Friendships require a lot of tender love and care, however with how busy life can get, one can easily become complacent as a friend. It helps being aware of what kind of friend you are so that you make your friends aware of much or how little you can give into the friendship.
Recently, social media has been in conversation over low maintenance friends and many saying it is copping out from being a good friend which isn’t necessarily true if it is something you have communicated with your friends and you guys have a mutual understanding. Understanding the type of friend you are and have will help you manage expectations on both sides.
Low maintenance friendships
The easiest friendships to maintain are those that demand little effort on your part. They don’t demand any attention, abide by any regulations, or meet any standards. But occasionally, you’ll connect up with meaningful people; doing so won’t require any effort because you’ll like it.
High maintenance friendships
A high-maintenance friend demands a lot of attention, it can be through long phone calls, meetups or unplanned visits that may be overwhelming and draining.
Healthy friendships require reciprocity in order to grow and last. You may be the one providing assistance at times, and you may also be the one receiving it. Your relationship with friends can be strengthened by letting them know how much you value and care about them. Being a good friend and having excellent friends around you are equally vital.
According to the Mayo Clinic, Friendships are beneficial to your health. Friends may encourage you during difficult times and help you celebrate good moments. Friends keep you from feeling alone and lonely and provide you the ability to provide the necessary company. Likewise, friends can:
- Boost your sense of purpose and belonging.
- Increase your joy and decrease your stress.
- Boost your sense of value and self-assurance.
- assist you in overcoming traumas like divorce, critical illness, job loss, or the loss of a loved one.
- Encourage you to modify or stay away from bad lifestyle choices, such as binge drinking or inactivity.
Also see: Types of unhealthy friends you should cut off in 2023
