Lindsey Shaffer of David Wolfe writes:

Friends often seem like your whole world when we are younger. Especially in today’s age of technology, kids, teens and 20-somethings are constantly in communication, texting, talking on the phone, tweeting, writing on each others Facebook walls and hanging out through photo proof on Instagram. As people get older, develop a serious relationship, build their career and start having children, friendships often get shoved to the wayside. As much as you want to keep in contact, plan dinner dates and get the old group back together, life can easily start to get in the way. But instead of letting those friendships get lost — the friendships that are truly important to you – here are six ways to be a good friend, even when you have a lot going on:

1. Plan a Big Get-together

Coffee, a dinner date or a get-together with one other person are more prone to getting rescheduled, over and over again. Planning a get-together that involves more people can allow others to prioritize, mark it on their calendars and make sure to attend. Plan a big girls night in or a couples night out, or get the whole family involved and plan an amusement park trip!

2. Use the Phone

Phone calls have now taken a backseat to texting, but taking a few minutes, say once a week, to call a friend and actually have a conversation can let your friend know that you want to know what’s going on in your friend’s life. If you absolutely don’t have time, be sure to at least send a text to say, “Just want to let you know I’m thinking about you!”

3. Create a Recurring Event

If you plan a last-minute get-together, you can almost be sure that not many people will attend. As much as you have going on, your friends are busy too. Find a certain date, a holiday or even a made-up occasion to hold a get-together each year. Host an annual New Year’s Eve party, a Memorial Day cookout, or hold and Ode to Summer party every last Saturday in August. If people know plenty of time in advance, they’ll keep it on their calendar and be able to clear their schedules. If you prefer something small, plan a dinner every other Thursday night with your friends. You’ll both know in advance and be more likely not to reschedule.

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About the Author

Lindsey Shaffer is a writer and editor for DavidWolfe.com and holds a B.A. in Professional Writing and Editing. She is a health and fitness enthusiast and a world traveler with a love of coffee and a passion for adventure.