It can be very difficult to keep in touch with all your friends, even if you care a lot about them. If either of you were to move or if you simply increase the commitments in your daily lives, your paths may be divided. Fortunately, there are many ways to bridge the gap (literally or metaphorically) and not lose sight of your friends.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Using Technology to Stay in Touch
Step 1. Use your mobile as a phone
Call your friends! Maybe you've been thinking about doing it for some time, or it's the first time that comes to mind, but you should give in to the urge to call the person you want to get in touch with. Tell your friend that you are curious about what he does and briefly update him on your life.
- To be important, a phone call doesn't have to be long. The sound of your friend's voice will be enough to make you smile, whether you come from the neighboring neighborhood or from another continent.
- Set a time for a phone call. If you or your friend can't talk for long, or if you can't reach them on the first try, you should send them a message to arrange a phone call in the following hours.
- Get in the habit of keeping in touch with a distant friend by calling them once a month at set times and dates.
- If you or your friend are busy, talk to each other on the way to work.
Step 2. Use FaceTime or Skype
Video calls are a better solution than phone calls, because they allow you to see the other person and give both participants the impression of being together, no matter how far apart they are. Several video chat applications are free and particularly easy to use.
- FaceTime is only available on Apple products, but using it is as simple as making a phone call - the FaceTime button appears automatically during the conversation.
- Skype is also simple to use, but you need to install the program on your phone, tablet or computer and create a free account. Thanks to the application you can make phone calls and send text messages, at any time you have access to the internet.
Step 3. Make group calls with Google Hangouts
This program allows you to video call up to ten friends at the same time. Try setting a weekly or monthly time and date to keep in touch with your group of friends.
- Using text chat, propose themes for each phone call and try wearing costumes or sharing relevant viral videos.
- You can also use text messages to remind other attendees of an impending phone call.
Step 4. Write a message
Text messages are a great way to send someone a reminder, a joke, or just to remind them that you think about them. Don't just use this means of communication with your old friends, but remember that texting is very useful for letting someone know that you haven't forgotten about them.
- Write on Whatsapp to friends who live abroad. Whatsapp is a paid application that allows you to send and receive international messages (text, audio and video) for free!
- Understand that phone calls, video messages, and emails are the best ways to engage in more complex and important discussions.
Step 5. Send an email
While many programs allow you to talk in real time with connected people, don't hesitate to send a good old e-letter. Emails provide the same intimacy and ample room for maneuver as a paper letter, and you can send them whenever you like.
- To take advantage of the additional features offered by electronic means, reply to your friends' emails directly in the body of their message.
- Use a different color font and always reply to each sentence or paragraph in the same message, to simulate a long, real conversation.
Method 2 of 3: Using Social Media to Stay in Touch
Step 1. Write a letter to your friend
You might argue that a letter isn't social media. Come to think of it, however, letters are the original form of social communication, and although the term "social media" has over time been associated with the virtual world, the new media have not even begun to approach depth and depth. to the charm of handwritten letters.
- Start by explaining why you are writing. For example: "Hi! I was thinking about you and I decided to write to you to talk a little about our life paths".
- Ask some specific questions about your friend's life, especially his or her passions.
- Update him on certain aspects of your life, such as the things you are particularly proud of and what awaits you in the future.
- Make the letter funny. Include a drawing, a photograph or a cutout from a concert poster that you would like to have seen with your friend, or that you have attended in the past!
Step 2. Follow your friends on Facebook
Take advantage of the posts they publish on this social platform to stay up to date on their lives. Like a photo or comment that caught your attention so you can feel closer to them. Leave a comment if you can.
- By browsing a friend's wall, you'll know what to talk about next time you see them.
- Take notes on your phone about the questions you want to ask your friend next time you get the chance. Or, even better, use your cell phone to call him; you will have no problem finding a topic of conversation!
Step 3. Use Instagram and Pinterest
Photo sharing based social platforms are also great ways to keep in touch with friends. Thanks to both of these means you can quickly and easily share images of what you find while browsing the internet, on other people's profiles or even those you take in real life.
- Use Instagram if you like taking pictures of your breakfasts, what you see on the sidewalks or the book you are reading. You can post the images directly to your wall, or send them to a friend as a direct message.
- For those who prefer to think about home décor, Pinterest has been likened to sitting with your friends and riting your favorite pages from a magazine together.
- Whichever platform you choose, remember to take advantage of the social component by tagging your friends or writing them a simple direct message!
- When sending a picture to a friend, write how much more enjoyable the experience would have been if you had lived it together.
Step 4. Enter the world of Snapchat
Snapchat entered the world of social media with an extraordinary impact and today it has become the go-to platform for hundreds of millions of people. Some of your friends are probably already using it. Keep in touch with them and view their photos by downloading this free app to your phone.
- Add messages and simple drawings to your snaps to make the most of the platform.
- Send messages to some friends or all the people on your contact list!
- Learn about Snapchat's signature feature - you'll only be able to see pictures or videos sent by friends for a few seconds.
- Snapchat is particularly entertaining for its quirky, funny, and unscrupulous content.
Step 5. Use your creativity on other online platforms
In addition to smartphone apps you've probably heard of and all the other means of messaging on the web, there are other more creative ways to interact via the internet.
- Visit Miniclips.com, a site that offers many multiplayer video games and allows you to challenge your friends.
- If your schedule doesn't allow you to play together, you can always challenge each other by trying to get the highest score in a single player game.
- Use Spotify to create a shared playlist that you and your friends can add music to. You will learn about their tastes and they will be able to do the same with you.
- When you discover a new artist thanks to a friend's suggestion, send him a (polite) message to tease him that he has finally developed a good taste in music.
Step 6. Don't rely too much on the online world to keep in touch with your friends
Excessive use of the internet (and social media in particular) can have a negative effect on your health, productivity and happiness.
- If you've recently been spending more time on the internet and are feeling more and more alone, can't sleep, don't go to school, or arrive late for work, you probably need to cut down on your time online.
- If your productivity or happiness suffers from using social media, limit yourself to using non-instant electronic media, such as email.
Method 3 of 3: Organize Meetings with Friends
Step 1. Talk about the (metaphorical) distance that separates you from a friend
Almost all friendships face difficult times, especially when dating becomes less regular. Carry out the relationship by explaining that you want to keep in touch, even if the situation requires a new kind of approach.
- Find time to communicate with your friend. You can even set an alarm on your phone to remind you to do so, although you will probably be looking forward to hearing from your friend.
- Apologize if you did not speak up. Explain that you don't like the gap between you and that you will try harder to stay in touch from now on.
- We are all overwhelmed with commitments from time to time. Don't become the person who uses your schedule as an excuse not to keep in touch with friends; even if that were really the reason for your departure, it will seem like an insincere justification.
- Be direct and trust that your friend also wants to get back in touch with you. Try saying, "Hey! I know we haven't heard from each other for some time and I want to apologize for not showing up earlier; would you like to see us as soon as we get the chance?"
Step 2. Meet your friend
If you can get there on a simple bike, train or car trip, plan an evening together or even a day trip. For both of you it will be an event that you will look forward to and thanks to good planning it will be easier to turn it into reality!
- If you do not have the opportunity to meet at short notice, plan the event in time, perhaps a month in advance.
- Plan future meetings in advance as well.
- The distance and cost of travel are undoubtedly limiting factors, so you may not be able to visit often far away friends. However, with careful planning and an eye for savings, you will still be able to meet your friends in person!
Step 3. Organize an annual meeting
Establish a tradition of meeting once a year with a friend or all of your old company. You can always meet in the same place, organize the event in turn in the hometown of each of you or choose a different place every year.
- If you are hoping to gather a group of old friends, ask everyone to give their opinion and rent a space that is within an accessible distance for all.
- Alternatively, ask the person in the most central location to organize the event to reduce travel and accommodation costs.
- Even if it was just one weekend a year, meeting in person will help you a lot to keep in touch.
- There is no need to organize special events. Spending time together is already a pleasant, rewarding and fun experience.
Step 4. Send the invitations by regular mail
You don't need a computer to keep in touch with your friends. Letters and face-to-face meetings are much more intimate than virtual media. Send paper invitations for the following week's dinner or the annual seaside evening you organize with your friends.
- Include all important details in the invitation, as well as contact information for the event organizer.
- Encourage recipients to post the invitation in a place where they can see it every day, both to never forget the date and to create anticipation. There is nothing better than looking forward to meeting your friends and having fun together.
