Long Distance Friendship: What It Works and 15 Ways to Stay Connected (2023)

Like a relationship, a long-distance friendship can have problems. But if you're willing to put in the effort, you can still be close friends.

You and your best friend could be separated for a variety of reasons. Maybe they went to a distant school or their family moved. You can even find work thousands of kilometers away. Therefore, knowing how to maintain a friendship at a distance is important.

Can it really last? How strong does a friendship really have to be to survive such distances? It can be a little scary to think that your best friend could be taken away forever, but fear not. As long as you know how to keep the friendship alive, you'll be fine. [Read:what makes a good friend]

Friendships take a lot of time and effort.

Long-distance friendships are more work than local friendships, but that doesn't mean they're all work and no play. This is your friend and you love him. Keeping in touch and making time for each other without seeing each other physically should be fun.

Friendships aren't just these simple little things that we have in our lives. Our friendships are a big part of our happiness. You would feel very lonely without her, even if you had a partner. Friends are on another level.

But it does mean that they have to work much harder to maintain their friendship if they can't see each other often. You need to take steps to make sure you don't lose an amazing friend. [Read:18 Ways To Build Lasting Friendships]

Can a long-distance friendship work?

You may be wondering this if you have a friend who wants to move. A long distance friendship can work well.

Since you live so far away, you should take the time to catch up. Distance doesn't have to affect your friendship. Absence is exciting, so as long as you give this relationship the care and attention it deserves, it can still be golden.

Long distance friendships are known to be quite strong and can certainly thrive. [Read:Ways to break up with a boyfriend]

How to make a long distance friendship work

Making a long distance friendship work will be an adjustment. It will be different from your relationships with close friends. You can't just walk past them on the fly, but that doesn't mean your relationship should suffer.

It will take some trial and error to find what works best for you and your friend. They have to do a lot of things that you're not normally used to. Fortunately, we have all the advice you need to make a long-distance friendship last for years.

1. Write and call regularly

This is extremely important. You need to stay connected in the same way as before. Just because they live far away doesn't mean you should stop all forms of communication. In fact, you need to do more. Stay tuned and be sure to chat regularly.

Check how your days are going. Talk about your social, work and family life. Just because you're not face to face doesn't mean you shouldn't keep sharing the things you've always shared.

2. Become a pen pal

Your friend lives far away and you can no longer do the things you used to do to bond. Writing letters as a pen pal is a perfect way to do this!

It's definitely a bit slower than sending a long text, but handwritten letters can be much more touching and intimate. People love to receive things in the mail, especially letters from friends. Print some old photos and add those too.

You can connect and share deeper things as you type. It does not have the urgency of a text. It's more about sharing than going back and forth quickly. A letter is a great way to open up. Share secrets and talk about life. It will be nice to have those memories later. [Read:15 Things Good Friends Do]

3. Snapchat frequently

Snapchat is a fantastic way to communicate in short bursts that feel more connected. Even though they're half a world away, when you can see their faces, they feel like they're right next to you. It will help you feel close and connected to your best friend.

Upload photos of your food or when you cook your favorite food. Take some cute pet photos or show off your daily outfits.

4. Video chat

Another way to stay connected is through video chat. Calling and texting is fun, but it's not the same as talking in person. It's not exactly that, but it's the closest you can get when you're in a long-distance friendship.

You can have short video chats just to ask a question or get advice on what to wear on a date. You can also schedule longer chats and share a meal virtually. [Read:Using video chat and other ways to do remote work]

5. Watch movies on the same nights

This is to maintain a certain feeling of being with them. If you used to go to the movies a lot as friends, move on. You don't have to sit next to each other to see a movie on the same day. It really helps both of you feel like nothing has changed, even if you are far away.

If you both love a show, watch it during a video chat or just text during the commercial.

6. Send each other funny memes

For some reason, this helps friendships more than many other things. In our lives, not much happens that is worth a phone call or a video call.

This means that they may not talk as much as when they started seeing each other more. What they can do is send each other funny memes. You can chat remotely. If you don't have time to talk or just don't have much to talk about, sending a funny meme will show that you're thinking of them. [Read:48 funny and sarcastic things to send to your friends]

7. Talk about news and important events in the world.

You can't just sit around and hope your friendship never changes. If you have talked about these important things before, keep talking about them. It's important to maintain a strong emotional connection when you're in a long-distance friendship, and talking about sensitive topics will do just that.

You can strengthen your bond and really get to know each other better by discussing more difficult topics.

8. Actualize them in your life and vice versa

Even if it's something small and you don't think it's important, talk to them anyway. Because they lived closer to you, they could see and hear a lot about your life just by being there.

They will most likely be happy to know, no matter what. This is another thing that creates the illusion that you are still very close.

9. Remember funny things from the past

Think of all the good things to keep your friendship alive. This will not only make both of you very happy, but it will also make you strive to relive those times. When you have this motivation, you will work harder to keep your friendship strong.

Submit your previous photos that appear online. Tell your friend when you meet someone from your past. Sometimes you suppress certain memories because they are embarrassing, but remembering a friend allows you to look back and smile instead of being ashamed. [Read:50 nice things to say to your best friend to brighten her day]

10. Keep in touch with his family if you were close to them

If you could go to their parents' house and grab something from the fridge if they lived near you, do it. Sure, you might want to send her a courtesy message, but you still need to have a strong relationship with her family if she's done it before.

11. Take trips together

Visit them whenever you can. You can even plan a vacation and meet halfway there. Even if they live far away, you'll want to see them in person from time to time. This gives you time to catch up and normalize your relationship before you break up. [Read:Life lessons you will learn on a trip]

12. Don't waste too much time

Things get busy. Since they don't see each other, you can stop texting them for a few days. It happens, but try not to let too much time pass. So you walk away without realizing it. Even if you're just sending a funny meme or video, keep in touch.

13. Send gifts

You don't have to spend a lot of money, but it's really nice to send them little packages of care. If you still live in your hometown and they live further away, send them small gifts that are popular in your area. You can send them your sweater that they have always loved or even a book that you have been reading. [Read:Ways to get your best friend back]

14. Scheduling appointments

Plan some dates. You can easily lose your long distance friendship in the shuffle if you don't take your time. Schedule a nice long video call once a week. Prepare a meal together or order takeout and surprise yourself with something new and exciting.

15. Do everything you would do if you could see each other

Of course, this is only possible up to a point. The point is not to let things change just because one direction has changed. Send pictures, text about your relationships or call them drunk and tell them you love them. Make sure they know that just because you no longer have the same zip code won't change anything.

[File:Survival tips for any long distance relationship]

The truth is, maintaining a long-distance friendship is a lot like making a long-distance romantic relationship work. You need to actively do things every day to stay connected and strengthen your relationship.