What Adult Friendships Look Like In Your 20s 🥺💖

As we grow older, maintaining friendships can become a challenge, especially when we start working. The responsibilities of adult life can make it difficult to keep in touch with friends, and we may find ourselves losing touch with people who were once an important part of our lives. However, it's important to maintain friendships, even as we navigate the working world. Here’s my advice to those who need some tips on navigating adult friendships:

😤 Are You A High Or Low Maintenance Friend? 🤔

I think what’s important first, is to identify if you’re a high or low-maintenance friend. What exactly do I mean by that? A high-maintenance friend requires a lot of attention, immediate replies and constant validation, while a low-maintenance friend requires little time, energy and effort to maintain. It’s totally fine to identify with either and with this information, you’re probably just a little more aware of the type of friendships you can hold space for 💖

🗓️ Plan Get-Togethers / Find Common Hobbies 🏋🏻‍♀️

One way to keep in touch with friends is to schedule regular get-togethers or find an activity you guys can do in common! For me, the common ground I’ve found with my best friend is to travel together, and with a few of my close friends, to workout together! Having this short time to catch up can help maintain the friendship in a fun manner ☺️

🥺 Be Open To Change ❤️‍🩹

I find that since leaving university, I’ve drifted apart from some of friends and I’d say it’s pretty normal! I think what matters is that you remember that friendships may change as we grow older and pursue our careers. Some friends may drift apart or be too busy to stay in touch, while others may become closer as we share similar experiences in our professional lives. It's important to be open to these changes and to appreciate the friendships that continue to thrive and you can afford to make space for 🥹

🫶🏻 Friendships Are A Two-Way Street 🫶🏻

It's also important to remember that maintaining adult friendships are a two-way street. It's not always easy, but the effort is worth it. Make time for your friends, even if it's just a quick text to catch-up or a quick dinner near your offices. Don't be afraid slide in your friend’s DMs too! I’ve done that many times and it’s sparked conversations that led to eventual face-to-face meet-ups! Additionally, while it’s important to make an effort to reach out to friends and initiate plans, it's also important to recognise when a friendship may no longer be working. It's okay to let go of friendships that no longer serve you, but it's important to do so in a respectful and kind manner.

🤕 Don't Be Too Hard On Yourself 🤒

Finally, it's important to not be too hard on yourself if you find it difficult to maintain friendships. Life can be busy and demanding, and it's okay if you're not able to keep up with everyone all the time. Remember that true friendships are understanding and forgiving, and they will still be there for you even if you can't always be there for them. Prioritising a few key friendships and making time for them is better than trying to spread yourself too thin across too many friendships.

Remember, maintaining adult friendships takes time and effort, but it's worth it to have strong relationships outside of work. Prioritize the friendships that bring you joy and support, be open to change, and don’t forget to have fun! Have any advice to share about navigating friendships in your 20s? Let me know!

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