WHEN you’ve had the most magical relationship, the idea of separating to attend your respective colleges or take your first job in another city can feel grim. What if one of you meets someone new? What if you become one of the many couples who part ways a few months later?

Here are some tips:

1. Talk about boundaries.

Although you may want to spend the remainder of your summer having fun and savoring your time together, it’s smart to talk about the difficult things before they creep up on you both.

“It’s a great opportunity to openly and comfortably talk about the new rules you may want to establish,” says Dr. Mariana Bockarova, who teaches relationship psychology at the University of Toronto. She sees this crossroads as a growth opportunity for young couples.

Some guidelines may be explicit:i.e., cheating is unacceptable, while others, i.e., how often it’s cool to text each other, may need to be ironed out, she says.

Bockarova also recommends discussing how often you’d like to call or visit each other, and clarifying any blurry boundaries, like what, in your opinion, constitutes cheating.

2. Find ways to make each other feel loved.

To be romantic and spontaneous when you’re far away from each other, you’ll need to think outside the box. And it’s never too early to start planning fun ways to make your partner’s day.

“The healthiest intimate relationships are defined by characteristics like knowledge — meaning knowing what’s going on in your partner’s life,” Bockarova says. Mailing small gifts you know they’ll love, sending “just thinking of you” texts, or planning a “movie night” where you sync up Netflix and watch the same movie are all little ways to feel more present in each others’ lives.

3. Plan weekend visits.

Hooking up and snuggling will feel incredible when you haven’t seen each other in so long, but hanging in your dorm room throughout an entire weekend visit might not be the best idea.

“Relationships can become boring if you repeat the same activities, so set aside some time together to do something new,” Bockarova says, suggesting you explore your campus or city together or try a restaurant you’ve never been to.

To that end, while it’s important to schedule alone time, it’s also fun to invite your partner to a party or dorm floor outing to introduce them to your friends.

4. Prepare to give each other some breathing room.

Although communication is key, it only helps when it doesn’t prohibit you from being present in your new life, and when there’s no guilt involved. “If you want to call your partner at the end of every day, that signals a healthy relationship if the operative word is ‘want,’” Bockarova says. It’s when you feel pressure to Skype your partner for hours every night instead of making new friends or studying, that something may be amiss.

5. Address jealousy.

It’s OK to be jealous. It’s a sign that you’re invested in the relationship and don’t want your partner to leave you for someone they just met. That said, it sucks to feel insecure.

“Relationships should be built on a solid foundation of trust, safety, reliability, comfort, and care,” Bockarova says. It’s why anytime you feel like one of these pillars is compromised, it’s smart to talk it out, she adds.

If your feelings stem from a situation that makes you uncomfortable — like your partner going out solo with a woman who flirts with him on social media — say it! In many cases, setting reasonable boundaries you’re both comfortable with will make you feel better.

And if you eventually decide to break up? Don’t feel guilty! “All relationships go through lulls and periods of difficulty,” Bockarova says. “But if you continuously feel that something is wrong in your relationship, you need to re-evaluate whether this relationship or this person is right for you.”(SD-Agencies)