Pre-LDR Checklist: Questions to ask yourself before you start a Long Distance Relationship

An honest checklist for anyone staring down the distance

Frequent flyer miles and monthly meet-ups are probably the furthest things from your mind when you’re picturing the beginning of a brand new relationship. First dates, late-night drives, holding hands in person, not Google Calendar syncing and video chats. But sometimes love isn’t easy, and distance shows up as a very real, very unavoidable obstacle.

And now, here you are.

The fact that you’re reading this probably means you’re staring down the very real possibility of entering into the dreaded long distance relationship. Welcome to the dark side, we have bad Wi-Fi and expensive plane tickets.

Long distance relationships have a notoriously bad rep. People love to say they don’t work. That they’re destined to crash and burn. And honestly? That kind of doubt starts creeping in fast once you’re the one facing it.

But here’s the thing: long distance doesn’t automatically mean doomed. It does mean you’re going to have to be honest, with yourself and with your partner, about what you’re both getting into.

So, how do you know if a long distance relationship is actually for you? Is this one single person really worth all the time, waiting, and space between you?

That’s where this long distance relationship checklist comes in. We put together a no-fluff, totally real list of questions you need to ask yourself before jumping feet first into an LDR.

Because love might be blind, but it shouldn’t be unprepared.

What can you handle, and what can’t you?

This checklist isn’t just about your feelings (though, yes, those matter). It’s about your capacity. Your time, your patience, your communication style, your needs.

Think through questions like:

• How often do you need to talk to feel connected?
• What will you do when you miss them more than you thought possible?
• Are you okay being the one who always travels, or never does?
• How do you handle jealousy, uncertainty, or silence?

Some of these questions might feel uncomfortable. That’s kind of the point. Because being in a long distance relationship isn’t about surviving on sweet texts and countdown apps, it’s about staying grounded in reality, even while your heart’s in another place.

Don’t just read it, talk about it

After you go through the list on your own, the next step is just as important: talk it through with your partner.

That part matters. Because LDRs aren’t built on romantic gestures alone. They’re built on communication, honesty, and the ability to have tough conversations before things get hard, not after.

Use the checklist to compare notes. What answers were the same? What surprised you? What made you nervous?

This process isn’t about getting it “perfect.” It’s about figuring out whether you’re both on the same page before the distance kicks in.

Download the Full Long Distance Relationship Checklist
Want the full list of questions? We’ve got you.
Click below to download the free printable version of this long distance relationship checklist, ready for your next phone call, journal session, or deep-dive talk with your person.

This isn’t about proving something to anyone else, it’s about making sure you feel ready.

Because if you’re going to go the distance… you both deserve to start with your eyes open.