I met one of my best friends almost four years ago. She had just moved to North Carolina from Illinois due to her father marrying my aunt, so that meant she was also my new cousin! From the first day we met, we instantly became close to one another. We told each other secrets and made many memories together during the time she was down here. But then, a little over a year after we originally met, she moved back to Illinois. This meant that we were now 800 miles apart, and our relationship was now a long-distance one.

After three years of being apart, I am now in Illinois visiting here and we are just as close as we used to be - it is like nothing has changed! Although we quickly fell back into our old routines, time and distance made it hard to keep the relationship stable. We had our moments of talking on the phone and FaceTiming each other nonstop, but we also had our fair share of moments where we went months without talking.

Distance isn’t easy on any type of relationship, but here are my tips on how my friend and I kept a healthy friendship:

1. Schedule times to call one another.

The key to a great and healthy friendship is communication. Long distance can very easily destroy communication because you can’t always see one another at the drop of a hate. However, in today’s time, we have many options and phone applications that allow people to stay in touch. Skype, for example, is a GREAT way to talk face-to-face with our loved ones, even if they are miles away. Scheduling video chats, or even just calling on a phone, can help keep friendships close.

2. Trust one another.

Trust is crucial when trying to sustain a relationship. Without it, arguments or even ending the friendship can occur. One simple idea to remember is that not talking DOES NOT mean the same thing as losing touch; a friendship does not diminish when you take time for yourselves and do not talk every day. Put your trust in one another!

3. Give space when it is needed.

Talking every single day for weeks on weeks can strain a relationship. Although it is great to communicate, overdoing it can lead to agitation. So, it is more than okay to take a day or week to yourself. Talking shouldn’t become a choir. When it is forced, it becomes less enjoyable for each other. Talk to your friend when you feel the need of space, but make sure they understand why it is important for the both of you. Make sure they are completely aware of the situation at hand; do not just disappear or ignore them.

4. When you do see them, capture the moments with photographs.

Taking pictures or selfies is a great way to capture memories together, and it is also a great way to reminisce on the things you did when the two of you were together. It’s always annoying to leave memories behind without any way to look back on them. So, take as many photographs as you want!