How to Play Subway Surfers

Subway Surfers is a fun endless runner game available for Android, iPhone, and iPad. This tutorial will show you the basics of playing the game, how to add friends from Facebook, and how to get high scores and lots of gold coins!

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Playing the Game

1. Swipe up to jump. This lets you jump over obstacles and collect coins in the air. You can't jump high enough to get on the top of a train unless you have the Super Sneakers powerup.
   
2. Swipe down to roll. You'll need to roll to get under low obstacles.
   
3. Swipe left and right to switch lanes. Switch lanes to avoid trains, walls, and other obstacles.
   
4. Double-tap the screen to hop your hoverboard. Your hoverboard allows you to collect more coins and will protect you from a crash.
   
5. Collect coins to purchase hoverboards and upgrades. Coins are scattered throughout the levels, and you'll need to move quickly to collect as many as possible.
   
6. Collect glowing powerups for boosts. There are four different powerups that you'll come across while playing:
   
   • Jetpack - Makes you fly above the train track and lets you grab additional coins.
   • Super Sneakers - Makes you jump higher.
   • Coin Magnet - You'll attract any nearby coins without having to touch them.
   • 2x Multiplier - Doubles your current score multiplier (e.g. x3 now becomes x6).

[Edit]Surviving a Run

1. Use ramps to reach the top of trains. You'll see ramps on the ends of some train cars. Use these to reach the top of the trains, where you can collect more coins and avoid obstacles.
   
2. Time your movements. When you swipe to move, your character will still take a moment to get over. Make sure you're leaving enough time to get out of the way of approaching obstacles.
   
3. Switch lanes while in midair or mid-roll. You can swipe to change lanes at any time, even if you're in midair. Try to plan ahead so that you end up exactly where you want.
   
   • If you're on the left or right lane, you can swipe twice in midair to move across both lanes in one jump.
4. Jump and then immediately roll. Rolling during a jump will cancel the jump animation and keep you on the ground. This can be very helpful for getting coins on the top of trains and to keep you from jumping too far with Super Sneakers.
   
5. Use a hoverboard to avoid a crash. A hoverboard will prevent you from any crash, so it's best top save them until right before you need one. If you're about to hit a train or a wall, double-tap the screen to use one of your hoverboards.
   
   • Hoverboards cost 300 coins each, but you'll often get them as rewards as well.
   • Save your hoverboards for your really good runs to maximize your score. Don't waste them to avoid a crash at the start of a run when you can just start over for free instead.

[Edit]Getting Lots of Coins

1. Tap the Shop button on the main menu. The key to getting a lot of coins is to upgrade a few important powerups. You can do this from the Shop menu.
   
2. Scroll down to the Upgrades section.
   
3. Spend your coins to upgrade the Coin Magnet and Jetpack powerups. Improving these two powerups will lead to many more coins in the long run.
   
4. Complete the Daily Challenge. Each time you complete a daily challenge, you'll receive a reward. Oftentimes this is a significant number of coins.
   
   • To view the Daily Challenge, tap the Daily Challenge button at the top of the main menu.
   • You only have until the timer runs out to complete the Daily Challenge and earn the reward.
5. Complete the Daily Challenge on consecutive days. Each day in a row that you complete the Daily Challenge, you'll get a more impressive reward. By completing five days in a row, you'll earn a Super Mystery box, which can contain a whole lot of coins. You'll get a new Super Mystery Box for each Daily Challenge you continue to complete in a row.
   
6. Complete Missions. While completing a mission will not directly result in coins, reaching Multiplier 30 will result in Super Mystery Boxes as mission rewards. These can contain a lot of coins, so try to complete as many missions as possible.
   
   • To view your current missions, tap the Missions button on the main menu.
7. Consider purchasing the Double Coins boost. This costs $4.99, but is a one-time purchase that will permanently double all of the coins you earn. You can find this at the top of the Shop menu.
   

[Edit]Adding Friends

1. Open Subway Surfers. This app icon looks like a stylized version of "Subway Surfers."
   
2. Tap the tab. It's at the bottom of your screen and looks like shadows of multiple people.
   
3. Tap . The app will link to your Facebook account and connect with your FB friends that also play the game, giving you 5,000 coins.
   
   • You can revisit this "Friends" tab to check their progress; for every 50 runs they complete, you get 350 coins.
   • From this screen you can also see your Friends' stats, so you can try to beat their high score.

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Tips

• Try to avoid the super sneakers powerup, as they can do more harm than good!
• Double tap 2 times and you will get the hoverboard.
• Buy boosts because they're helpful and may be needed.
• If you've played Temple Run before, then it's easier for you to learn how to play Subway Surfers.
• You can't jump from the rails to the top of trains unless you have the Super Sneakers.
• You can skip the mission you are stuck on by buying a skip mission.
• You can buy different boards and characters in the "me" bar on the front screen.
• If you forget how to play, there is a tutorial option on the main menu.
• There are different characters on Subway Surfers, so you can buy new ones if you have enough coins.

[Edit]Quick Summary

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How to Sort Microsoft Excel Columns Alphabetically

Sorting your data alphabetically can help you organize directories, email lists, and lists of clients. This wikiHow article will teach you how to sort Microsoft Excel data alphabetically.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Sorting Alphabetically

1. Open your project in Microsoft Excel. You can do this by going to File > Open within Excel or you can right-click the project file and select Open with > Excel.
   
2. Format the header row. The header row is the top row of your spreadsheet, with the names of your columns. Excel will sometimes sort this row thinking it is part of your data, especially if your spreadsheet is entirely text. Here are a few ways to prevent this:
   
   • Format your header row differently. For example, bold the text or make it a different color.^[1]
   • Make sure there are no blank cells in your header row.^[2]
   • If Excel still sorts the headers, select the header row and use the top ribbon menu to click Home > Editing > Sort & Filter > Custom Sort > My data has headers.^[3]
3. Select the column you wish to alphabetize. You can click the header cell for that column, or the letter above it (A, B, C, D, etc.).
   
   • Press and hold Ctrl/Opt to select more than one column.
4. Click the tab. Click Data in the top menu to view Data options in the ribbon menu above your spreadsheet.
   
5. Look for the Sort and Filter section. The ribbon menu is divided into related areas, with the name under each one. Look for the area labeled Sort & Filter.
   
   • If you don't see it on the Data menu, try returning to the Home tab and looking for a Sort & Filter button in the Editing section.
6. Click the A → Z button. To sort the spreadsheet in alphabetical order, just click the A → Z symbol in the Sort and Filter section. This will rearrange the spreadsheet in alphabetical order of the selected column. On most versions of Excel, this button is in the top left corner of the Sort and Filter section.
   
   • To sort it in reverse alphabetical order instead, click the Z → A symbol instead.

[Edit]Sorting by Last Name

1. Insert a new blank column. Place this immediately to the right of the names column.
   
   • Use this when your spreadsheet uses full names in a single cell. If you have full names listed in a single column, alphabetizing will only sort by the first name. With these instructions, you can divide the names into two columns first so you can sort by the last name column instead.^[4]
   • To insert a blank column, select the letter row to the left of where you want the blank row to go (so if you want a new blank column to the right of A), select the first cell, then right-click it, and click Add Column to Right.
2. Enter the formula for first names. Enter this formula in the top cell of the new column: =LEFT(A1,FIND(" ",A1)) making sure to include the space between the quotation marks. This formula will look in the full name column and copy everything before the space.
   
   • If necessary, replace both instances of A with the letter of the column that has the full names listed.
   • Replace both instances of 1 with the number of the row you are typing in.
3. Copy this formula to the entire column. Click the header of this new column and copy-paste the formula you just entered. You should see all the first names appear on their own in this column.
   
4. Create the last name column. Create a new column to the right of the first name column and enter this formula: =RIGHT(A1,LEN(A1)-FIND(" ",A1)). Copy-paste this formula to populate the column with last names.
   
5. Sort by the last name column. You may now sort the last name column alphabetically, as described in [[Sort Microsoft Excel Columns Alphabetically#Sorting-Alphabetically|the Sorting Alphabetically] method.
   

[Edit]Tips

• If the top "ribbon" menu has disappeared, double-click any tab to expand it again.^[5]
• These instructions are for Excel versions 2003 and later. If you are running earlier versions of Excel, you may need to find these menu items in a different location.

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Create a Currency Converter With Microsoft Excel
• Create a Mortgage Calculator With Microsoft Excel
• Use Solver in Microsoft Excel

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ http://excelribbon.tips.net/T009423_Recognizing_a_Header_Row_when_Sorting.html
2. ↑ http://excelribbon.tips.net/T009423_Recognizing_a_Header_Row_when_Sorting.html
3. ↑ https://support.office.com/en-US/article/sort-data-in-a-range-or-table-62d0b95d-2a90-4610-a6ae-2e545c4a4654
4. ↑ http://www.accountingweb.com/excel-tip-alphabetizing-a-column-of-first-and-last-names-by-last-name
5. ↑ https://support.office.com/en-AU/article/Updating-from-Office-2003-learn-where-menu-and-toolbar-commands-are-on-the-ribbon-1c84883e-1212-4b35-868d-b865f79fda87

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How to Use Product Images to Attract Customers Online

Product photography is one of the most important things for eCommerce businesses. Since the customer can not touch or feel the product online, product images are the only thing that helps them to make a buying decision. By making sure that the product images are high-attractive and are of good quality, the business owners can really attract the customers and influence their buying decisions. This ultimately leads to higher traffic and thereto, higher conversions.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Capturing High-Quality Images

1. Use a good camera. The camera is the primary tool in photography. It all depends on the camera quality for how the images will turn out to be. Use a good digital camera brand to ensure the best quality images. It might be quite expensive, however, it is a very important investment if you want to capture high-quality images and attract more customers to your eCommerce. Any good DSLR camera would allow you to capture high-quality images without much effort.^[1]
   
2. Use proper lighting setup. Lighting plays a major role in photography. Make sure that you have enough lighting while taking product images. Regardless of whether you're shooting indoors or outdoors, it is necessary that the lighting setup is decent. Lighting helps you capture each and every detail of the products and also capture the correct colors at the same time. You can use artificial lighting equipment for indoors like:^[2]
   
   • Photography light bulbs
   • Softboxes
   • Umbrella lights
   • Camera flash
3. Remove distractions. It is pretty important that you put everything out of the frame that might distract your customers. These could be unwanted props, stains, or dirty patches in the background, and bright colors that might overpower the product. Always make sure that the focus is your product and nothing else is stealing that focus away.
   
   
4. Use a neat and clean background. A clean background ensures that your product is the main attraction. Most eCommerce businesses prefer using a clean, white background for their products. This brings consistency in the product images and your images look more appealing to the customers. You can add different backgrounds for social media posts, however, for your eCommerce website, a white background for products could be most effective.^[3]
   
   
5. Keep your products clean. Be sure to remove dust, scratches, and fingerprint smudges from your products. In the case of clothing items, remove wrinkles and stains of any kind.
   
   
   • A clean product is the most common requirement to make any product image look attractive and of high quality. This makes your product images more professional and welcoming.
6. Use relevant props. Using props that are relevant to the products can help you improve the aesthetic of a product image. though, make sure that the props do not overpower the product but only support it. Such props help your customers to get an idea about the product and understand what is used in it or what it is used for.
   
   
   • For example, if your product is a moisturizer with ingredients like vanilla and cocoa, you can keep the moisturizer in the center and spread some cocoa powder and vanilla pods around it. This will enhance the look of the product image and attract customers.

[Edit]Using Different Methods of Product Photography

1. Capture images from all angles. Every customer wants to explore the product in the best ways before making a buying decision. Using multiple product images captured from different angles allows the buyers to explore the product from every angle. Also, making your customers completely satisfied with the product before buying also helps in reducing the returns.^[4]
   
   
   • When a customer only sees a single product image and purchases the product, they might not get a complete idea about the product. This leads to dissatisfaction after the receiving of the product and thus encourages the buyers to return the product. Multiple product images not only give the complete idea about the product but also improves your business credibility.
2. Keep up with trends. To survive the eCommerce competition, it is crucial to stay updated with trends. Capture the product images in ways that are currently trending. The color palette, the angles, etc. must be aligned with what customers are more attracted to. There are many trends that you might follow such as:
   
   • Ghost mannequin^[5]
   • Monochromatic photography
   • In-use photography for products^[6]
3. Follow photography themes. There are many trending photography themes that businesses are using to engage more customers. If not directly on the website, you can carry out these trending themes on your social media page. Since social media is one of the best places to engage a wide variety of audiences, using photography themes in your post can really help you increase conversions.
   
   

[Edit]Using Product Photo Editing

1. Use editing software. Product image editing genuinely makes the products look more professional, appealing, and converting. You can never convince a customer by using dull and unattractive product images. A few things like removing the background and using multiple backgrounds in the same image, correcting colors, and removal of stubborn dust, scratches, and stains can easily be done using photo editing software. Such things can not be corrected without editing.^[7]
   
   
   • Product image editing makes your product look highly attractive and flawless. People also use editing software to refine models representing the product. The flaws like stray hairs, smudged makeup, etc. can be fixed using editing software.^[8]

[Edit]Tips

• Share your product images on as many social channels as possible to increase your reach and engage more people through product images

[Edit]References

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_single-lens_reflex_camera
2. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photographic_lighting
3. ↑ https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-the-Background-of-a-Picture
4. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/360_product_photography
5. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Packshot
6. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifestyle_photography#:~:text=Lifestyle%20photography%20is%20a%20genre,inspire%20people%20in%20different%20times.
7. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Editing_software
8. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_editing

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How to Cook Lasagne

One of the most prominent, hearty main courses in Italian cuisine, lasagna is arguably one of the best meals you can put on the table. It is easily customized and, despite looking complex, relatively simple to put together. Whether you want to make a classic Italian meat lasagna or something a little fancier, review the steps and suggestions below to your ideal lasagna.

• Prep time (Classic Meat Lasagna): 20-30 minutes
• Cook time: 60-70 minutes
• Total time: 80-100 minutes

[Edit]Ingredients

Classic Meat Lasagna

• 1 to 1-1/2lb ground meat, depending on preference (Italian sausage, beef, veal, lamb, or a mixture)
• 1lb (0.45 kilograms) ricotta cheese
• 1lb (0.45 kilograms) shredded Mozzarella cheese
• 1 egg
• 1 white onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 14 ounce can crushed tomatoes
• 28 ounces tomato sauce
• 6 ounces tomato paste (optional)
• 1 box Lasagna noodles (9-12 noodles)
• Grated Parmesan or Romano cheese, to taste
• 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cups of cheddar cheese (for topping)

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Making Basic Lasagna

1. Cook the noodles in boiling water. Make sure you keep the entire lasagna noodle from breaking, as you will need unbroken sheets when you layer the dish later. Add a pinch of salt to the pot right before you add the noodles and let them cook according to the time on the box, usually 10-12 minutes. Stir occasionally, every 1-2 minutes. When they are done, drain the water and set aside the noodles to cool. ^[1]
   
   • You will likely need you biggest pot, filled 2/3 with water, to fit the noodles. As you wait for the water to boil and noodles to cook you can move on to making the filling, however.
   • Some companies sell "Oven Ready" noodles that don't need to be boiled, so be sure to read the box to check.
2. Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large pan on medium heat. Do not move on until the oil is shimmering. This means it is hot, and adding ingredients too soon can lead to soggy, oily food.
   
   
3. Add a diced medium white onion and 2 cloves of chopped garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes until they start becoming translucent. Translucent simply means that the edges of the onions have begun to turn clear. You do not need the onions to be fully cooked just yet.
   
   
   • Looking to get more vegetables in your lasagna? Add 1/2 cup chopped carrots, celery and/or green peppers here as well for a heartier sauce. If you do, allow the vegetables to cook and extra 1-2 minutes.
4. Add the 1lb of ground meat to the pan and cook until browned. Mix the meat in with the onions and garlic, stirring well, and cook on medium heat until completely browned. Add salt and crushed black pepper, to taste, as it cooks. If you have time, cook the meat in a separate pan, though this is not necessary.
   
   
   • If you are using sausage, cut the casings off so you only have the ground meat inside.
   • You can also take this time to add dried oregano, basil, or rosemary, or simply of dried Italian seasoning.
5. Transfer the meat and vegetables to a large sauce pot on medium-low heat. The pot needs to be big enough to hold your sauce and tomatoes as well.
   
   • This is a good time to check on your noodles if you've forgotten them. They should be pliable and soft, but still firm.
6. Add the sauce and tomatoes to the saucepot and bring to a simmer. Pour your 28 ounces of sauce, 12 ounces of crushed tomatoes and 6 oz of tomato paste to the meat and vegetable mixture and stir well. Raise the heat to medium until the sauce comes to a low simmer, when occasional bubbles break the surface of the sauce.
   
   
   • You can substitute 36 ounces of pre-made pasta sauce instead of the three different tomato products for a simpler sauce.
   • Take this time to add any additional spices you want, such as garlic powder, sugar, or more seasoning, 1 teaspoon at a time. Many cooks like sugar to balance out the natural acidity of the tomatoes.
   • Lower the heat if it is bubbling too much, you only want a low simmer.
7. Cook the sauce on a low simmer for 10-15 minutes. The longer the sauce has to cook, the richer it will be. Stir it regularly, being sure to get down to the bottom so that nothing burns. When you're ready to build the lasagna, remove the sauce from heat and let it cool gently.
   
   • The sauce does not have to be cold to move forward, but letting it cool slightly will make it easier to handle.
8. Whip your ricotta together with the beaten egg. Whip up one egg with a fork, as if preparing scrambled eggs, and then mix it in with the ricotta. The egg will help the cheese bind with the layers of pasta, keeping your whole dish together when it is done cooking.^[2]
   
   
9. Spoon a thin layer of sauce into the bottom of a large, oven-safe dish. You want something with tall sides, such as a 13x9x2" or 2-quart baking dish. Spread the sauce evenly, enough to cover the entire bottom of the dish.
   
   
10. Lay lasagna noodles over the entire bottom of the dish. You should be able to get three noodles vertically layered over the bottom, slightly overlapping. While a little overlap (1" or less) is fine, feel free to trim the noodles with a clean pair of kitchen shears if need be. You want the entire bottom surface covered with noodle.
    
    
11. Spoon 1/3 of the ricotta mixture evenly over the noodles. Spread a nice layer of the ricotta over the tops of the noodles so that every bite will be nice and cheesy. Be sure to save the other 2/3 -- you'll need it for the rest of the layers.
    
    
12. Spoon 1/3 of the sauce over the ricotta. Get your filling into the pan, spooning it generously over the lasagna.
    
    
13. Top the sauce with a generous coating of mozzarella. This final layer of cheese will complete your first layer of lasagna. Coat the top enough that the sauce is only poking out in a few places underneath, or use less for a slightly healthier option.
    
    
14. Continue layering in this pattern --noodles, ricotta, sauce, mozzarella-- until you run out of noodles. The top and final layer should be mozzarella. Just keep layering your lasagna like this to end up with your final, glorious lasagna.
    
    
    • Top with a sprinkling of freshly grated Parmesan or Romano cheese before putting in the oven.
15. Bake for 30-40 minutes at 375℉, covered with aluminum foil. Put a layer of aluminum over the lasagna before it goes into the oven. To prevent the sauce from spilling over the edge as it heats up, you can also place the entire dish on a baking tray to keep the sauce from getting on your oven. Since the dish is technically already cooked, putting it in the oven is meant to melt the cheese and let the flavors meld deliciously. That said, you can take it out when you feel like it is hot and ready to serve.
    
    • Remove the foil for the last 5 minutes to brown and bubble the cheese on top.^[3]
16. Let the lasagna sit for 10 minutes before serving. This lets the cheese re-solidify, just a bit, which will keep the layers from sliding off of one another when you serve the lasagna.
    

[Edit]Making New Fillings

1. Mix new flavors into your ricotta for a light taste addition. When mixing the egg into the ricotta, you can further customize the cheese to give subtle new flavors to the lasagna. Try adding:
   
   • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated.
   • 1 teaspoon salt and black pepper
   • 1/2 cup minced parsley
   • 1/2 tablespoon grated nutmeg.^[4]
2. Cook "meaty" vegetables into your sauce for a vegetarian option. This can be a great substitute for meat, but vegetables can also become fantastic complements to a meat sauce as well. Cook the vegetables in the oil for 5-7 minutes, until tender, along with the onions and garlic, then proceed to make the sauce like usual. If you are using it along with meat, cut the following amounts in half and cook the vegetables separately, then add to the sauce with the meat.
   
   • 1 large eggplant, diced.
   • 1 large zucchini, sliced.
   • 1 lb small white mushrooms, sliced.
3. Create a layer of fried eggplant on top of the sauce. Cut your eggplant into 1/4-inch slices and fry until soft in of olive oil. Set aside and pat dry with a paper towel, then add the sliced eggplant after the sauce. Top with mozzarella and continue layering as normal, placing a layer of eggplant after every layer of sauce. You can also try layers of:
   
   • Roasted butternut squash.
   • Blanched spinach.
4. Use polenta cakes instead of noodles for a gluten-free option. Just because you can't enjoy pasta doesn't mean you can't enjoy lasagna. Layer in thin polenta cakes instead, treating the rest of the recipe exactly as normal.^[5]
   
5. Substitute spaghetti squash for noodles to make individual servings. This ingenious, low-carb recipe is not layered exactly the same way, but that doesn't make it any less delicious. To make it:
   
   • Cut the squash in half and remove the seeds.
   • Cook the squash in a baking dish, cut-side down, for 45-60 minutes (450℉) or until easily pierced with a fork. Pour roughly an inch of water into the pan to prevent them from drying out.
   • Fill each squash half with layers, starting with 1-2 dollops of ricotta, then sauce and mozzarella. Repeat until full.
   • Cook the mini lasagnas for 20 minutes in the oven (450℉), until the cheese is melted on top of the squash.
6. Use some south of the border substitutions for Mexican lasagna. You can use grilled or shredded chicken instead of beef, if you'd like, though it is not necessary. The principles are all the same as Italian lasagna, but you can get a totally different dish with some simple swaps:
   
   • Tomato Sauce → Taco Sauce
   • Ricotta/Mozzarella → Queso Fresco/Cheddar
   • Noodles → Corn Tortillas
   • Italian seasoning → Ground Cumin, cayenne, red pepper, onion powder
   • Add 1 can of black beans and 1 can of yellow corn to sauce mixture.

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Tips

• You can build your lasagne with uncooked noodles if you buy the pre-prepared pack from the store. If you cover it with tin foil before putting in the oven, the moisture from cooking will also cook the noodles to perfection. It saves a step and time.
• For an authentic taste, make your own homemade sauce using equal parts celery, carrot, and onion slowly stewed with tinned tomatoes.
• If you can make homemade ricotta cheese, which is surprisingly easy, the dish will soar to new heights.
• If you're daring and up for it, it's actually possible to cook a lasagne in your dishwasher.

[Edit]Warnings

• Be sure to cook the meat thoroughly before adding it to the lasagne.

[Edit]Things You'll Need

• Large bowl
• Aluminum foil
• 9x12 pan

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Cook Pasta
• Make Meatloaf

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/lasagna/
2. ↑ http://cooking.stackexchange.com/questions/22351/why-do-stuffed-shells-recipes-include-eggs
3. ↑ http://allrecipes.com/recipe/worlds-best-lasagna/
4. ↑ http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/3280/easiest-ever-lasagne
5. ↑ http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2015/05/polenta-lasagna-pasticiatta-casserole-recipe.html

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How to Build Trust in Long Distance Relationships

Basically, a relationship is like a banana: the more you peel, the more you will taste the sweetness. This is especially true for long-distance relationships. These relationships take patience, communication, endurance, commitment, and above all, trust. When you can't see your partner every day or even every week, it's important to trust in your love and the strength of your relationship to keep you both happy and healthy.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Strengthening Your Feelings

1. Get to know your partner well. You need to be confident in your knowledge of and love for your partner in order to build a relationship that you can both believe in. Learn how to understand your partner, how to interpret what she says and pick out her emotional states. You should be able to tell when something's bothering her, and know what makes her feel better.^[1]
   
   • Ask each other questions. Ask about what your partner likes and dislikes, what she wants to do in the next year or five years, where she's been, who her friends are—anything can spark a story and get a great conversation going. Turn this into a game by keeping track of how many questions you ask, and try to reach 1000 first.
   • Play games to get to know each other. To play Two Truths and a Lie, tell your partner two true things and one false thing about yourself, and have her guess which is the lie. Or make a quiz about yourself and send it to her. Have her do the same, and compete to get the most answers right.
   • Use multiple methods of communication.^[2] Talking on the phone is great for certain kinds of conversations. Email encourages more thoughtful discussions of weightier topics, while texting is great for a quick, light-hearted chat. Use more than one method of communication to get to know all sides of your partner.
2. Commit to the relationship. Discuss topics like what you want to get out of the relationship and where you see it going. Commit to the trust and communication that sustain a long-distance relationship.^[3] Understand the difficulties you will face and talk about them with your partner, but at the end of the day, if the relationship is going to work, you both need to fully dedicate yourselves to it, without hesitation.
   
3. Be reliable. Encourage your partner to trust you by always proving yourself worthy of her trust. Follow through on your promises, even the small ones like calling her at a specific time or responding to a message. If you ever find that you can't follow through on a promise, have a very good reason why, explain this to her, and ask for—don't demand—her forgiveness.^[4]
   

[Edit]Communicating in a Healthy Way

1. Talk to your partner often. It's hard to believe in a relationship when you never talk to your partner, and it's hard to build a relationship when you don't know what's going on in your partner's life. Make sure you talk often so that you can participate in her life, and you can feel her presence in yours. Regular communication is the key to sustaining any relationship, but this is especially true for long-distance ones.^[5]
   
2. Be open with your partner. Honest and open communication is just as important as talking often. If something is worrying you, your partner should be the first to know.^[6] If she's feeling upset or frustrated, she should be comfortable opening up to you. If you are consistently open with your partner, she will learn to trust what you say and will feel more comfortable in the relationship. Be completely honest with your partner and trust that she will with you.^[7]
   
3. Get to know your partner's friends and family. This will allow you to better understand your partner's daily life, and being friendly with the people in her life can help both of you feel more involved with each other. Her friends will also appreciate the chance to get to know the person taking up so much of her time and energy. This increased involvement with your partner will help you build trust in your relationship.^[8]
   
4. Give your partner space. Although you may want to spend every moment of every day talking with her, recognize that she needs time and space to live her own life. Don't pressure her to give you more of her time and energy than she's comfortable with. Trust that she will come to you when she needs to, and allow her the space to be her own person within your relationship.^[9]
   
   • Finding the right balance between personal space and regular communication is perhaps the hardest part of a long-term relationship—and the balance is different for every couple. Experiment and check in with each other regularly to see what works and what doesn't. Work together to find a balance that lets you both be as happy and as healthy as possible.
5. Check in with your partner regularly. Discuss how you both feel about how your relationship is going. Talk about whether you feel happy, comfortable, and confident in the relationship, and what each of you could do to make it even better. If one of you feels dissatisfied for any reason, discuss the problem and work together to figure out a solution that you're both comfortable with. Recommit to your partner and the relationship, taking into account whatever changes, if any, you've discussed.
   
   • Regular check-ins give you a way to make changes to the relationship or even end with mutual understanding and without unnecessary pain, it if and when that becomes necessary. Though it may seem tedious, pessimistic, or even silly, long-distance relationships are a lot of work and this is a good way to make sure it's still working for both of you.
6. Assume good intentions. Your partner will likely do or say something that might confuse or alarm you. She might not return a call, or she might make a snide or offensive comment when talking to you. Don't jump to conclusions about her intentions when this happens—assuming that she's hiding something or deliberately antagonizing you is a great way to insult her and damage your relationship. Instead, assume that there's a perfectly valid, reasonable explanation for whatever she did, and ask to her about it the next time you talk. Always assuming good intentions will foster trust and good feeling, and is crucial in sustaining a long-distance relationship.
   

[Edit]Dealing with Issues

1. Never accuse your partner of being unfaithful. This cannot be stressed enough. A long-distance relationship, even more so than any other relationship, is predicated on mutual trust, and accusing your partner of cheating, or even of wanting to cheat, destroys that trust on both sides of the relationship. Never assume that your partner has been unfaithful, and never confront him or her about it. If you are open with each other and committed to your relationship, she will confess any infidelity to you, and then you can deal with it in a healthy and positive way. If you accuse him or her, you introduce suspicion into both sides of the relationship, ultimately and irreparably damaging it.^[10]
   
2. Address disagreements calmly and rationally. As with any relationship, it's inevitable that you will at some point get annoyed or angry at each other. When this happens, address the conflict calmly. Discuss your disagreement. Make an effort to understand her side, and explain to him or her how you feel. Work together to come up with a solution, and make sure you're both happy with the resolution. Regard disagreements as an opportunity to build up your relationship, rather than something that could tear it apart.^[11]
   
3. Think about the sacrifice you're both making. Understand that a long-distance relationship is difficult for both of you and requires a lot of work and effort, when there are many other things you could be doing with that time and energy. If your partner is worth the sacrifice, you should be happy to make it. But don't let the relationship consume your life. You need time to devote to work, school, family, and your social life apart from your relationship. If it feels like you aren't able to give enough time to your other friends and activities, it may be time to work with your partner to reevaluate your relationship.^[12]
   
4. Expand your conversations to keep them from getting boring. If the only thing you talk about is what you did that day, you're bound to get bored pretty fast, and this can quickly take the heat out of your relationship. Expand your conversations by asking questions, teaching your partner about something new you're learning, discussing books and movies you've enjoyed, or playing a game together.
   
   • Go on virtual dates. Watch a movie together online, play a MMORPG or other online game together, or eat the same meal while on the phone together. This can simulate the shared experience that you get from dating in-person, and this will help you build your conversations.
   • Take an online class together. This will stimulate conversation and challenge yourselves intellectually, which can add new energy to the relationship.
   • Go back to the beginning of your relationship, where you were just getting to know each other. Ask the same kinds of questions, and focus on learning new things about your partner. There will always be things about her that you don't know, and this can be a great way to renew your interest in the relationship.
5. Plan your next visit.^[13] Even if you can't see each other often, always have a place and date set for the next visit. This will give you both something to look forward to. It can guide your relationship and help you move forward together without necessarily entailing definite long-term plans. Make the most out of your visits, even if they are rare, and always be thinking about the next one.
   

[Edit]Tips

• Communication in any relationship is key. But communication in long-distance relationships is especially important. Talk often — talk everyday. Share even the most ordinary things so that the other person feels connected to you.

[Edit]Warnings

• Long-distance relationships are very difficult and take a lot of work, so be totally sure you're willing to do what it takes before you commit to the relationship.

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Make a Long Distance Relationship Work
• Not Miss Your Partner in a Long Distance Relationship
• Stay in a Long Distance Relationship When You're a Teenager

[Edit]References

1. ↑ https://www.fcs.uga.edu/docs/03_KNW-F1.pdf
2. ↑ [v161025_b02]. 7 August 2019.
3. ↑ [v161025_b02]. 7 August 2019.
4. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/hide-and-seek/201809/loyalty-reliability-and-trust-whats-the-difference
5. ↑ [v161025_b02]. 7 August 2019.
6. ↑ [v161025_b02]. 7 August 2019.
7. ↑ https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/healthy-relationships.aspx
8. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/meet-catch-and-keep/201312/should-you-meet-your-partners-family
9. ↑ https://psychcentral.com/blog/how-a-little-space-and-time-can-help-heal-a-relationship-crisis/
10. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/here-there-and-everywhere/201702/why-gaslighters-accuse-you-gaslighting
11. ↑ [v161025_b02]. 7 August 2019.
12. ↑ https://behrend.psu.edu/student-life/student-services/personal-counseling/student-resources/long-distance-relationships
13. ↑ [v161025_b01]. 7 August 2019.

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