Maintaining friendships that are not in the same geography is challenging, but can be done! Take it from someone who has lived in many places and made friendships all around the globe. Luckily, in this day in age we have tools at our disposal that not only make it possible to make long distance friendships (LDRs) work, but make it possible for them to thrive.

Sometimes it’s hard to find things to talk about when your friend lives far away, but hear me out. There are few things that make a gripping TV series better than bonding over it with friends. Start a show at the same time as your LDR and live text or gossip about it post show. A few good options may be The Bachelor, Love is Blind, Ozark, Scandal, The Real Housewives, Madmen, Stranger Things, or Game of Thrones. For more ideas, check out the toat Entertainment page. 

If you’re one of those people that crave face-to-face communication with your pals, FaceTime (or any video chat) should be your best friend. Even a quick FaceTime while doing chores around the house can make you feel like you are actually hanging out with your LDR. Personally, I like to FaceTime my friends when I’m out shopping so they can give me their opinion on my finds. Consider grabbing a cheap phone stand that lets you prop up your phone anywhere so you can FaceTime hands-free. Isn’t technology amazing! 

Making plans is the key to making long distance friendships work. Even if your plans are six months or a year out, it hugely helps to have something to mutually look forward to. Upcoming holidays, festivals, or concerts are great events to shape future plans around. One benefit of planning far ahead is that you may be able to score major deals on airfare and accommodations. It’s worth noting that if your LDF is super far away, it might be easier to meet in the middle. For example, if you’re in NYC and they’re in California, perhaps plan a weekend getaway in the Midwest. This is applicable to friendships all over the world. 

Quickly forwarding your friend a hilarious meme, gif, TikTok, or YouTube video is not only a great way to bond over your mutual humour or interests, but it’s super fast. Sharing shows you are thinking of them, gives you something to talk about, and requires little energy or context. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve cried laughing at TikToks my friends have sent. Your shared content could even become the basis of a life-long inside joke. 

LDRs For Life

Even if you are thousands of miles away and not the best at communicating, you can still make LDRs work. All it takes is a little social manoeuvring, creativity, and planning. I hope these tips gave you a few ideas to help you and your friend never skip a beat. What is the farthest distance friendship you have made work and how?