Staying connected with friends as an adult
“A true friend accepts who you are, but also helps you become who you should be.” - Unknown
Friendship is one of the most powerful relationships we have in life. There are friends who come into our world for a period of time and others who are with us from start to finish. There are casual friends and friends who become family.
But when life gets busy and you’re working and parenting and doing all of the things, sometimes friendships take a backseat. What we need to remember is that being a good friend doesn’t necessarily mean dedicating hours of time on a regular basis for another person. Sometimes it’s as simple as a quick text message.
We’ve put together our top three ways to keep connected with your friends when adulting feels like it’s taking over:
Find a shared activity you can do consistently. It might take a bit of ninja scheduling, but whether it’s a weekly walk or a monthly coffee, that in-person connection can help keep a friendship strong. Plus, it gets you away from the office and house!
Do quick check-ins. What you’re seeing on Instagram is likely far from the reality of their world. Don’t consider social media as a true expression of what’s going on. Send a text or a DM and see how they are doing. It doesn’t mean you have to settle in for a long conversation, but make sure your friend knows you’re around if they need you.
Reach out if you’re struggling. Just as much as you want to be there for your friends, they want to be there for you. If you’re struggling, let them know. Having a friend as a trusted confidant gives us the space to vent and express our feelings without feeling ashamed or embarrassed.
Friends are the ones that make us feel good about ourselves. They celebrate our wins and hold us up when we’re having a bad day. We love our friends. ♥️
If you are looking for more information on friendship for you or a young person in your life, visit the SOS Resource Centre and click on Friendship.