Long-distance relationships of any sort are difficult.

Long-distance friendships are especially hard to hold onto when you’re both maintaining separate lives while still trying to keep each other up-to-date on what’s going on.

That being said, there are ways to ensure that you and your friends don’t completely grow apart, even if you’re far apart. You may not have quite as many new inside jokes, but at least you won’t lose sight of your friendship.

Set aside time to talk

This is pretty obvious, but the best way to maintain any friendship is to communicate with each other. It doesn’t have to be every day, or even every week, but making sure you both put time into keeping the friendship strong is an easy and very important step. Make a schedule to call or FaceTime on certain days, or even just at the start of the week. If you know your friend is having a stressful week, make yourself available to them so they’ll have someone to lean on for support.

Tell them about your college life

Again, a fairly intuitive thing to do, but this is something that many people forget to do. College is a crazy time for everyone and something’s always happening. One thing many people cite as a major obstacle in maintaining their long-distance friendships is keeping their friends current on the intricacies of their livesExplain who your college friends are as you meet them, talk about the specifics of your school and your experience. That way, your friend will know exactly what you’re talking about and hopefully won’t have to ask you to explain too much later on.

Send them little gifts

It doesn’t have to be anything big, but let’s face it — everyone enjoys getting mail. It could just be a funny little $10 trinket you see at Target that reminds you of them, or it could be an elaborate present that requires at least four people to carry. Set up a system where you both promise to send each other something once a month as a non-traditional way of keeping in touch. Write them a nice letter every once in a while to let them know you’re thinking of them. That way, your friend will have something tangible to remind them of your friendship. Stationery is cheap, and it takes all of five minutes to write a letter saying, “Hi, I miss you.” This suggestion might cost a little bit of money, but the payoff is totally worth it.

Visit them when you have a break

Much easier said than done, but perhaps the best way to keep a friendship afloat when you’re living in different cities is to simply go and visit. People love showing off their towns, and college towns are especially fun. Instead of going on Mountain Weekend, take a drive to visit your friend in West Virginia. No plans for Fall Break? Go visit your friend at the University of Georgia. This is perhaps the best piece of advice when it comes to long-distance friendships because things will almost definitely fall apart if you never see each other.

Don’t forget who’s known you for so long

Remember where you come from. Your high school friends helped shape who you are today, and the minute you forget that is the minute you lose that friendship. Just because it’s a lot of work doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do the work, especially at a time in your life when relationships with other people mean so much. Don’t let go of your old friends simply because they’re too far away.