Selena Gomez and The Weeknd
These two have reportedly called it quits.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

  • The Weeknd and Selena Gomez have reportedly ended their relationship.
  • Sources said that long-distance was to blame.
  • Although it can be tough, you can avoid the same fate by being honest with your partner, always having visits planned, and scheduling time to speak.

Amid reports that Selena Gomez and The Weeknd — real name Abel Tesfaye — have broken up Monday, fans have a few theories about what could have been the cause. Although some have been quick to blame Selena's ex-boyfriend Justin Bieber for the couple's break up, a source told People magazine that a more relatable and more common pitfall was the catalyst.

One source told the publication that t he pair, "have been going back and forth for a few months about their relationship. It's been hard with him being on tour and her shooting in New York. That wasn't easy on them."

Gomez and The Weeknd are both young and incredibly-successful artists, so it makes sense that their work would take them to different locations. But you don't have to be an international superstar to find yourself struggling in a long-distance relationship.

But things don't always have to go the way of The Weeknd and Gomez: here are some tips on how you can take that distance and make it work for you.

Schedule time to speak and stick to it.

Communication can often get lost when you're busy in separate places. But it really helps to set time aside to speak with and, if possible, see your partner in a video call. This can be each week, each day, or however often you're comfortable speaking.

Setting this time aside hows that you're making that person a priority in your life. It will also make sure you keep that time open, so you're speaking at least that much.

Always have a visit planned.

One of the best piece's of long-distance advice I've heard is to always have a visit planned if possible. This doesn't mean you have to buy plane tickets ways ahead of time or spend hours agonizing over a calendar, but saying goodbye to them on a visit gets easier if you know right then the next time you'll see them.

Make sure you schedule time off with work in advance or simply have time blocked off in your calendar. This can make a huge difference in your mindset and how often you make the effort to see each other.

Don't say goodbye without knowing when you'll see them again.
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Be honest with each other.

If seeing photos of them with attractive people upsets you or a missed Skype date made you cry, let them know.

One of the biggest downfalls of long-distance is that you're not always there to read body language and to have these types of talks in person. So if something is really, truly bothering you, take a deep breath and let them know how you feel.

Look on the bright side.

So much about long-distance relationships are hard, but there can also be some great opportunities that come with it. Because you have so much time to yourself, you can devote time to loving yourself more, working on your own health, and exploring your interests.

Being long-distance puts you at a unique advantage because you already have someone you love, but you have the time and space to put yourself first and foster closer relationships with friends and family.

Don't bottle things up.
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Have some sort of endgame.

You won't always be afforded this, but at some point, you should have some semblance of an "endgame" when you'll finally get to be together. Maybe this is simply just "well, I'd like to get another year or so in my job before I look for another one close to you" or "let's do a weekend in this town to see if it's somewhere we'd like to move together."

Knowing that you're making moves towards that goal will show that you're both making the other a priority, and that you'll be together someday soon.

Keeping all of these tips in mind doesn't guarantee that you'll make it through a long-distance relationship: they're not easy. But having an open mind and some patience can make this process as painless as possible and give you a fighting chance.