Let me tell you a few things about myself: I am a full-time student in Fanshawe's grueling Advanced Filmmaking program, I am a complete and total geek and proud of it, and I am in a long-distance relationship. Okay, more specifically I am in a long-distance marriage. Even more specifically, I am in a military marriage.

I haven't always been in a long distance relationship. In fact, this is the first time I have ever been in one. This week I want to talk about the beginning of a long-distance relationship, and how to deal with it.

LDRs can begin when you are living away from each other when you begin the relationship, or when you move away from each other once you're already in the relationship. The easier way to begin an LDR is from the get-go. You don't know any different, and the parameters of the relationship are clear from the start.

The more challenging way to begin is to have a relationship become long distance. This was the situation I found myself in very recently. Whether for school, work, family or some other commitment, your significant other moving away, even temporarily, is difficult. You're used to having your partner around all the time, seeing them every day and having a routine. The day they leave, everything will change.

The first few days aren't going to be very much fun, no matter how prepared you are. It will be a big adjustment in your life and you'll miss them. A lot. Be prepared to feel sad; even if you're tough, it will bum you out to not have your significant other living near you anymore. Be prepared for this feeling to be more intense if you have been living with the person.

After a while (no one can tell you how long), you will adapt to your partner being gone. For me, it took about a week and a half. It won't exactly get "better," but you will get used to them being away. Once you can settle into this stage your long distance relationship will become much easier to deal with.

This week's tips:
- Spoil yourself during the first few days. Eat comfort foods, stay in bed watching movies, read a good book or go out with friends — do whatever you know will make you feel better.

- Develop a new routine. It really helps to start doing things on your own time. For me, my husband used to always wake me up super early in the morning, but now I sleep in. Creating a new routine will help you feel more fulfilled in your independence as opposed to trying to carry on your old routines that included your partner.

- Plan when you will see each other again. It may be difficult to pin down the exact date you'll be together again, but even a rough timeframe, e.g. a month from now, will let you see that this separation is not permanent. Knowing that the distance will end, if only for a few days, will make you feel worlds better.

Hopefully these ideas can help you make a smoother transition into a long distance relationship. Stay tuned for next week's tips on communication.