In the past, people were born and lived most of their lives within a small distance. As it has become easier to travel long distances, however, it is also more likely that some people you are close to will move away. They may get a great job in another city or want to be closer to family members. Alternatively, you may be the one who leaves. Whatever the reason for the change, it will likely alter the nature of your friendship with them.

The good news is that this upheaval doesn't have to signal an end to the relationship. With a few small adjustments, you can still have a close, thriving bond with people who are important to you, even if they live far away. There are several ways to take care of your long-distance friendships.

Communicate With Empathy and Clarity

No matter how healthy the reason for the change of location, feelings are likely to be sensitive on both sides. All adjustments have the potential to include emotional upheaval. If you were roommates or worked closely together, those emotions may be more intense. Acknowledging what you each are feeling is a good way to keep the lines of communication open.

People who move away must deal with the stress of seeing their whole lives change. Those who remain may feel left out or forgotten. Have empathy for each other, and confirm that the friendship is just as important to you as it was when you were closer in proximity. Such proclamations may be new to your friendship, but clarity is vital for soothing doubts and maintaining feelings of closeness.

Continue Making Plans

Friends get together on a regular basis. Just because you can't meet at your favorite coffee shop while your families sleep in every Saturday doesn't mean that you can't make plans at all. They'll simply look different. Put aside a regular time to talk. It doesn't have to be every week, especially while the one who moves is getting settled, but be intentional about always knowing the next time you plan to connect. This also goes for making plans to visit in person, even if you have to block out the time months in advance.

It's also helpful to talk about the best way to communicate. If one of you hates talking on the phone, weekly calls may soon feel like an obligation or drudgery rather than a chance to catch up. Others may not feel a strong connection through text messaging alone. Pick a mode of communication that works for both of you as your main contact resource, but add other methods occasionally to keep your conversations from becoming stale.

Find Things To Do Together While Apart

The beauty of technology is that there isn't just one way to keep in touch. There are several ways you can keep the fun in your friendship. Start by thinking about the things you enjoyed doing together in person and find a way to adapt it to a long-distance hangout:

• Chat online while watching your favorite show or stream a movie together
• Continue texting memes and video links you know the other will enjoy
• Use Facetime during an outing that you would typically do together
• Send pictures, videos and comments about your day through text or email

Moving away may change the nature of the time you spend together, but it doesn't mean you can't still make meaningful connections. The more creative ways you can find to stay in touch, the stronger your relationship is likely to be.

Any major transition can disrupt even the most solid friendships. However, there are many ways to keep each other close in spirit even when you are physically apart.