By William D. Hicks

Everyone has likes and dislikes different from his boyfriend. Perhaps you love the opera and he’s more into C/W music. Or, you have a friend who’s a flame and he really hates this person. That’s where time apart comes into play. Okay, so the romantic notion of spending 24/7 with a partner is a beautiful one. Well, it’s beautiful, in fantasy, but not so much in reality. We all need time apart to reenergize our psyche. Plus, as that old saying goes: Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Old sayings stick around because they hold a grain of truth! Instead of getting jealous and being catty when your boyfriend is out with his friends, try the following things to take your mind off the situation:

1. Make a phone call. Call an old friend who you haven’t had time to speak with in months, or your mother, or if your boyfriend doesn’t get back until the next morning… the locksmith.
2. Organize. Try organizing your CDs. Or your shirts, or ties. Become the Martha Stewart of your closet. Oh, that’s right; you’re out of the closet and Martha’s in prison. Nonetheless, organize something — just not your list of potential new boyfriends (unless your boyfriend spends the whole night out).
3. Redecorate. This way if he should come in very, very late, he’ll trip off the sofa and know better the next time! No, there’s no ulterior motive here — it’s just that rearranging the furniture seems to be a queer pastime.
4. Do something mindless. To distract yourself from your jealousy, try doing something that takes all your concentration but isn’t hard. Some men like to clean: For some men, it’s soothing to feel the vibrations of the vacuum in their hands. Or watch TV, go to a movie (yes, people do go to movies alone all the time!), take your mother shopping or your father bowling, do your taxes, pay bills, or just read (they used to do this before TV was invented, remember? If you do, you are old).
5. Do something for yourself. Take a long soaking bath with candles around the tub. Reconnect with yourself — do those things you lost track of while spending all your free time with your boyfriend. You’ll be amazed at how much good this does to reenergize you, and in turn, your relationship.
6. Go out with your friends. The next time your boyfriend goes out with his friends, go out with your friends. Or maybe just take your mother shopping, or your father bowling. Just do something!

Or if you can’t take your mind off your boyfriend, do these things:

1. Plan a romantic trip for two. If you can’t stop thinking of your boyfriend, at least put this energy to good use! Stop being jealous and make other people jealous. Plan a lavish, luxurious trip for two! Where can you two go and be all alone?
2. Find an online crush to pine over while he’s out with the boys by doing a search of profiles.