Maintaining friendships in post grad life is hard, but it’s all about making an effort. Its easier than you think to lose touch with your pals, life moves fast and things change rapidly when you're experiencing the big world out there for the first time on your own. You may stop a little too late and realize you haven’t nurtured some pretty important friendships that made you who you are today.
It's a sad and completely unnecessary reality so here's some tips to avoid that:
1. Always respond to that text message.
We get it life gets busy , and we tell ourselves we’ll respond later. You might be missing a really important moment for them. Set a reminder and get back to them as soon as you can.
2. Make sure you're not just sending memes.
Memes saying ‘this reminded me of you’ are cute but that's not really staying up to date with each other's lives. Take the time to text, send a voice note or even better yet call. People are more understanding than you think. If you don't have a lot of time , say ‘I'm kind of stressed right now but i wanted to connect with you.’ Clear communication will solve most issues.
Remember if even if they're not physically there, they want to know about the silly details as much as the small wins. Don't assume your communication style and the subject matter needs to change just because there is distance.
3. Tell them you miss them.
It's always good to let your loved ones know you how you feel and that they are loved and appreciated. Tag them in a story flashback or just send them a text.
Going off to college can be an incredible adventure but it can also be one of the scariest and sometimes loneliest, times in our lives.
Don't lose touch with the special people who got you through the first 18 years and let them know they are not in it alone either. Distance can be difficult to navigate but not impossible. The effort will be worth it.
