Maintaining Friendships
Life is busy, especially if you’re running your own business. You can feel like you are surviving and checking every box on your to-do list, and then you realize it’s been weeks since you’ve made time to hang out with your friends, or even picked up the phone to call to catch up. You’re not alone! When life is busy, one of the first things that get neglected is friendships. The feeling of, "oh, this month is busy but then things will slow done” lingers and soon an uncomfortable amount of time has passed. But great friendships are worth the work!
It’s the little things that count
Scrolling Instagram on the couch? If you see your friend’s awesome dinner she had with her husband at the new restaurant in town, here’s a great chance to remind them you love seeing little snippets of their life. Or ask when you can go back with them to grab a glass of wine!
Communicate your needs
If you are feeling like you haven’t seen a friend in a while, don’t leave it up to them to make the call! It’s easy to feel put out by others’ inaction, but you can’t expect relationships to flourish if you’re not sharing what you’re feeling. And this goes both ways! If there are times you are less available to hang out giving your friend a heads up can go a long way toward minimizing misunderstandings where somebody feels left out or like they’re being ignored.
Don’t be a flake
We are all guilty of this- the day of your plans shows up and you’re tired and the option to cancel can be tempting. But by choosing to show up, you are showing up in your friendship. A few hours of your day shows these dates are important to you!
Be thoughtful
Be there when it counts! If your schedule doesn’t allow for spur-of-the-moment meetups, make sure you’re there for the big moments. Life’s big moments are when we notice absences the most, so make sure you are there for the baby showers and birthday parties when possible. Knowing you have been a part of these special times in their life will lay the foundation for a lifelong relationship.
Accept that friendships change
You know the saying “nothing stays the same”. You may use to have done every tiny thing together, or face-timed just to chat. But we can all admit that life is all about the ebb and flow and we have to do the same. What used to be a fun Saturday night out may just be an impromptu stop by before heading home to your kids and a to-do list for the weekend. And that’s okay! By making our friends know that we understand that they’re busy, they’ll do the same for you. This also means accepting that some friendships don’t stand the test of time. Make time for the friends who want to be in your life, and don’t dwell on the ones that only fit into a specific time period.
All good things in life require maintenance, and friendships are no different. With a bit of thoughtfulness and effort, you’ll find friendships enhancing your life again.