Staying In Touch with Traveling Friends

While some friends will be off studying abroad for a semester or two or others may take jobs around the country and travel for work, there are a few easy ways to stay in touch. Keep up with friends and family, no matter how busy the schedule, with this cheat sheet.

Make a Plan

Have a standing catch-up date. Set a plan for a moment in the month, week or even day to have a quick Skype session or phone call. Sure, the schedule may change, but having a standing date or plan to catch up will keep you accountable. If there isn’t truly a convenient time for all parties, have a rotating schedule — it may work well for a couple schedules here and there, and you can switch to be more convenient for the other schedules on the next call.

Get the App

Connecting by text and calls is always the easiest way to stay in the loop, but with varying time zones and individual phone plans, a constant like WhatsApp can help. You can easily call, text, FaceTime and send high-res images just using WiFi alone — a failsafe for those months when you’re running out of data. Get a group chat going and keep the whole crew together, even on the go.

Be Thoughtful

Don’t forget to send invitations. If there’s a big event coming up or a special occasion a traveling friend is bound to miss, still send the invitation. They will feel included and involved in the day to day, as well as big moments. Even as a gesture, it can go a long way.