As we get older, friends go to different schools in different states and leave for jobs. I go to school about four hours away from home. Most of my friends have remained in the area or go to college even further away than me. My friend group saw each other every day in high school, and now we rarely get together as a big group. It can get hard to keep in touch when we're all so far away and have our own lives. Growing up means moving away, but not drifting apart. To avoid drifting apart, talk to your friends.
Thankfully, technology makes it easier to stay in contact. No matter how busy life gets, there's always time for a silly snapchat or a quick "Hey, how's it going" text. College, while fun, can also get stressful. Sending that quick text or silly picture to a friend could brighten their day and turn a bad day into a good day. If anything, your friend should appreciate you're thinking of them and checking up. If you have more time, skyping is great. Seeing your friend's face after some time apart, even if on a screen, makes the homesickness and loneliness disappear. In that moment, it feels like my friends are sitting right next to me and laughing right with me.
It's important to keep in contact and not let weeks and months go by without talking. Some friends can wait months and get right back into the conversation, but most people don't like that. The longer you wait to talk again, the more likely your friendship could drift apart and you could lose a friend. I'm guilty of sometimes going months without talking to friends, and every time I start talking again, I wish I hadn't let so much time pass. A simple text takes minutes out of your day. A quick phone call does not take much time either, and will let your friend know you're thinking of them.
Similarly, keeping in constant contact can make the other person feel trapped or make you seem clingy. People in long distance friendships need their space too. If you've only recently moved to a long distance friendship, it can take some time to find a good space in between calls and skype sessions. Do not call your friend all the time with every little event that happens in your life. Schedule a day to have a weekly phone conversation or skype date.
Have a countdown for when you can see your friend face-to-face again. Schedule a day or a weekend for a visit. This gives you something to look forward to and build up excitement for. When the day finally arrives, you'll be overjoyed to hug your friend again and meet in person.
To make long distance friendships work, it requires effort and contact from both parties.
