When you're younger, making friends often feels effortless because you're constantly surrounded by peers. School, extracurricular activities, and neighborhood hangouts provide endless opportunities to connect with others who share your interests and experiences. Whether it's bonding over a favorite hobby, working on a school project, or simply spending time together during lunch breaks, the sheer proximity to others your age makes forming friendships a natural part of daily life.
As you get older, the dynamics of friendship begin to change. Friends may move away for college, jobs, or family commitments, and maintaining those connections can become more challenging. The spontaneity of youth is often replaced by busy schedules and geographical distances.
Despite these obstacles, staying in touch with friends is far from impossible. With intentional effort and the use of technology, it's possible to nurture long distance friendships. Regular phone calls, video chats, and even planning visits can help keep the bond strong.
1. Schedule Regular Catch-Ups
In the hustle and bustle of adult life, friendships can sometimes take a back seat to work, family, and other responsibilities. However, one of the most effective ways to maintain strong connections with friends is by scheduling regular catch-ups. Setting aside time for consistent communication - whether through video calls, phone calls, or even a quick text - helps ensure that your friendship remains a priority.
Regularly scheduled catch-ups provide a sense of routine and reliability, allowing both parties to stay updated on each other's lives. When you know you have a call scheduled with your best friend Angela in two weeks, you'll make a mental note of the things you want to tell her as the time passes in between.
These interactions don't always have to be lengthy either; sometimes, a brief conversation can be enough to reinforce the bond. The key is consistency. By making it a habit to check in regularly, you show your friends that they matter to you. When you prioritize friendships, it can deepen your relationships, despite the physical distance.
2. Be Creative With Communication
Instead of relying solely on traditional methods like calls and texts, mix things up! Try sending voice memos. Hearing a friend's voice can make the conversation feel more personal and immediate, creating a deeper sense of connection.
Another fun idea is to create shared playlists. Music has a unique way of bringing people together, and curating playlists with your favorite songs, or tracks that remind you of each other, can be a delightful way to share your tastes and discover new music. It can also be a sweet way to reminisce if you make a playlist that reminds you of senior prom or a concert you attended together.
There are so many apps nowadays to keep people connected. Apps like Marco Polo allow you to send video messages that can be watched and responded to at any time. Houseparty offers a casual way to video chat with multiple friends while playing games together. Even apps like Words with Friends or Draw Something can provide light-hearted, game-based interactions that keep the conversation going.
You could even consider using apps designed for collaborative projects to work on tasks together. Platforms like Google Docs for co-writing stories or planning trips, Trello for shared to-do lists, and Pinterest for collective inspiration boards can turn communication into a creative, joint endeavor. By switching up your communication, you keep the relationship engaging.
3. Send Personalized Gifts
Another meaningful way to maintain strong connections with friends, even from a distance, is by sending thoughtful gifts or care packages. Little surprises, whether they're birthday presents, get well gift baskets, or small treats just because, can make someone feel valued and better connected. They are also just a great way to show you are thinking of them.
When selecting a gift or putting together a care package, consider what brings joy to your friend. This could be a book by their favorite author, a collection of their favorite snacks, or a handmade item that reflects your shared memories. Luckily, you don't have to put these packages together yourself, since you can order them online. Thoughtful presents don't have to be expensive; it's the effort and consideration that truly matter.
Don't just send gifts for the big occasions either. If you can, send a little something to celebrate your friend's small accomplishments. Maybe they recently completed a challenging project at work, ran their first 5K, or finally started that hobby they've been talking about for years.
Supporting each other's goals and aspirations reinforces your bond and shows you care about their individual growth and successes. Remind your friend that you're cheering them on, no matter the distance.
4. Visit When Possible
Whenever you can, plan trips to see each other. There's nothing quite like spending quality time together face to face to strengthen your friendship and create new memories. Whether it's a weekend getaway, a holiday visit, or even a quick day trip, these moments can bring a renewed sense of closeness and keep the friendship vibrant and exciting.
Having a future visit to look forward to can also be a source of anticipation. It gives you both something to get excited about. You can also work together to plan an itinerary, which gives you the perfect excuse to catch up more often.
Use your visit to explore new places together, revisit favorite spots, or simply enjoy each other's company without the constraints of screens and distance. Planning these visits well in advance can ensure they happen more frequently. Put them on a shared digital calendar to keep you both on the same page.
Even if frequent visits aren't possible, making the effort when you can lets your friend know that you value the relationship and are willing to invest time and resources into maintaining it. As an added bonus, the memories created during these visits can sustain you during the times apart
Going the Distance
True friendships can endure despite the changes that come with adulthood. While maintaining these connections might require a bit more effort than during your school days, it is entirely possible with intentional actions and a bit of creativity. Thankfully, technology has made this easier than ever. With these tips, distance and busy schedules are no match for genuine, lasting friendships.
