Keep in Touch With Old Friends While at Uni'

It may be sad, but the truth is that after you leave secondary school and move away to start university or a career you will rarely see your old friends from home. Even those you promised never to forget, you may not see much beyond your first visit home. Schedules become crammed, new friends take over and despite everyone’s best intentions, grand reunions rarely take place. This is not necessarily always the case, nor is it a bad thing that everyone grows and changes, but if you are dedicated to making time for your old friends then you can obviously stay as close as you want. If your old friends mean the world to you and you are prepared to dedicate time to tending your friendships, then there’s no reason that “old” friends can’t just be your friends – past, present and future!

Introduce Your Old Friends to the New You

Even if we try not to, all of us change when we move someplace new and start new chapters in our lives. One of the best ways to stay connected to your old friends is to introduce them to the new you. Invite friends from home to your new location and show them:

• Where you live.
• Where you like to hang out.
• What you do and where you go every day.
• The new friends with whom you spend your time.
• Your favourite spots for evenings out.
• Day trips you enjoy.

Keep Your Old Friends In Mind

Many people swear by the old saying “out of sight, out of mind.” Even if you don’t believe it, make sure that you combat negligence by keeping your old friends at the front of your mind. Consider:

• Keeping a diary and marking in all birthdays and special occasions.
• Calling old friends on each important day as well as sending a nice card in the post.
• Setting up a weekly phone date but keeping costs low by using voice over Internet protocol programmes such as Skype.
• Putting together a little care package every now and then to let your friends know that you are thinking of them.
• Jotting down a postcard every now and then to give your friends a small surprise.
• Planning reunions occasionally and actually showing up for them.
• Setting up a ‘blog or online diary so friends can keep track of your interests.
• Including old friends in your new plans – holidays, parties, etc.

Go for the Gusto

In addition to the things you can do every day to stay in touch with old friends, go for the gusto occasionally and make a grand gesture that will show your friends how much they mean to you. Think about:

• Arranging a trip home just to see them, or travelling to wherever they live now so that you can see their new lives.
• Sending out invitations for friends to visit you several times per year.
• Including friends old and new in plans for group holidays.
• Throwing an annual bash of some kind – Christmas, birthday, etc. – that will bring together your old and new friends year after year.
• Setting up a mini-break strictly as an old friends’ reunion.
• Starting a chain newsletter so that all old friends can stay in touch.

Making time for your old friends is only as challenging as you make it. If you are dedicated to staying in touch and making time for your old friends then you are one in a million and hopefully ALL of your friends realise that!