We all have friends from college, jobs, social media, or our childhood who now, unfortunately, live in another town, state, or part of the world. Maintaining a friendship has its challenges in today’s hectic world.
It is possible to stay close no matter how many miles separate you and your best pal; however, it is a constant challenge to stay connected when your friends live worldwide due to time zone changes and busy schedules. So, how do you maintain closeness in long-distance friendships?
We’ve got you covered! Follow along to find the best tips for staying close for years to come.
1. Be Pen Pals
The old-fashioned art of letter writing is a perfect way to stay connected. Social media frequently gives a false sense of closeness. Many of us don’t post regularly, or what we post isn’t what is truly going on in our lives. On the contrary, writing letters can maintain a closeness that isn’t possible in other forms of communication.
You can share your hopes, dreams, thoughts, and updates that are sometimes lacking even in friends that live nearby. Even if you don’t feel like you are a good writer, it is still possible to share your day or share glimpses of your life that other people may not see. You could buy fun stationery, pens, and stickers and show off your creativity and personality. Don’t forget the stamps!
2. Host a Watch Party
Make the popcorn and get the blankets; it’s movie night!
Thanks to the pandemic era debut of the ‘watch party,’ we now have many options to host a movie night with our friends regardless of the distance that separates us. With a wide variety of platforms now hosting streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, HBO, and Hulu ‘watch parties,’ it is possible to see almost any genre of movie or television show.
The chatbox feature is an excellent way for you to talk about the show or movie while you’re watching. You and your friend can simultaneously share your reactions and comment as the film is streaming. First, one of you needs a streaming service account to host a ‘watch party,’ and then both of you need to add a Teleparty Chrome extension. Then you’re good to go!
3. Take an Annual Trip
Taking an annual friend trip is something you and your long-distance pal can always look forward to every year. The thrill of knowing you’ll get to see each other on your next annual trip can help maintain closeness, and you keep the bond of shared experiences. In addition, it is fun to plan the next place you would both want to go and check it off your list each year.
You could both choose three places you’ve always wanted to visit and then have a poll to see where you will go. Then you and your friend can save the other places on your lists for the following year. The key is to make the annual trip a priority to get off work, organize childcare ahead of time, and do anything else that you may need to do to make a yearly trip a reality.
There are so many options for budget travel and discount tickets, so you can plan a trip on almost any budget. Don’t let the fear of an overpriced trip keep you from seeing your long-distance friend every year. It might be a good idea to discuss the budget ahead of time, so you are both on the same page.
4. Start a Book Club
Do you and your friend share a love of reading? Are there books you haven’t had a chance to read on your ‘books to-read’ list?
If you answered yes to both of those questions, then it sounds like a book club may be the perfect way for you and your long-distance pal to maintain closeness. Virtual or long-distance book clubs are excellent for readers who want to share the experiences of reading a new book or a classic favorite with a close friend.
First, make a list of a few books you both want to read. You can then create a poll and choose the text you want to read to start your book club. Next, make a schedule of when you will talk about the book.
A good option may be after every chapter or after every 15 pages. Then, depending on how much time you have to read, you can schedule a FaceTime session or a phone call and chat about what the chapter meant to you. Then, before you know it, you’ve finished a book together!
Starting a book club with your long-distance friend is a great way to tackle your reading list and to maintain closeness by sharing your love of reading with each other. It would be fun to keep a list of all the books you have read together. Then, you can look back at the end of the year and see how many books you have read together.
5. Have a Regular Gift Exchange
Who doesn’t love receiving presents in the mail?
A regular gift exchange between you and your long-distance pal is a great way to let them know they have been on your mind, and you got them something special to say hi. It doesn’t have to be an expensive gift exchange, just something from the heart.
It is always remarkable to get something unique to a particular area if you live in another country or are visiting a new region. Gifts from traveling are always fun to receive because it is unique and particularly thoughtful when someone goes on vacation to know they were thinking of you.
You could also exchange handmade DIY gifts throughout the year, such as scrapbooks of your trips together, or you could get in touch with your creative side and draw, paint or crochet your friend’s gift. It is always special to get something made especially for you by someone you care about and who cares about you.
You could also buy the book from your book club or pay for each other’s meals during your annual getaway. Or you could buy each other stationery for letter writing. Here are a few other gift ideas:
- Coffee
- Magazine subscriptions
- Giftcards
- Journals
- Postcards
Anything that says to your friend that they are essential in your life will be special to them.
6. Get a Personalized Lovebox
Still not sure of the best way to maintain closeness in a long-distance friendship?
Our personalized Lovebox is always a great way to send a special message to a friend who lives far away. It is a connected messaging device that you pair with an app to deliver your unique message to your long-distance friend. You can also include photos, stickers, or drawings with your message.
We have several Lovebox options to choose from including the original color and photo Lovebox and the original black and white Lovebox, both of which are fully customizable with options for stickers, drawings, and messages. The black and white option gives a nice retro look for your long-distance friend with an old soul.
We also have spinny options in a variety of colors, including the vibrant color pixel spinny. The spinny choice is excellent because it is magnetized, perfect for someone who may like to put their spinny on their fridge or include it with their office decor. You can also connect your Lovebox to as many people as you want, so if you have multiple long-distance friends, it is perfect for everyone to stay connected.
Long Distance Friendship Made Easy
It is possible to maintain closeness in long-distance friendships. To effectively keep your long-distance friendships alive and robust, find something you both enjoy, such as being pen pals and hosting watch parties together.
It is easy to find a show or movie streamed, with so many streaming services offering the ‘watch party’ feature. Make some popcorn, and both of you enjoy the chat feature perfectly located on the screen to chat together.
Don’t forget to keep track of what you both are reading and start a book club together. Having a regular gift exchange, especially with our personalized Lovebox, you can always be in each other’s hearts even if you aren’t in close physical proximity.
Sources:
How To Maintain A Long Distance Friendship & Stay Close | Refinery 29
Five ways to maintain long-distance friendships | The Guardian
19 Simple Ways To Maintain A Long-Distance Relationship With Your Best Friend | Huff Post
