How to Nurture Your Friendships

Written by Natalie Glennon

When we think about romantic relationships as they are portrayed in the media, I’m sure a few things come to mind: date nights, expressions of love and affection, and the prioritization of the relationship above pretty much everything else. Friendships, on the other hand, are often depicted as less important, as they don’t seem to require as much time, effort, or emotional involvement as a relationship does. 

But that’s not necessarily true! Friendships are comparable to romantic relationships in many ways—they can be just as exciting as they develop, just as painful when they end, and just as in need of care and attention to maintain that special bond. Instead of taking your friendships for granted, there are steps you can take to properly nurture your friendships and give your friends the love they deserve.

Why It’s Important to Nurture Your Friendships

There are various short and long-term benefits that come with nurturing your friendships for both people involved. These include:

• Reduced stress and feelings of loneliness

• Lower risk of physical health issues

• Better ability to cope with hardship

• Increased feelings of self-confidence and happiness

Friendships have a significant impact on our mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing, which is why it’s so important to prioritize these bonds just as much as other relationships in your life. However, getting to a point where you feel completely open and comfortable with a friend can be difficult! It requires time and effort in order to cultivate a fulfilling, long-lasting friendship and reap all the benefits that come with it.

Ways You Can Strengthen Your Friendships

Some of the key ways in which you can strengthen your friendships are the same strategies used to nourish romantic relationships. Here are a few steps you can take to help foster and maintain trusting, valuable friendships:

1. Express gratitude and appreciation. Expressing gratitude toward your friends is an easy and effective way to make them feel loved. You could tell them about how thankful you are to have them in your life, point out the things you love most about their personality, or commit to meaningful actions that demonstrate your appreciation for them. Even small acts of kindness like giving someone flowers are shown to boost feelings of happiness and connection and have effects that last for days on end.

2. Embrace vulnerability and intimacy. Have you ever noticed how sleepovers provide the perfect environments for deep (and silly) conversations? It’s because when you feel safe and comfortable, you’re more likely to open up and let your conversations run free without fear of judgment. Although that context is particularly conducive to vulnerability, challenge yourself to embrace sleepover talk in everyday life! Ask your friend open-ended questions, engage in active listening, and make sure you reciprocate in sharing your own feelings and experiences. A good friend will love it when you show up as you are and give them the freedom to be themselves in return.

3. Carve out time to spend together. People always seem to talk about how important it is for couples to plan dates together, but it’s equally as important for us to plan out quality time with friends! You could meet up to talk one-on-one, engage in a well-loved activity, or do something that’s out of your comfort zone. Not only does this quality time contribute to strengthening your bonds, but the very act of reaching out to your friend and initiating these activities together goes a long way.

It can be easy to assume that your current friendships will stay the same as time goes on, but that’s not always the case. Some friendships require more care and nourishment, especially as life pulls you in different directions. That being said, growing apart from some of your friends is completely normal too! If you have friendships that aren’t nourishing you in the ways you feel like you deserve, there’s no shame in taking time away, setting boundaries, and reevaluating the friendship. Quality friendships should make you feel good about yourself and about the connection you have with that person, and they can even bring you a lifetime of happiness.