How to Make a Long Distance Friendship Work

Long distance friendships can definitely work and be sustained, provided you have the right reason. When I say the right reason, I mean that the person you’re friends with is one of a kind and the satisfaction your friendship gives you can rarely be replicated.

If this is the case, you have not only the motive, but also the motivation to make the friendship work. Here are the essential actions and steps to keep in mind in order to effectively manage and capitalize on a long distance friendship. 

1. Communicate long-distance frequently. With the growth of online communication and the development of technology, it is now easy to keep in touch and chat with another person, even if they’re on the other side of the planet. Make use of this opportunity and frequently talk with your friend from afar.

2. Use voice and video. Some means of long-distance communication work better than others in maintaining a bond between people. When a person can hear and see you while communicating and vice versa, this helps create an emotional connection. So you want to use means of communication that entail voice and video when chatting long-distance with your friend.

3. Facilitate in-person interactions. The challenge with long-distance friendships is meting in person, at least once in a while. However, you can take steps to facilitate such encounters and make sure they happen regularly. For example, offer to host your friend when they come visiting in your city, as they’ll spend less money this way.

4. Make every interaction count. When you do meet face to face with your long distance friend, it’s essential to spend your time together in meaningful ways. Don’t limit yourselves to watching boring movies together.

Go out, have shared experiences, make meaningful conversation and have fun. This is the foundation of long lasting friendships and the key to making any kind of long distance relationship work.