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It’s challenging to stay connected with close friends and family who live far away, especially when juggling a hectic life. Even though I make an effort to reach out regularly, I’ve discovered some fantastic ways to nurture relationships with those long-distance pals—everything from sharing mini podcasts to kicking off a virtual book club.
1. Sharing Photos
One of the most effective ways to connect with distant friends and relatives is by sharing pictures. Since they’re not physically present to witness all the little moments, I love sending them snapshots of new decorations, places I’ve explored, adorable pet photos, and more.
Currently, I use an app called Locket for sharing photos. It has a similar vibe to Snapchat but stands out with its home screen widget feature that showcases new photos as they come in, which was a game-changer that led me to choose it over Snapchat.
I’m part of a group with two of my best friends through this app, allowing us to send photos along with brief captions. The app also lets us react to each other’s pictures and send messages directly, making it easy to respond to what we share.
2. Sending Voice Notes
Sometimes, I have stories I can’t wait to tell that are too long for a text message. My friends and I often exchange voice memos filled with updates about our days, exciting job prospects, or the latest in celebrity news. It’s a fun way to keep in touch and have richer conversations compared to simple texting.
For this, I’ve been using an app called Cappuccino, designed specifically for sharing audio updates. It’s available on both iOS and Android. Cappuccino lets you create short podcasts with life updates, which get compiled and sent to your friends as "cappuccinos" every day. However, sending a quick voice memo through iMessage is just as effective!
3. Watching Shows and Movies
With Teleparty, you can host virtual watch parties with friends and family, which I absolutely love. It’s a blast to watch reality shows together, especially when I host viewing nights for the latest episodes of shows like The Bachelor. Teleparty allows users to connect their accounts for streaming services like Netflix, Max, YouTube, Hulu, and more!
While watching, there’s a chat feature that lets you message friends in real-time. You can also pause and rewind as needed for snack breaks or any interruptions. You can download Teleparty as a browser extension or get the app on iOS and Android.
4. Hosting a Virtual Book Club
About a year ago, my friends and I launched a virtual book club using the app Fable. This fantastic reading tracker enables us to create public or private clubs and discuss books chapter by chapter. We generally give ourselves around three weeks to finish a book and add our comments in the app as we read.
At the end of each book, there’s a review section showing how each member rated the book and their final thoughts. We also schedule video calls to discuss it, mostly based on the commentary we shared on Fable. The app has replaced my use of Goodreads as my go-to book tracker.
5. Setting Up Audio and Video Calls
While this might seem like the most straightforward option, calling long-distance friends and family always lifts my spirits. It can be tricky to align schedules, but even a brief call makes a significant impact.
I aim to video call my friends at least twice a month and check in with my family weekly. I particularly enjoy using FaceTime to connect because it lets me see my loved ones, their pets, and the various updates in their lives, like new furniture or art projects.
6. Playing Games Online
I recently found the Plato app, which allows you to play games and chat with people while playing. It features over 50 multiplayer games, including pool, chess, word games, and even a role-playing game called Dungeon Tales.
No matter the type of games you and your friends enjoy, Plato has something for everyone. It’s free to download on iOS and Android, with in-app purchases available for additional customization options.
There are numerous ways to stay connected with long-distance friends and family beyond just phone calls. Whether you’re sharing pictures, watching movies together, starting a book club, or playing games, you can maintain strong relationships even when you’re miles apart.
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