A week ago, an old friend called me up for a party. I was in the middle of writing entries for my blogs so I wasn’t really very keen on going. However, after a couple of calls from different people, I decided to go after all. While I was there, I’ve noticed that all my friends have changed and that I barely knew them. It was, after all, a year since we’ve last seen each other and for some reason, their faces barely resemble those in my memories. It was while they were happily discussing some TV show I barely know of that I’ve realized that it was probably me that’s changed and me who lacked the time to ask about their welfare.

I write for a living. I write for different types of media and blogging is merely one of them. However, I’ve met people who maintain so many blogs they have to crank out hundreds of entries per week — no exaggeration. It’s inevitable to lack time for everything else when you’ve got such a huge responsibility. It doesn’t just only drain your creative juices; it drains all of your time too. And what little time you have that’s not spent for work, you probably spend resting. But is it really worth it? Some friendships are disposable, true. But some are just too precious to forego. Chances are, you have one or two “true” friends among all of your friends and it is with these people you want to keep in touch even if you’re chin-deep with work.

Here are some tips to make sure you keep in touch with friends worth keeping.

1. Send Text Messages or Call Regularly

You’d be surprised at how many people are pleased over a simple “hello.” You don’t have to talk long over the phone, just exchange quick greetings so you know what’s going on in each other’s lives. I wouldn’t also recommend sending forwarded cheesy text messages. A shorter, more personalized message would be best. I’d rather have a short greeting addressed to me specifically, rather than be at the receiving end of a carbon copied text message sent blindly to hundreds of other people.

2. Set a Regular Schedule to Meet

Freelance writers or probloggers make their own schedule, true. However, there are times when we are needed to be in front of the computer at set hours. Their may also be sudden changes in schedule or rush jobs to be finished. It’s better if you set a regular schedule to meet so you can plan months beforehand. I keep in touch with a couple of college friends by meeting four to five times a year at set dates and I find that it works quite well.

3. Use Internet Chat Applications

Don’t use them only for business or for online friends. Schedule a group meeting using chat applications. You may not meet in person, but at least you can say hello. It’s a great way to talk once in a while and if your friends are not as tech-savvy as you are, a great way to introduce them to your world. Maybe you can also share your blogs so they know what you’ve been doing lately.

4. Send Letters or Cards

If you’re moved to another country, the least you can do is to send out letters and greeting cards once in a while. Emails are fast and great but some people would prefer receiving handwritten messages. You don’t need to send one every other week. Even once every couple of months would do. It doesn’t take too much putting pen on paper and writing out a one page letter. If you’re too busy to do even that, then even sending out greeting cards during birthdays and holidays would do. What matters is that you don’t forget.

These are some of the ways to keep in touch with friends even if you’re busy working on your blogs. The fact that blogging is fun should not be used as an excuse not to deal with the outside world. Don’t take your true friends for granted because they’re the ones who will be there when you need people to talk to.

This entry was posted on Monday, September 17th, 2007 at 12:33 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

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