your | | | | Start putting this list into practice and you'll find that |
| partner, sometimes the natural inclination is to | | | | your time apart will go by much faster! |
| withdraw and want to be alone, rather than be with | | | | |