Mango Postal
What Can You Do to Stay Close in a Long Distance Relationship?
Thousands of texts, a call log that runs past midnight, a camera roll full of screenshots of their face frozen mid-laugh. But the physical memories and trinkets are always more special.
This guide is about helping you bridge some of that gap when you and your loved ones have to remain apart for long periods of time.
You are probably not short on communication
Most long distance relationship advice starts with "communicate more." I am sure you already do it well (if not excessively), since that is all you can do right now.
One of the things actually missing from a long distance relationship is literally just stuff. A borrowed hoodie, a ticket stub and so on. Small physical trinkets that one person leaves around and the other cherishes.
Longevity: will this gift stick around?
The gifts that mean the most in a long distance relationship tend to do two things at once: they capture a memory the two of you share, and they are made to last. A printed photo from your last visit, a handwritten letter or a book with your notes in the margins holds a moment you had together, and it can sit on a desk or a nightstand for years. A lasting keepsake gives your partner a piece of you to keep at home. The idea below is built around that.
A gift idea for a long distance relationship: mail them something for no reason
One of the simplest gifts you can give a long distance partner is a piece of mail they were not expecting. It does not need to be tied to a birthday or an anniversary. A card that arrives on an ordinary weekday tells them you were thinking about them on an ordinary day, and that is often what people in long distance relationships want to hear most.
A mailed card also does a few things that a text message can't.
It shows effort. Choosing a photo, writing a message and looking up an address takes more time than sending a text, and the person receiving it can tell.
It gives them something to look forward to. Long distance already involves a lot of waiting, for the next weekend, the next flight or the eventual move. If you tell them something is on its way, checking the mailbox becomes a small thing to enjoy during the week.
It lasts. A text gets buried under newer messages within a day. A card can go on the fridge or a desk and still be there months later, including on the days when you are not available to talk.
What to write on a long distance postcard
Skip the grand love letter. A postcard holds a few sentences, which helps: say one small, true thing.
- A specific memory. "I walked past a bakery today and it smelled like that morning in Montreal."
- What you'd be doing if you were there. "If I were there tonight I'd be stealing your fries."
- One ordinary detail of your day. The dull parts are what they miss most.
- A promise with a date. "34 days. I'm bringing the good coffee."
- Reasons you cherish them. "Reason #12: you still send me every dog you see."
- An inside joke and nothing else. It will make no sense to the mail carrier, and it shouldn't.
For the front, use photos of the two of you, or of something only they would understand. Need more ideas? Read our guide on photo postcards.
Send one this week
The hard part of mailing a card is the errands: printing the photo, finding a stamp, getting to a mailbox. That is why most people mean to and never do.
Mango Postal handles the errands. You do the part that matters.
- Build it in your browser. Upload your photo and write your message. No app and no account.
- Add their address. Anywhere in Canada or the US.
- We print and mail it within 24 hours. Postage is included.
Your card is a 4 × 6 inch postcard on thick 500 gsm cotton archival paper, made to be kept for years. It travels in a free envelope, so what you wrote stays between the two of you. Each card is $4.99 CAD + $0.99 shipping.
| Where it's going | Time in the mail |
|---|---|
| Ontario | 2–5 business days |
| Rest of Canada | 5–7 business days |
| United States | 7–14 business days |
You could send one before your next call. In a week or two, the person you miss will open their mailbox and find you in it.
Long distance relationship FAQ
Do long distance relationships work?
They can. Research has found that long distance couples report as much intimacy and satisfaction as couples who live close, and sometimes more (Jiang & Hancock, 2013). What helps most is steady effort, honest conversation and a plan for when the distance ends.
How do you stay connected in a long distance relationship?
Mix fast and slow. Use calls and texts for the daily back-and-forth. Add things that last, like letters, printed photos and mail, so each of you has something of the other at home.
What are good long distance relationship gifts?
The best ones are personal and get used or seen every day. Think a worn hoodie, a framed photo, a stack of open when letters or a postcard with a photo only the two of you understand.
How often should you send mail?
Often enough that it is a habit, rarely enough that it is still a surprise. Once a month and on special occasions works for most couples. Don't announce a schedule; keep the anticipation.
What are good long distance date ideas?
Watch the same movie at the same time, cook the same recipe over a video call, play an online game together, or plan your next visit side by side. Mix in something that lasts, like a card in the mail, so the date leaves something behind.
What can you mail to someone in a long distance relationship?
A postcard with a photo only the two of you would understand, a handwritten letter, printed photos from your last visit or a small trinket like a ticket stub. It means the most when it arrives for no reason.
Send one today
Pick a photo only the two of you would get, write one small true thing, and we'll print it and mail it for you.
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