Look, we get it! Adulting is tough, and sometimes the weight of new responsibilities, endless work tasks, school pick-ups and all the everyday chaos can make catching up with friends feel nearly impossible. It hurts to realise that after so many ‘we should catch up soon’ promises, years pass and you feel more disconnected than ever. But for International Friendship Day on 30 July, these simple tips can help you nurture those precious friendships, even when life feels relentlessly busy.
Why do we need close friendships?
In a world where connecting digitally is easy, everyday life can still make loneliness common (hello, male loneliness epidemic). “These relationships challenge us and support us simultaneously while helping us grow through validation and safety,” says clinical psychologist Dr. Anjali Ferguson.
Follow these simple tips to stay connected with your friends when life gets busy:
1. Plan group hangouts
When life feels overwhelming, it’s tough to carve out one-on-one time with each friend you care about. With so little time, group hangouts become a lifeline – a way to stay close to several loved ones at once. Your friends likely feel the same longing for connection amid their busy days. When you finally move your plans from the (WhatsApp) group chat to real life, you share laughter and the joy you’ve all been missing. And if you sense that a friend needs something deeper, make space for a meaningful one-on-one to offer support in a more personal setting.
2. Join each other’s day-to-day tasks
With a jam-packed schedule, staying close to friends can feel nearly impossible when dinner dates or coffee runs keep slipping down the to-do list. If you’re working from home on the same days, try setting up at each other’s places – just being together, even for short breaks, lets you really feel their presence and swap stories you’ve been dying to share. Or, turn weekly grocery shopping into shared time: push carts together, laugh in the aisles, and catch up between picking out essentials. It’s a simple way to bring a little warmth and connection back into your week. Sounds like a win-win!
3. Ditch the small talk and get real
Time is ticking! So, in your limited time together, skip the small talk and share real, intimate moments. Being vulnerable is an easy way to connect and stay close, even if you don’t see each other often. “Vulnerability gives others permission to be vulnerable, which can strengthen the relationship,” says Laura Whitney Sniderman, MA, founder of Kinnd, a digital platform that helps people forge and sustain friendships.
