When in college, it can be hard to see your family and hometown friends. Even dating someone long-distance in college can be hard. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t impossible. I will be the first to admit, I struggle trying to maintain connections with those who I left behind in my hometown. Every day, I try my very best to stay connected to them in some way, shape or form. Here are some tips I taught myself to stay connected to those who I love most!
- Send them a TikTok or Instagram Reel
Whenever I miss my family, I always send them a funny animal reel on Instagram. This then gets a good conversation going and can make you feel closer to them. Some of the best conversations I’ve had with my family came from funny Instagram reels that my sister and I send in the family group chat. When in doubt, always send a funny reel. Someone is bound to respond.
- Text them that you are thinking about them
There will be random points of the day where I will see an object and instantly think of someone. When this happens, I like to text that person and tell them that I’ve been thinking about them. This is a great way to reconnect with someone you haven’t seen in a while and can even get a conversation going without that awkward small talk. If there is someone in your life that you haven’t seen in a while, give this a try!
- Make set-in-stone plans
It’s easy to make plans with someone. However, a lot of us tend to make plans that aren’t 100% or tend to fall through easily. When you make plans to hang out with someone, make sure that those are set-in-stone plans. That way, you have time set aside to hang out with this person that you haven’t seen in a long time. Of course, things happen like falling ill or having a schedule conflict. To avoid this, try to aim for times that are very open, such as weekends. That way, your chances of keeping plans is significantly larger
- Call or Facetime frequently
If you are unable to hang out with someone due to long distance, I would recommend scheduling calls or Facetimes. I like to do this with my family so I can update them on my day. It’s best to make something like this a routine-thing. So if there are times throughout the week where you know you are free, try to schedule a call or Facetime for every week around the same time. That way it becomes routine and a habit. This has worked great for me, as my family and I talk everyday when I am away at college.
- Snapchat is a great tool
Some people may think Snapchat is overrated after you reach a certain age, but I think it’s a great tool to catch up with long distance friends. I always like to send the most unhinged and funny snaps for people to respond to that I haven’t spoken to in a while. Sometimes, it can get a funny conversation started and can help bring longer distance friends closer.
I hope you end up trying these tips and tricks when trying to stay in touch with long distance friends, family and relationships. Remember, connection is important in maintaining friendships. Even if you have a hard time reaching out to those you haven’t seen in a while, try your best to do so anyway. I’m sure they’re excited to hear from you.
