Making and keeping friends as an adult can feel way harder than when we were kids. Back in elementary school, all it took was sharing your juice box at recess to make a new BFF. But these days, between busy schedules, family obligations, and the distractions of social media, it’s a challenge to maintain those meaningful friendships.
Don’t get me wrong – I’m super thankful for technology that lets me keep in touch with friends who live all over. Facebook and group chats have definitely helped me stay connected over the years. But I can’t help but wonder if our constant connectedness online has made true friendships harder to form offline. I mean, is liking someone’s latest selfie or commenting on their post really the same as catching up over coffee?
I’ve noticed that it’s become much more common for adult friendships to be more like casual acquaintances rather than close confidantes. Sure, my friend from college may reply to my meme, but would she be willing to lend a sympathetic ear if I was having relationship troubles? And even if we did try to actually meet up, between our packed calendars it’s not easy to find a time when we’re both free.
Don’t even get me started on making new friends as an adult! In grade school it was so easy to bond with classmates over shared experiences in the playground or lunchroom. But once you’re out of school, where exactly do you go to meet people with similar interests? Joining a club or meetup is one option, but putting yourself out there to click with a total stranger as an adult takes guts.
Even maintaining the good friendships from my younger years requires more effort than ever before. Life gets busy and pulls us in different directions as we get older. Careers, families, home responsibilities – it’s hard to find time for your friendships when it feels like every minute of the day is already accounted for.
I do my best to nurture my closest friendships and make the time for catching up, even if it’s just a phone call in the car on the way to soccer practice. And technology has been amazing for keeping in touch with long-distance friends who’ve moved all over. But there’s no denying that true friendship requires deepening your bond over meaningful interaction – not just liking updates from afar.
So while the modern world has its advantages, it hasn’t made maintaining good friendship any easier. But those quality connections are so important for our well-being. I’m doing my best to prioritize my dear friends, even on busy days. And I’m always open to meeting new people and welcoming them into my life. Who knows, maybe cutting out some social media time could help make room for those vital real-life friendships too.
Does anyone else feel friendship is harder work these days? What are your tips for nurturing your friendships no matter how hectic life gets? I’d love to hear your thoughts below.