This article is based on an expert interview with Kelli Miller, LCSW, MSW, conducted by wikiHow Staff Editors. Kelli Miller is a Psychotherapist based in Los Angeles, California. Kelli specializes in individual and couples therapy focusing on relationships, depression, anxiety, sexuality, communication, parenting, and more. Kelli also facilitates groups for those struggling with alcohol and drug addiction as well as anger management groups. She is the author of “Professor Kelli’s Guide to Finding a Husband” and the award-winning and best-selling book “Thriving with ADHD”. Kelli co-hosted an advice show on LA Talk Radio and is a relationship expert for The Examiner. She received her MSW (Masters of Social Work) from the University of Pennsylvania and a BA in Sociology/Health from the University of Florida.
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In our wildly busy lives, it’s all too easy to let months pass between speaking with friends that we care about. Thankfully, there are concrete ways you can start making these connections alive and consistent again. In this video, Kelli Miller, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, shows how with a little detective work, a little planning, and a little creativity, you can get back in touch with your friends—and stay there.
Key Takeaways
- Find out each friend's best method of communication, whether it’s texting, talking on the phone, or email, and use that so it’s easier to stay in touch.
- Mark a specific time to chat with each of your friends on the calendar so you don’t lose touch with them.
- Fit friend time into your schedule by inviting friends to do activities on your to-do list with you.
Video Transcript
The first piece would be finding out your friends’ best method of communication. Some people are amazing texters but they don't answer the phone. Or, you have people who are really great at talking on the phone, but they don't email. So it's really finding out what method works best because that's going to be your first clue on how to communicate the best. Second, I'm an advocate of setting up specific times to talk. So we're all busy. We're in a crazy busy world right now. And so it might help just to put something on the calendar. And finally, you can even kill two birds with one stone, meaning if you need to go out there, you need to exercise, hike, or do whatever you need to do, call your friend and say “Hey come with me. I gotta get a hike in.” And this way you get friend time and you get your exercise in or whatever it is that gets you excited.
