How to Maintain a Long-Distance Friendship
Can long-distance friendships work?
Yes, as long as both people involved in the relationship make a conscious effort in that direction.
Most of us have gone through this at least once in our lives. One of our close friends has to move for work, studies, or for any other reason. We feel sad, and we are afraid that our friendship will never be the same. Sounds familiar? Don’t worry; things are not as bad as they seem.
While it’s true that your friendship will not be the same, it doesn’t mean that it will be worse. Just because things will be different doesn’t mean they can’t still be great. In fact, research shows that your bond can become even stronger. You just need to make a priority out of keeping the relationship alive in spite of the challenges.
Not sure how to do that? Here are some tips that will help you maintain a long-distance friendship.
Stay in Touch
It goes without saying that in order to maintain a long-distance friendship, you need to stay in touch with your friend. Therefore, make communication with them a priority.
That doesn’t mean that you need to spend endless hours on the phone or talk every day. It just means that you need to check up on them regularly, let them know whenever something important happens in your life, and have longer conversations from time to time to catch up.
Furthermore, use the internet to your advantage. Whenever you read something interesting, or you see something funny, share it with your friend. It’s a nice way of letting them know you thought about them, and it requires little effort. Social media is also great for communicating with friends who are miles apart. Don’t underestimate the importance of sharing spontaneous insta stories, sending them memes, or interacting with their social media posts.
Find Activities You Can Do Together
Just because you’re apart doesn’t mean that you can’t find activities to do together. Based on your mutual hobbies and interests, there are several things you could do to maintain your long-distance friendship.
For example, you can watch the same TV show or read the same book and then talk about it. Or, you could read a book, annotate it with your opinions, and then send it to your friend.
If you are into gaming, there are several online games that you can play together. If you like to cook, you can share recipes and send each other pictures of what you’ve cooked. The possibilities of involving your long-distance friend in your daily activities are endless, so get creative.
Plan Holidays Together
When you spend much time apart, getting together feels amazing. So, when you are making holiday plans, make sure you involve your long-distance friend. Whether you invite them over, you pay them a visit, or you plan a holiday together, meeting in real life from time to time is a great way to strengthen your bond. In fact, studies show that you should seek out opportunities for friendship renewal, as they are essential for keeping the relationship alive.
Depending on the circumstances, getting together with your friend in real life might require a big effort from both sides, but it is definitely worth it.
Keep It Real
An important aspect of maintaining a long-distance friendship is to try to keep things real. Remember that even if your friend is miles away, they are the same person.
You might have the tendency to only share the good news with them or sugarcoat certain aspects of your life when talking to them. Don’t do that. Keep things as they were before your friend left and share with them both the good and the bad events in your life.
Also, don’t be afraid o go into little details. Think about it—if your friend was by your side, would you tell them all the details about a certain event? If the answer is yes, then nothing should change just because you two are apart.
Show Them You Care
To maintain a long-distance friendship, it’s important to let your friend know that you care and that you want to make the relationship work.
You can do that by reaching out to them and finding ways to show them that you are thinking about them. For example, try not to forget important events from their life, such as birthdays, anniversaries, or other similar occasions. Find a way to celebrate these milestones from their lives even if you are apart. You can do that by sending them a gift or just by giving them a call to let them know you have their back.
Also, don’t hesitate to reach out first. You both need to make an effort and initiate conversations to make the relationship work.
Final Thoughts
Long-distance friendships can work, and they can transform into beautiful relationships that last for a lifetime. So, if your friend is about to move far away from you, don’t panic. As long as you both want it, your friendship can remain as strong as it was when you were living in the same city.
Do you have long-distance friends? How do you maintain your relationship strong? Let me know in the comments below.