Keeping adult friendships going can be a minefield, so what do you do when your friends live all over the UK?
Being a kid is easy, if you want to see your friend chances are your parents can take you over after school and have you home before bed.
Adult friendships, on the other hand, are suddenly all about arranging a date around all your conflicting schedules.
Here is a guide on how you can make adult friendships work when you and your friends live all over the UK.
Use Text messages
When you can’t be with your friends utilising text messages or social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp or Snapchat is probably the best option. You have your phone right there, all the time, ready to pick and go and let the conversation flow at the best pace.
Send each other messages daily, weekly or whatever schedule works for your friendship. Send each other updates, share memories or discuss funny things. Talk about whatever it is that is normal for your friendship.
Use phone calls
Use phone calls when texts just won’t do or because you need to hear your friends voice. Call each other once a week, or month depending on whatever schedule works for your friendship.
You can also call just because you felt like it or because you were missing your friend. Call when you have big news that just will not cut it on text. Call because you want to have a long conversation.
Use video calls
Video calls are great if you want make that face-to-face connection with someone and it’s sometimes easier to show your emotion if someone can see your face.
Or maybe you want to video call to share something you recently brought or an award you won. You could also use video calls to play games with your friend.
Arrange to see them
Arrange to see your friend for when none of the above methods will cut it. Sometimes there really is no substitute to being able to physically see and hug your friend.
Try to see your friend monthly, every three months or once a year. You could even make it into a weekend away or a trip if you live too far apart. You may even be able to get a good deal on travel with a student saving card.
Plan a games night
Just because you can’t be together doesn’t mean you can’t have fun – playing an online game with your friend can be just as much fun as being together physically and will provide you with some good quality time together.
There are plenty of online games out there so you can find at least one to play with your friend. You can definitely consider inviting more than one friend to the games night to maximise the fun.
Make the most out of time together
When you do manage to spend precious time together in person be sure to make the most of it. Due to the business of adult schedules, you might not get to see your friend that much so ensure that you both have a great time together.
Plan something fun to do together or just simply hang out together. When you see your friends, it’s not about what you are doing, it’s just about being together.