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In life, close friends can make all the difference. It’s the deep knowing that you and your friend are there for each other, have moments of shared laughter, fun, and memories created together that transforms life for the better.
With responsibilities including your job, family, children, and education, devoting time to adult friendships can prove challenging, according to Business Insider. Still, platonic friendships can have a positive impact on the quality of your life. “Friendships are extremely important because those supportive relationships help us get through challenging moments,” Dr. Smith, a psychologist, tells Business Insider.
Tips for Maintaining Adult Friendships
So with obligations and life events — how can we maintain friendships during adulthood? Read ahead for tips on how to invest in your friendships.
Set Aside Time for Hangouts
According to The Guardian, setting aside time to meet your friends is essential for strengthening friendships. Finding time to hang out doesn’t have to be formal. It could include sitting on a friend’s sofa and having a cup of tea. On social media, users have been reflecting on the value of casual, low-pressure time together — calling it “the casual hang.”
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Strengthen Friendships Through Reliability
When your friend knows that they can count on you, it keeps the connection strong, WebMD reports. So don’t cancel plans, show up on time, and do what you say you’ll do. If your friend has shared something private, make sure to also keep confidential information to yourself. It can make a huge difference in strengthening your relationship.
Be a Safe Space for Your Friend
Another tip for nurturing your friendship? Allow your connection to be a safe container. “Being a safe space where your friend can share and vent without any judgment can be vital to their mental health,” Mac Stanley Cazeau, a couples therapist, tells WebMD. If your friend is talking about a problem they’re facing, this can mean avoiding the urge to immediately jump in with a solution — since your friend may simply want to share what’s on their mind.
Support and Effort Should be Mutual
Relationships take work, and mutual support and effort can make or break a friendship. So remember to be kind — because it’s the small acts that add up. Cazeau suggests telling your friend how much they mean to you. If you can’t see your friend, reaching out more often or planning a call can make a huge difference.
“Both people have to work to maintain it,” Smith told Business Insider. “Friendship should not be one-sided. If you only call me when you need something, or you only call me when you’re going through some type of turmoil, and then I never hear from you, then that’s a problem,” Smith adds.
Embrace Open Communication
In friendships, communication goes a long way. “I don’t care how long we’ve been friends. There is no way that I can read your mind,” Smith explains. He adds that verbalizing what’s on your mind is necessary so both parties tell each other what’s going on and how each person feels so changes can be made if necessary.
Set Healthy Boundaries
Finally, setting healthy boundaries with your friend is crucial, and can improve friendships. Smith says that’s because boundaries aren’t only for self-protection, they also teach us how to treat other people.
Through carving time out of busy schedules, being reliable, showing support, working on friendships, communicating openly, and setting boundaries, it’s possible to maintain healthy friendships for the long run. With these simple steps, we can keep a circle of supportive relationships, which can better our lives.
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