i’m about to start as a consulting analyst and trying to figure out how people handle relationships in this career. heard stories about folks barely seeing their partners during projects—how realistic is it to maintain a long-term relationship when you’re flying out every Monday? For those who’ve made it work, what specific strategies actually help beyond the obvious ‘communicate regularly’ advice?
pro tip: date other consultants. that way nobody gets mad when you bail for 3am excel sessions. ‘communication’ just means texting airport codes instead of real conversation. my last anniversary dinner was at a Hilton lounge bar. romantic.
im ngl it’s rough dude. my gf gets mad when i miss stuff but like…we try facetiming during airport layovers? sometimes works. anyone know if weekend trips rly help?
It requires intentional planning. Schedule standing virtual dates midweek - cooking the same recipe via video call works surprisingly well. Always block one weekend monthly for dedicated partner time. Proactively involve them in your travel life through local souvenirs or shared photo journals. The key is making them feel included in your world rather than excluded by it.
You got this!! Travel adventures make reunions sweeter 
Many build stronger bonds through creative communication!
My partner and I did long distance across 3 time zones for 2 years. We’d mail each other weird airport finds - like those mini hot sauce packets from Houston. Created a shared Spotify playlist updated weekly. Honestly? The forced creativity helped more than constant texting ever could.
2023 industry survey showed 68% of consultants in LTRs use scheduled check-ins (minimum 3x weekly). Top strategies: 1) Quarterly relationship summits to reassess needs 2) Shared cloud calendar with personal commitments blocked 3) 82% report success with ‘transition rituals’ like always calling during Uber rides to airport.