Through Thick and Thin: Nurturing Your Friendships and Relationships

 “I can’t this week, maybe next week?” “Raincheck?” “Next month?” “Can I get back to you?”
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When our busy and hectic schedules start to fill our calendars, it may seem difficult to share our time with the people in our lives. Healthy relationships and friendships can be difficult to keep when you have a demanding routine and can result in a loss of connection. Feeling like there is a lack of time can often make us feel guilty for neglecting people we care about, can make spending time with others feel like a chore, or can even make us neglect our own self-care by not sustaining our social life. However, one thing that is most important to remember is being more social isn’t about pleasing everyone around you! According to one of Breakthrough’s interns, Kellie Cassidy, “Nothing is easy about having a busy schedule and focusing on your future, but it is even harder when we do it alone. I have learned that not only is nurturing your relationship and friendships important for the relationship itself, but it also recharges us.”  So, how can we nurture our friendships and relationships and maintain a connection with friends and family? 

Benefits of nurturing healthy relationships and friendships: 

• Provides emotional support
• Prevents isolation, loneliness, and offers companionship
• Can increase a sense of belonging and purpose
• Can improve self-confidence and self-worth
• Can implement a positive mindset

 
Ways to nurture healthy relationships and friendships: 

• Time management 
• Create rituals together
• Create friendship and relationship mindfulness
• Put a regular date on the calendar for catching up 
• Tell someone when you think of them
• Don’t ghost them, be transparent about your bandwidth