How do you stay close in a long distance relationship when your schedules never match

Hi everyone. I would love to get some advice on how you manage to stay close in a long distance relationship. My boyfriend moved to another city for work last year, and we have been long distance for a year now. I feel that the quality of our relationship has changed a lot during this time.

He visits about once or twice a month. I cannot visit him often because I study almost thirty-five hours a week and I also work. I honestly struggle to understand how couples in similar situations spend time together. I feel like we barely have anything to talk about any more except: "hi, how are you? how is work?".

Another issue is that our schedules are completely different. He often works night shifts. When I am at classes during the day he is sleeping. Later when I am still at school he goes to work. When he finally gets home I am usually asleep. I am really tired of this and I do not know what to do. I do not want to break up because when we are together, our relationship feels good and I really enjoy being with him.

If anyone has been in a similar situation, I would really appreciate your advice.