With a student population of over 503,000 as of 2024, New York City houses students from all over the world. Whether or not New York City is your home, you likely know someone who is a long way from it.
From Boston to Madrid, staying in touch with friends is tricky no matter the distance. By implementing some of these tips, closing those gaps might become a little easier.
Phone Calls and Videos
Home is people, not a place; and there’s no place like home, but when home is miles away, the easiest way to keep in touch is by phone.
When asked about long-distance friendships, sophomore Olivia Nedrick mentioned her twin sister who attends school in Maryland. “We go through periods when we call every day, but we also go through periods where we don’t talk as much; and that’s okay because we both have busy lives.”
In a study from the University of Texas at Austin, researchers found that participants felt stronger social connections when having online interactions, including voice, such as phone calls, compared to interactions only using text.
Calling consistently might not fit in everyone’s schedule, especially for friends living in a different time zone. Therefore, an alternative option is to send daily update videos.
Set aside one minute every day to record a short video about any life updates you may have and send it to your long-distance friends. Although it isn’t quite the same as calling, it gives you an opportunity to see and hear your friends’ voices whenever you get the chance.
Doing a Joint Hobby
Another way friends can stay connected is by doing a joint hobby. This can be something as simple as a book club or as complex as learning a new skill like knitting.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to picking a hobby, and many of them don’t require a lot of funds.
The best part about doing a hobby together is that you can work at your own pace. If you are unable to talk to your friend about your hobby while apart, it gives you something to talk about when you finally reunite.
Sending Physical Mail
Take a stab at a tried and true method by sending letters and postcards to your friends. Writing is an outlet to express your own creativity, while also allowing you to send a nice message to your friend. These mementos make for the perfect decoration or memorabilia to look back on.
With a little bit of effort on both parts, your friendships can last a lifetime even when you’re miles apart.
