Seven life hacks on how to maintain friendly relationships when you are drifting apart

Friendships are a key element that affects a person's physical and mental health. Lack of strong social ties can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, and dementia. News.LIVE has collected seven useful tips for maintaining friendships.

Regularly set aside time for leisure activities together

Shared moments play an important role in strengthening friendships. Interpersonal communication researchers emphasize that it takes about 50 hours to move from acquaintance to friendship, about 90 hours to become a friend, and more than 200 hours to become best friends. If your daily routine is busy and it's hard to keep track of all your friends' birthdays and meetings, you should use reminders or write down important events in notes.

Maintain a positive attitude

Compliment, joke, and encourage your friends. Even if you're tired or in a bad mood, let them feel supported and happy. Show interest in their lives and ask questions, even if your mood doesn't allow it. The main goal is to make your meeting enjoyable and charge your friends with positive emotions.

Be honest and show your true self

Allow yourself to be vulnerable and share your feelings and thoughts. It is important not to reveal all your secrets, but to show your individuality and openness. Having a frank conversation can be difficult, but it helps to build trust and rapport.

Express gratitude to your friends for their support and what they do for you

Remember to value them as individuals and respect their views. Identify the moments when they have supported you or suggested joint plans.

Be there for them in important moments

Friendships are tested during difficult life situations. Remember how your friends have been there for you during your happy and difficult moments. This affects how much you value friendships.

Read also: What to do when you feel overworked or stressed: useful tips that will help 

Don't be afraid to discuss problems

If you feel like you've drifted apart, discuss it. Explain to your friend what role he or she plays in your life and why you need to strengthen your relationship. When you are upset about something specific, say it directly instead of withdrawing from the person. Healthy conflict resolution starts with dialog.

As a reminder, we have already written about how to make difficult decisions.

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