Moving away to college is the start of a new chapter. For many, this means leaving a number of their childhood friends, when everyone is attending different universities in different places. It’s normal for friends to become scattered geographically as this new chapter begins. Suddenly one’s most important relationships, from significant others to parents to best friends, are long distance. This year I moved seven hours northwest of my hometown, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to attend Florida State University. All of my hometown friends are attending other universities, including my best friend who is at the University of South Florida in Tampa, four hours away from Tallahassee. The methods below are five things we do to stay in touch and to maintain our strong bond through distance.
1. Texting
This one is a given. Our habits of constantly texting each other have not at all changed from when we were home, although it makes more of an impact now with miles between us. Texting is a way of communication that keeps us in each other’s lives throughout the day when we can’t physically see each other.
2. Netflix Party
My best friend and I have known each other since second grade. Throughout the years of our friendship, there have been countless sleepovers and late-night movies. At home, we were always able to enjoy movies physically together, but now we have adapted that years old tradition to fit the distance. Netflix Party is a fun and easy way to stay in touch and to do something we used to do in person while at college.
3. Speaking About the Future
We always speak about the future. We are constantly making plans about the things we’ll do when we’re reunited back home over the holiday break and summer vacation. This is one way to show that we intend to keep each other in our lives and are committed to the friendship. Research on evolutionary psychology says that talking about the future plays a big role in what motivates people to put time and effort into their relationships. Alongside speaking of the future, we discuss possible plans for visiting each other during the semester.
4. Sending Letters/Packages
This method is a little more costly and requires some patience on both the receiving and sending end. Regardless, this is a great physical way we show that we are thinking of each other. It’s also an easy way to put a smile on the other person’s face, because who doesn’t enjoy receiving something in the mail!
5. Facetime
Facetiming goes alongside texting. We used to Facetime every so often at home but it recently has become a bigger part of our methods of communication. Although I am not a very big fan of Facetiming, it’s the next best thing to being together in person. Facetime is a great way to communicate in the moment as if we were face to face. Plus, it makes a difference when we aren’t and won’t be face to face for a few months.
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