Q: My spouse is going to be traveling for the next two weeks for work. What should I do with all of my free time? This is the longest we’ve been apart since we got married!
A:
I hear you; missing your significant other is not easy.
Here’s what I’ve got for you. Try it out and see if it helps!
Prepare together: If your spouse hasn’t left yet, brainstorm ways that you can connect during your time apart. What is possible, given there location/job/schedule? Maybe you’d like to have nightly video chats, or schedule in brief in-person visits, or send messages throughout the day (Marco Polo is amazing if you need a visual presence). Get your creative jeans out and have fun thinking of cute (and sexy) ways to bridge the distance gap.
Prepare individually: Set up your schedule in advance. Maybe you need to spend a night or two on a close friend’s couch. Fill your empty hours with things that could be fun or productive: hiking, outings with friends, a visit to family, finishing a new book, learning some new recipes, taking a couple of hot yoga classes… Again, creativity is key, here.
Plan your Return Party: It’s always nice to have something to look forward to. Maybe you and your spouse would like to celebrate their return with a weekend trip to the mountains, or a stay-in-all-day intimacy-a-thon, or simply sitting on the couch and being in one another’s presence with no distractions. Celebration is necessary; make space for it.
You might have some sad or lonely moments; this is natural. It means you care about your partner and cherish them. Experience those emotions for sure, but don’t let yourself stay there. Otherwise, you’ll be in a miserable (and irritable) funk for several days or weeks. Find your small wins, your small moments of connection, and enjoy them to the fullest!