5 tips for keeping in touch with friends after graduation
Graduation season is among us. If you’re freshly washed up or living your adult life, you’ll understand what we mean when we say moving away from your friends is so damn hard.
For one, senior year definitely did not prepare us well to enter the workforce. We went straight from 24/7 shenanigans during senior week to trying to stay awake at our 9-5. The worst part of it all is learning to adjust to a new place, a new life, without the comfort of your friends right down the hall. Instead of making plans 5 minutes in advance, seeing people requires syncing schedules, an activity that can sometimes feel like a game of Jenga. And that’s if they live in the same city as you. Keeping in touch can be a lot more difficult if everyone is far apart.
Instead of making plans 5 minutes in advance, seeing people requires syncing schedules, an activity that can sometimes feel like a game of Jenga.
We spoke to 5 different members of the class of 2022 who graduated last year and have a lot of good advice to share about keeping in touch with your friends post-college. Because yes, sometimes it can feel like a full-time job with work, and you’re definitely not alone in feeling that way:
Make a list so you don’t forget anyone important
“There are tiers of friendships in college: your best friends, extended friend group friends, acquaintances, class friends, and so many more I’m not thinking of. It’s really easy for me to forget about the people outside of my immediate friend group which is unfortunate because I don’t want to lose those friendships. Writing down the list of tiers and the people within each I want to stay in touch with has helped me maintain those relationships. The list changes as life does, but it’s helpful to use as a visual reference when I need it.”
Google Calendar is your best friend
“I can’t even begin to count the number of times I’ve told someone “Let’s FaceTime next week” and then completely forgot to call. To fix this, I’ve started sending a Google invite immediately after a plan is made to hold myself and my friend accountable. With work and busy schedules, this has really helped me.”
Focus on quality not quantity
“In college, all the rage was spending as much time as you could with as many people as possible. With work and life post-graduation, I’ve learned that it’s so important to put the little time and energy you do have into the friendships that are the most important to you. You don’t need to be everything to anyone, and you definitely don’t need to give everything to everyone either. That’s especially important to remember when it comes to fostering long-lasting relationships.”
You don’t need to text someone every day, or week, for that matter
“You can have deep and meaningful relationships with people you talk to once a week or every couple of weeks. You don’t need to talk to someone every day to consider them a close friend. Don’t put that kind of pressure on yourself because you may start to doubt yourself as a friend and the connections you have. The best type of friendships are the ones where you can pick up where you left off no matter how long it has been.”
Phone calls > text
“Look, I’m a texter for sure, but I’ve learned that phone calls are really the best when it comes to catching up. There’s something about hearing someone’s voice, hearing their tone and laugh, that makes any conversation feel so meaningful. If you have the option, pick up the phone and call someone. It really makes all the difference.”
