Abby Connolly
If you’re reading this and already thinking of a few people with whom you have a low-maintenance friendship, here are some tips for healthily maintaining them.
Show up for the big stuff
Aside from making an effort to see this friend occasionally, it’s important to show up for the milestones and big events in their lives. For instance, if you don’t live far from them and get invited to their birthday celebrations, go! If they have an important work-related event you’re invited to, go!
It’s important to be there for the big moments or important events in our friends’ lives, as it’s one of the best ways to show them how much you care.
Find easy ways to spend time with them.
If this friend lives nearby but you’re struggling to find time to spend with them due to a busy schedule, try to do more low-key activities with them. Not every reunion with them has to be a big night out with drinks and the works.
Instead, ask them to walk around the neighborhood with you while you walk your dog. Maybe they’d even want to go grocery shopping or attend a workout class with you.
These activities are the things you have to do anyway, so why not ask your friend to join you?
Don’t forget your long-distance buddies
After my college graduation in New York, my best friend, who was my roommate in school, moved back to her hometown in California, and I was a nervous wreck about us losing touch. However, we made it work, thanks to modern technology.
No, you don’t have to text your friends every day, but if you have a low-maintenance friend who lives far away, you have to at least text or call them occasionally. One phone call or FaceTime session every two weeks makes a big difference in how close your relationship will be.
