Finding a best friend can be a long process, yet staying close as both of your lives change and evolve is an entirely new battle. At least, this was my experience as I headed off to Boston University this past fall and moved my whole life over 2,000 miles away. Yet in moving my life, I realized I was also leaving behind my best friend. While I’m sure many people have experienced the sadness of leaving behind old friends, moving away doesn’t always mean your friendship has to end. These three tips have helped me stay close to my best friend, and hopefully will help you and your bestie do the same!
- Create Common Experiences
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Most friendships are built off of shared experiences and interests, and this shouldn’t change once you live apart. My friend and I love to watch TV series together, so we plan times to watch an episode of our current favorite show. Think about what you and your friend enjoy doing, and try to experience that together a few times a month. Whether it’s reading a book, listening to a podcast, or watching a show, doing these things together will allow you to stay connected even if you can’t spend time together in person.
- Talk Regularly
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Texting is a great way for people to stay in touch, yet I’ve found that even texting can’t replace a full conversation. Make time at least once every week or two to either FaceTime or talk on the phone in order to catch up on what’s going on in each other’s lives. While it may be difficult to line up your schedules, prioritizing time with each other will ensure that you won’t drift apart.
- Accept Changes
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Whether you and your friend decide to keep in touch, it’s important to acknowledge the fact that your relationship will inevitably end up changing. You may not be able to keep up with each other’s lives as well as you did before, and you may find it difficult to make time for each other, and that’s okay. As your lives evolve, your friendship will as well, but this doesn’t make it less valuable. If anything, you and your best friend’s relationship will only become stronger as you grow.
Moving to college is a big step in life, and doing it without your best friend can be a big challenge. These three tips will hopefully help you and your bestie stay close as you work toward your futures.
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