This stunning creature is my best friend, Zoe.
Recently, Zoe moved across the country to a new Air Force Base with her husband. In fact, in the past year and a half, I have had friends move to Idaho, Ohio, Northern California, and Madagascar (can you all stop moving please?).
Really though. Please stop moving. The reality is that as much as you don't want them to, friendships change when you can no longer randomly call up your friend to meet up for lunch, or a movie this weekend. What people won’t usually tell you is that friendships take work, and maintaining friendships across long distances will take even more work. That being said, here are some helpful tips for staying in touch with your long-distance best friend.
Know that you will have to put in extra effort
As much as you want things to stay the same, things change when people move. Your best friend will make other friends, and you need to be okay with it. If you want to stay close with your best friend, know you both will need to make an effort. Make it a point to contact them each month and see how they are doing. Ask them about their life. Long distance friendships require effort, so even when things get busy, remember to connect with them on a personal level whenever you can.
Find a hobby
Find something your long distance best friend can do together, even if it is from different locations.
Even if our Harry Potter Book Club fell flat, we still found something we could talk about from across the country.
Our other favorite hobby is talking (see: debating) politics because we are from different ends of the political spectrum. This included staying up till 5 a.m. on Zoe's 21st birthday discussing gun ownership in American until we could reach a consensus. We even did another collaboration called Maintaining Bipartisan Friendships so we could share our love of politics as long distance best friends.
Collaborate on something with them
Zoe and I decided to take on this topic of "Keeping in contact with your long distance best friend." Check out her perspective here on her vlog. Trust me, her video has a much more humorous look at long distance friendships.
Get creative with your contact
Sometimes you need something add a little innovation to your conversions.
connect4
Set a date with them
Commit to a date. It is so easy when you are apart to get bogged down in your own life and commitments, especially when your best friend lives across the country. Try and set a specific date and time to talk to each other, whether on the phone or over Skype. For friends who are international best friends, Whatsapp and Viber can be great for international calling.
Celebrate their accomplishments
Even when you are thousands of miles apart, celebrate your friends and let them know you are proud of them. Celebrate them both in...
Verbal accolades:
And in a more creative fashion (like a music video wedding toast). My friend Morgan and I put together a wedding toast music video set The Real Slim Shady. :
Get on a plane and see them
Long distance friendships mean work, and sometimes that means breaking into your bank account and making a trip to see each other.
From the big stuff: Like Weddings and Graduations
To the Small Stuff: Like making a trip to Southern California for 26 hours to watch the Super Bowl together
Know that even though long distance friendships can be a lot of effort, the payouts are enormous.
For more of Zoe's Videos, check out her main channel here.
What are your tips for keeping in touch with your long distance best friend?