How to maintain long-distance friendships

Long-distance friendships can be difficult to navigate; however, some people have been there, done that, and made it work. You don’t have to lose your friends due to ‘Japa’ ( migration to another country) or relocation within a country. 

Here are a few ideas to help you and your friend hit the ground running, regardless of the distance. 

1. Be Flexible

Being flexible would make things a lot easier. Rigidity will only stifle the goodness of your friendship and could make things uninteresting and tedious to navigate.  Allow each other to breathe as you try to figure things out.

2. Give grace

Don’t blame them for travelling. Don’t be so hard on them. Truth be told, relocation can be hard on people because of the adjustment and sacrifice it entails. So, the best you can do is show them that you care. Also, keeping assumptions and overthinking in check will enable you to give grace without bias. 

3. Support them in little ways

Engage their posts, send them emails or use their preferred means of communication. You could send money or show up for things that would mean a lot to them. 

This will keep you in the corner of their heart for a long time regardless of the long-distance friendship. 

4. Catch up when you can

Don’t use all the time to whine about the changes. For every moment you have to catch up, make the most of it and create memories that you both appreciate. 

5. Do things that revolve around your interests

There’s joy in doing things you love with people who matter to you, regardless of the distance. It’s even better when there’s a common interest.  You can listen to podcasts, play games, watch movies, go on virtual dates, read books and discuss things that matter to you and your friends. 

READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE 

• WWC: ‘You made Nigeria proud on global stage’, Tinubu, others hail Super Falcons despite defeat

• Press Time Podcast: Body Shaming

• Akpabio visits Aso Villa concerning senate uproar over Keyamo

• Palliative: Makinde introduces buses, cuts fare for workers, pensioners, varsity students

• What you should know about Diphtheria disease

• EDITORIAL: Justice for the victims of gang rape

• Why senate witheld El-Rufai, Danladi, Okotete’s confirmation