How To Keep Your Friends Close When They Live Far Away
Today’s blog post is written by Hannah-Beth of Oh Hey Hannah. She wrote great tips that can help you to keep your friends close when they live far away. It might be a difficult task, but is totally possible! Keeping friendships is important. It can be a real struggle when your friends go to different directions, but time and distance shouldn’t be an obstacle.
You can connect with Hannah-Beth through: Instagram and Twitter
To keep your friends close when they live far away is a skill, meaning some of us (like me) are really terrible at it. It becomes so much harder to keep in touch when they move away for school or a new job. A bunch of my friends are older than me, so they moved away after graduating college. Even though I get to see them less we’re still close. Below are 5 tips for keeping your long distance friends close.
1. Send them snail mail
I know it can get expensive, and it’s a pain to get their actual address and take things to the UPS store and all that jazz. But sending handwritten letters packages is a great way to let your friends know you still care about them. A random gift with a simple note says that they are still in your thoughts and care about them.
2. Snap, facetime, and text them constantly
We’re in this amazing time of technology where we can get a hold of people instantly. Being apart of people’s everyday life keeps you in their immediate circle. Just chatting about y’alls day or plans is enough, if it’s been awhile since you’ve chatted send a quick How-have-you-been text and get a convo going.
3. Make plans to visit
It can be expensive to travel all the time to see your friends. Try meeting in a wine town, or at a bed and breakfast halfway between y’all to save money. Or take turns hosting each other for a girl’s weekend. Having an annual plan for someone’s birthday is a great way to have something to look forward to and a way to keep your friends closer.
4. Be the one to reach out
Everyone is busy, so don’t blame your friends for dropping off the face of the earth when they move away. Be the initializer and don’t feel weird about always being the one to reach out or a suggest plans. Also, don’t expect your friends to call you or send letters back, understand that everyone (even your old BFFs) are human, and it’s easy to forget to respond to a text.
5. Understand that relationships change
Hate to say it, but some friendships aren’t forever. Talking your friends less make changes in y’alls relationship. That doesn’t mean the times you shared are any less important or fun. Seeing your friends less makes you cherish the time you do get to see them. Sometimes it’s unrealistic to visit once a year or send letters every month, but there can still be an understanding between you two that you care about each other.
Do you have friends that don’t live in the same city/town as you? How do you keep your friends close when they live far away? Let me know in the comments!
Sincerely,
Melissa
So many great tips! My goal for this year has been to be more intentional about spending time with my friends. This was the reminder I needed to put some plans into action 🙂
XO, SS || Seersucker Sass
Love this post! This will be especially useful for me as I just graduated college and my friends are moving all over!
xo
Sami
The Classic Brunette
I try to send my far away friends snail mail, in the least for their birthdays!
all of the my close girlfriends live in Europe except for one who lives in the US but not near me. It’s been so important for us to stay in contact, we are always whatsapping and sending messages. I also like to send snail mail at times =o) It’s always fun getting something in the mail =o)
http://dreamofadventures.com/
Love this post! I actually made quite a few friends while I was in grad school, but we live all over the place. So we keep in tough through messaging one another, and we send cards through snail mail! It’s actually pretty fun getting actual mail from someone these days haha.
Snail Mail is so fun! Happens so little that when you get something on the mail is super exciting hahaha. Thanks for reading!
I’m just about to move 4 hours away from home so this is just the perfect thing to read!
Katie // wordsbykatie.com
I’m glad this is helpful for you. Thanks for reading Katie 🙂
#5 is so important to remember. Sometimes it’s okay to move on 💖
So true! People change too so is something natural in life. Thanks for reading!
Love this post! I feel like this is even applies after graduating college – this is what I immediately thought of when I read all these tips. I went from being in a college town with all my best friends either being my roommates or living in the same apartment building as me, having the same classes, being in the same sorority – etc. to now everyone is living separately and having their jobs, etc. It’s so easy to lose touch with someone and one day you’ll realize – oh wow, I haven’t seen some of my friends in months.
Have a great weekend! 🙂
Allie
http://www.champagne-tuesdays.com
That’s what I hate sometimes of growing up. Everyone goes to different directions and it’s hard. All my friends live in the same city but we still don’t see each other much! And it’s crazy, but they are busy studying or working or already have different plans. Thanks for reading Allie! Have a great weekend too <3
I am always keeping in contact with the friends I dont live by anymore! I always love to plan trips to visit or to go away together!
that’s the best! Planning trips with people might be hard sometimes because all have to agree hahaha but at the end it’s worth it.
These tips are so true, tried and tested. My high school friends and I have been really busy as we entered college, but we still keep in touch in Facebook and have get togethers during birthdays!
xox Aica B
http://www.aicabatoon.com
Exactly! When people start growing and going to different directions is harder. But when everyone wants to keep in touch is always possible.
I travelled and moved a lot growing up and I think it is very important to nurture relationships and friendships. I have friends across the world and it is fantastic.
It’s the best. Especially because you have always a excuse to travel! hahaha
Tru dis. I have half of my friends over in Finland and half of them all over the UK. It’s imperative to keep lines of communication open and organise trips to see one another.
Katja xxx
http://www.katnapped.com
Yes! It’s really important the communication and always organize with time trips.
Aw I love this! Especially the snail mail tip…it’s so funny but I love love love getting old fashioned letters in the mail 🙂 I live about 3 hours away from home so thank you for the reminder on connecting with loved ones!
It’s because is more special now that we now it takes a little more of work hahaha Thanks for reading!
Yes, these are such important tips. The majority of my best friends don’t live in the same city as me and it sucks but when we see each other we pick back up where we left off.
That’s the best! Like there was no distance between the friendship 🙂
This hits close to home because I have two INCREDIBLE best friends. Both of witch don’t live very close. Being the one to touch base first is definitely something I recommend. I personally have a reminder on my phone to text each of them at least once a week and make it a point to see them every two months! Like anything in life.. all about planning. Loved this xx
That’s true! Planning helps a lot. Thanks for reading 🙂
these are great trips, but as someone who has had 7 years of this experience, I think realizing that true friendships doesn’t need constant communication and that everything will be back to “normal” when you see them again!
http://thesophiadiaries.com/top5/top-5-places-to-buy-lapel-pins-online
I agree! Real friends are the ones that are with you when you need them the most
I’ve never send snail mail, however I do all of the other tips. Also learned the hard way that relationships change.
xo
http://www.carinavardie.com
Relationship do change with time, and you learn which ones are more valuable.
I love snail mail! I think these are great tips!
Thank you Maegan!
My two best friends and I go to school in 3 different states, so sometimes it gets hard to catch up! We do have a group chat which makes it super easy to chat about what’s going on in our lives. I love the snail mail idea!
Hannah | the swirl blog
It can get hard, specially when people have other things to do. Thanks for reading Hannah <3
I love sending snail mail to friends, it just feels more special to me!
It’s just a small detail that means a lot
nice and simple || I have a long distance best friend i do all the above
That’s a friendship that will survive everything!
This is a wonderful post and such great tips for staying close. It can be so hard to be so far from good friends, these tips definitely help to bridge the gap. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for reading Amanda <3
Ah this was wonderful post! Six years ago I left my family & friends behind and started a new life away. Well, some of the friends got lost on the way but I’ve still got few good ones left 🙂
That’s really brave! Distance is always a good test to knows who’s your real friends.
As someone who lives miles away from most of her close friends, this post is amazing to me ❤️
My fav is the snail mail. We have lost a beautiful art in forgoing letter writing for WhatsApp!
Because it takes so long and you have to do a lot of things to send snail mail. The other person always will appreciate it more!
I have never thought of sending a snail mail but it seems like a very cute and sweet gesture to do! <3
Angelie // Manicure Mondays: Faby The Magic Wand
It is! Even if it’s just a postcard is a beautiful gesture.
Thank you Melissa for your post. I am in touch with a close friend who lives in California, while I stay in Italy. Is not always easy being in touch, but we try to do our best, using Facebook or Skype as well. This year I went visiting him in LA, and maybe next year he will come. The relationship is the basis that is my experience.
Exactly! People follow their own lives and it’s hard to keep in touch. But when the friendship is real no matter how far the person is.
The snail mail is a great idea…but honestly the last time I sent handwritten notes to a far destination was between 1999 -2003…it used to be fun then. These days, emails and social media has helped bridge the gap. I like the idea of being the first to reach out
Sometimes little details like sending a postcard can be enough and that person will feel very special.
I think snail mail is great – everyone would appreciate finding something personal in their mailbox! With the technology we have, fortunately, staying in touch isn’t so hard and along with direct communication like you mentioned, it’s important to keep up with their lives on social media too so that when you’re having a conversation, you know what to talk about.
Madison // http://www.madsmaybe.com
Lately with all the technology it’s more special when you receive something in your mailbox like the old times. Yes! I agree with that. And in a way it shows you care.
As I announced in my latest post…I’m moving. So, these tips will definitely come in handy.
I’ve already seen friendships change with my friends due to differences- as they moved to different parts of the country for uni. It’s bound to change- that’s normal.
I’d LOVE to receive ‘snail mail’ one day- that’s not a receipt or a bill!
Steph
http://www.socialspying.com
It is normal! And friendships evolve as well. Good luck with everything 🙂