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Abstract

you be upset if you never saw them again?</p><p id="0436">Now that you know this, you are ready to put some effort in. You have the right motivation — let’s see about the more practical steps.</p><h1 id="3bec">2) Establish How You Will Keep in Touch</h1><p id="d0d9">One of the first things I did when I moved to the UK was setting up a WhatsApp group with my family. I use Facebook to keep in touch with my best friend, and regular phone calls and texts with my grandparents.</p><p id="6836">Figure out what works best for you and your friend. Do they have access to the Internet? Do they prefer quick messages or long phone calls? Can they download certain apps to their phone?</p><h1 id="6064">3) Share the Little Things With Them</h1><p id="ca5d">You don’t need to have hour-long conversations every single day. You probably don’t have those even when you aren’t apart.</p><p id="b41e">But it’s nice to stay updated on each other’s lives. If you see something funny, take a picture and send it to them. If you have a weird encounter while on the bus, text them about it.</p><p id="b8b1">I text my friend about anything and everything. She does the same. One of my favorite moments that I look forward to every single morning is turning on my WiFi and seeing all her messages.</p><p id="4451">Those little snippets are important — they make you feel like you’re still part of each other’s lives, even if you can’t physically be together. This way you’re not missing out on anything.</p><h1 id="8b93">4) Schedule Proper Conversations</h1><p id="b8e2">This doesn’t have to be every day or even every week. It all depends on your preference.</p><p id="fb9a">I call my parents once a week every Monday. One of my friends and I talk every Saturday to discuss the newest episode of Drag Race.

Options

With another friend, we talk more sporadically and without a firm schedule, but when we do, we can spend up to 4 hours on the phone.</p><p id="9878">Do whatever works for you, but have those phone calls every now and again. Friendship isn’t just about knowing what’s happening in your everyday life. It’s also about those random talks and chats about your latest existential crisis, your theory on why you’re so obsessed with reality TV, or your hundredth discussion of your MBTI personality type.</p><h1 id="8aaa">5) Be Patient</h1><p id="e1a1" type="7">“Be slow to fall into friendship, but when you are in, continue firm and constant.” ― Socrates</p><p id="e1b5">Finally, this is the most important bit: patience. Maybe you’re in different time zones, maybe you have different schedules. It’s not always going to work out the way you intended. Sometimes you won’t be able to call, sometimes you won’t want to respond to the myriad of messages your friend sent you. Sometimes you’re both busy and end up not talking for almost a month.</p><p id="5285">But that’s okay.</p><p id="4349">Remember that this also happens when you do live close to each other. Life can get in the way. But even if it does, it doesn’t mean that your relationship is over.</p><p id="5ec2">You need to have patience with each other. Show each other love and support, even if it is across continents.</p><p id="4af9" type="7">“Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.” — Eleanor Roosevelt</p><p id="40b3">All relationships are hard work, and they require time and effort. But they’re so worth it. Trust me — if you keep up with your friends over a long distance, your bond will strengthen. This is how you make friends for life.</p></article></body>

How to Make Long-Distance Friendships Work

Friendships are some of the most important relationships in our lives and we need to take care of them.

There is a lot of advice out there on how to make long-distance romance work. But what about long-distance friendships?

Because of the current situation, many of us aren’t able to see our friends. The lockdown has separated us from each other. Some of us might be isolating in different cities or even different countries. The people we are used to seeing every day are no longer there.

Friendships are some of the most important relationships in our lives. We need to take care of them. But how do we do that?

“True friends are always together in spirit.” ― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

When I was 19, I moved to a different country. I was away from my friends and family. Still, I managed to keep these relationships very much alive. In some ways, my best friend and I have gotten even closer during the time we spent apart. I thought long and hard about how we did it and came up with a list of ideas that might help you.

1) Acknowledge the Importance of Your Friendships

To be able to work on something, you need to be aware of it. Think about the friends you have. Think about how much they mean to you. Would you be upset if you never saw them again?

Now that you know this, you are ready to put some effort in. You have the right motivation — let’s see about the more practical steps.

2) Establish How You Will Keep in Touch

One of the first things I did when I moved to the UK was setting up a WhatsApp group with my family. I use Facebook to keep in touch with my best friend, and regular phone calls and texts with my grandparents.

Figure out what works best for you and your friend. Do they have access to the Internet? Do they prefer quick messages or long phone calls? Can they download certain apps to their phone?

3) Share the Little Things With Them

You don’t need to have hour-long conversations every single day. You probably don’t have those even when you aren’t apart.

But it’s nice to stay updated on each other’s lives. If you see something funny, take a picture and send it to them. If you have a weird encounter while on the bus, text them about it.

I text my friend about anything and everything. She does the same. One of my favorite moments that I look forward to every single morning is turning on my WiFi and seeing all her messages.

Those little snippets are important — they make you feel like you’re still part of each other’s lives, even if you can’t physically be together. This way you’re not missing out on anything.

4) Schedule Proper Conversations

This doesn’t have to be every day or even every week. It all depends on your preference.

I call my parents once a week every Monday. One of my friends and I talk every Saturday to discuss the newest episode of Drag Race. With another friend, we talk more sporadically and without a firm schedule, but when we do, we can spend up to 4 hours on the phone.

Do whatever works for you, but have those phone calls every now and again. Friendship isn’t just about knowing what’s happening in your everyday life. It’s also about those random talks and chats about your latest existential crisis, your theory on why you’re so obsessed with reality TV, or your hundredth discussion of your MBTI personality type.

5) Be Patient

“Be slow to fall into friendship, but when you are in, continue firm and constant.” ― Socrates

Finally, this is the most important bit: patience. Maybe you’re in different time zones, maybe you have different schedules. It’s not always going to work out the way you intended. Sometimes you won’t be able to call, sometimes you won’t want to respond to the myriad of messages your friend sent you. Sometimes you’re both busy and end up not talking for almost a month.

But that’s okay.

Remember that this also happens when you do live close to each other. Life can get in the way. But even if it does, it doesn’t mean that your relationship is over.

You need to have patience with each other. Show each other love and support, even if it is across continents.

“Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

All relationships are hard work, and they require time and effort. But they’re so worth it. Trust me — if you keep up with your friends over a long distance, your bond will strengthen. This is how you make friends for life.