5 Ways to Reconnect with Friends without Making It Awkward

Writing a text or calling a number, it’s important to keep your friendships connected. If you’ve drifted apart, here are five ways to reconnect with friends.

The winter season is often one of nostalgia. In between the holidays and gatherings with friends, you’re left reminiscing about those who were in your life long ago. Whether you were separated by bad feelings or if life and family just got in the way, there’s hope for every relationship.

People lead busy lives, and circumstances may have changed, but expressing sincere interest in rebuilding friendships can go a long way. Here are five ways to reconnect with friends, but first, if you don’t want to make it awkward, you need these three keys to reconnecting.

3 Keys to Reconnecting

More important than how you’re going to reconnect are the emotions you express. Reconnecting with a friend is a meaningful process, and it often comes with lots of mixed feelings. Take time to consider your own emotions and how you’re going to impact the other person, and then,

1. Be Genuine

When expressing your desire to reconnect, be genuine. Be specific about why you miss the friendship and mention positive memories you shared. If there were specific reasons for the distance or if there were misunderstandings in the past, consider addressing them in a gentle and apologetic manner.

However, the most important thing is to focus on the positive. Keep the tone light and avoid placing blame. There’s no point in hashing out old arguments; just let bygones be bygones if you want to salvage your relationship.

2. Be Interested

Demonstrate genuine interest in your friend’s life. Ask about their current activities, achievements, and challenges. This shows that you value them as an individual and are eager to catch up on their life.

3. Be Consistent

Once you’ve reconnected, make an effort to maintain consistent communication. Share updates regularly, schedule catch-up sessions, and actively participate in the friendship to prevent it from drifting apart again.

In our busy, always-on lives, this can be the toughest challenge because sometimes we just don’t have the time. But don’t fear the lack of contact; it just means that you need to find other ways to stay connected.

5 Ways to Reconnect

Now that we’ve covered how to approach reconnecting, the next step is deciding how you’re going to reach out. In this digital world, there are many ways to do it, but it will be up to you to figure out which is best for the dynamics of your relationship.

1. Send a Thoughtful Message or Email

Craft a heartfelt message or email expressing your desire to reconnect. Share a specific memory you have with them or mention something you appreciate about your past friendship. Keep it genuine and positive and focused on them.

2. Pick up the Phone

For those of us who rely too much on texts, this isn’t the greatest news. But a phone call can be a more personal and immediate way to reconnect. Schedule a time that works for both of you, and use the opportunity to catch up, share updates on your lives, and reminisce about the good times you’ve had together. If you need a reason, National Call a Friend Day (December 28) is the perfect excuse to pick up the phone. But who needs an excuse for good conversation that heals the body and brain?

3. Organize a Small Get-Together

If you and your friend live close by, plan a casual meet-up over coffee, lunch, or a simple activity. Choose a setting that allows for easy conversation, making it comfortable for both of you to reconnect and catch up on each other’s lives. If you’re not close by, either plan a vacation when you’re able to, or schedule a quick meet up when you’re passing by their town.

4. Use Social Media to Your Advantage

Utilize social media platforms to reconnect with friends. Send a friendly message, comment on their recent posts or life events, or share a memory from the past. Social media can be a low-pressure way to initiate contact. And it’s also a great way to keep consistent contact if you’re short on time.

5. Attend Events Together

If there’s a mutual interest or event happening in your area, suggest attending it together. Whether it’s a concert, art exhibition, or sports game, participating in shared activities can provide a natural and enjoyable way to reconnect. If you don’t live in the same town, you can find some virtual events or even make your own, such as a movie watch party or online games.

Endless New Beginnings

Unfortunately, friendships come and go throughout our lives, and it’s not until later that we realize exactly how important our friendships were. Even the earliest ones we can remember have an impact on our current lives and relationships. Since these relationships are so fleeting, it’s important to always end—and begin again—on a happy note. Starting from a young age, friendships afford us the opportunity of endless new beginnings together, a chance to love our friends all over again when we reconnect. This is the most important relationship advice we could pass on to our kids: No past grudge is worth losing a friendship that can last a lifetime.

Nurture Your Relationships with These Books

^{Shaelyn Topolovec earned a BA in editing and publishing from BYU, worked on several online publications, and joined the Familius family. Shae is currently an editor and copywriter who lives in California’s Central Valley.}