Having just returned to America this week after spending the last four months studying abroad in England, one of the things I'm most looking forward to is reuniting with all my friends and swapping stories about everything I missed during the Fall semester. As much as I loved my time abroad exploring new cities and making new friends, one regret I do have is not keeping in touch with people as much as I promised I would. Even though I definitely tried to stay connected through WhatsApp messages and Snapchats, things like limited cell data, weekend travel plans, and opposite time zones definitely made contacting my friends and family a lot more difficult than I expected.

If you're planning to study abroad one day, here are a few tips I wished someone would have told me about how to make the long-distance separation not feel so isolating and overwhelming.

1. Have a Plan BEFORE You Leave

The first few weeks of the new semester are always incredibly hectic and it's easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of experiencing new cultures and forget to check in with all the important people in your life back in the States. Even though you want to be independent and get out of your comfort zone by seeing as many sights as possible, remember there's no shame in taking a break just to hear your Mom's voice or wish your teammates back home good luck in their latest match.

Long before boarding the plane, try to make a commitment to touch base at least two times a week with your close friends either by phone/text/email etc. and hold yourself accountable when you feel like you just "don't have the time in your day" to dedicate to hearing what's going on in someone else's life.

Also, make sure you give out your new cell number and address to everyone you want to keep in touch with before you leave so that you won't accidentally get charged any crazy expensive international texting fees.

2. Schedule Specific Talk Times

Different time zones and spotty dorm Wi-Fi connections make it extra tough to find mutually convenient times to schedule long phone calls. With the six hour time difference between England and the U.S. I constantly had to stay up past midnight my time in order to catch up with my parents after work. In order to make the separation easier for both sides, I found it was best to check what big meetings/plans my friends and family had coming up for the week and pick a set window of time that they would be free. That way I didn't make the mistake of accidentally calling in the middle of someone's morning Stats class or accidentally wake up my dad at 4am ... again.

3. Go Old School

Remember how when you were a kid you always wanted a pen pal from another country? Sure, internal postage may be a little slower than iMessage, but by starting a letter exchange with your college friends you'll always have a small piece of home to look forward to when you check your dorm mail box. Writing letters and sending postcards to your friends is not only a thoughtful way to keep in touch, but it also allows you to take the time to look back over all the new things going on in your life each week and pick out what events were important enough to put down on paper. Plus, once you return you'll have an amazing collection of memories to keep as sentimental souvenirs from your travels.

4. Have Face to Face Dates

Of course modern technology has its advantages as well. Thanks to Skype and FaceTime it's easier than ever to get a glimpse into your loved ones everyday lives even if they're 3,000 miles away. Especially on occasions that you're feeling really homesick/out of the loop on campus, video chats feel way more personal than normal phone calls. Swap virtual dorm room tours with your BFF and make sure to check in on your pets back home too!

5. Make A Reunion Bucket List

One easy way to make the months of separation go by faster and make sure your friends at home know that you're thinking about them is by planning out all the fun you'll have together once you get back! It's easy for friends to get jealous when they see your exciting foreign adventures plastered all over Facebook. Make sure to let them know how much you appreciate them and all the good times you've shared by setting a date next semester to go ice skating or even just re-visiting your fave campus nacho place!