The older we get the more likely friends have started to move away, start families and pursue new career and life paths. With that, it can be hard to stay in touch with friends. I think it’s the ultimate test of a friendship. Can you stay connected after a big move or life change? If you can, I think it says a lot about your friendship. But when I look back at those friendships that have survived move after move, career change after career change, there are a few common threads in those friendships.
I think those common threads are the key to maintaining long distance friendships. Or even just friends whose lives are going in a different direction and
How To Keep A Long Distance Friendship Close
PS I asked my readers what they do and am sharing a few of their tips too!
A Few Ideas To Stay Connected In Your Long Distance Friendships
Snail Mail
This was hands down the most common suggestion I received from readers and 100% agree. I’m not much of a card person. You won’t ever get a birthday card from me, but I’ll most definitely send you a “thinking of you” card on a random Tuesday. And to me that matters most. They make someone smile on a random day that they weren’t expecting it. It makes them know that you’re thinking about them and it can speak mounds without having to say a word. Plus, stationery cards are SO pretty. I rounded up a few favorites at the end of today’s post!
“Handwritten mail goes a long way in my opinion since there is a bit more effort involved” – Karly of What Karly Said
Group Text
Since group texts are so popular (I pride myself on being the official namer of group texts) this is also a great way to keep a group of friends communicating often. If you don’t like all the notifications you can definitely mute the conversation and catch up when you can. My group text with my #BloggersDoTravel girlfriends is always going off and then I’ve got my handful of girlfriends in Atlanta and we stay connected on that daily. Sometimes we can’t all get together for dinner, and we all have such different schedules. Group texts allow us to share throughout the day and there’s no pressure in responding immediately or everyone being in the conversation all at once. But it’s a way to feel together as a group in a sense without physically being together.
Plan A Trip
Remember this post on reasons to take a girls trip? Well, this is it! Staying connected with friends on an annual trip that you can prioritize every year is a great option. It doesn’t even have to be a big trip either. A quick drive to the mountains or beach for a weekend is all you need. It will help to revitalize your friendships and help create memories that will last you until the next year you get together. I think doing something annually (or however frequently you like) helps to add a level of importance to it. Knowing that it’s signifcant to you and your friends you’ll make it a priority to save for the trip and take the necessary time off to make it work.
Schedule Dates
If you live in the same city but just lead very different lives and schedules, planning scheduled dates is best. If it’s Monday night Bachelor viewings, or rotating dinner hosting, having something planned and consistent will hold everyone accountable. I love the idea of rotating homemade dinners once a month. It’s a great way to try out new recipes and enjoy each others company at home where you can relax and unwind without the pressures of spending a ton of money at a restaurant.
“Planning dates out helps the most because we all have families and need advance notice” – Julia of Glitter & Juls
Pick Up The Phone
It’s unheard of these days to actually ANSWER your phone. But something I tried to do more in 2018 and also this year for part of my goals was to get off my phone more (texting, Instagram, work) and instead pick up the phone and foster friendships and relationships. Not everyone likes talking on the phone every single day. But maybe make an effort once a week or once a month to call your friends and just chat. Sometimes those are the best few hours you can do for your friendships. Facetime is also a fun way to stay connected and share what’s going on in your life.
How do you stay connected with long distance friends?
Photos by Julie Livingston Photography
