Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, Going the Distance--the list of movies about long-distance relationships (LDR) and online love goes on and on. While Hollywood paints a pretty picture of long-distance relationships, couples who are actually in one will argue that it’s not as easy as the movies make it seem.

LDRs are high maintenance, and they require constant work and effort. Dr. Greg Guldner, director of the Center for the Study of Long Distance Relationships, says that 70 percent of LDRs don’t work. So if you ever find yourself involved in an LDR, here are some ways to make sure you stay in the upper 30 percentile of these statistics and keep your love alive despite the odds.

For more on LDRs, read "Love beyond Borders: The Couple's Guide to Long-Distance Relationships" on Female Network.

(Screencaps from Going the Distance courtesy of New Line Cinema)