There are twenty-four hours in a day, none of which are any shorter than the others. I'm busy, you're busy, but that shouldn't be an excuse to lose touch with the people you love. In my own life, I work two jobs and take six classes which means I don't have a whole lot of time on my hands. I have a boyfriend, but I also have five close friends that I try to see as often as possible. I never wanted to be THAT girl who only makes time for her boyfriend: I made it my mission to budget my time efficiently. Here's how.
1. Errands.
As boring as it may sound, I ask my friends to run errands with me. It may not be the most exciting thing to do, but we're both busy people and it is a way for us to spend time together. Errands are a great time to catch up, laugh, and learn more about each other. The last part sounded weird, but to me, you learn a lot about someone by doing mundane tasks with them. You learn about their quirks, needs, and preferences.
2. BYOB-(Bring Your Own Boyfriend).
I'm lucky in this sense, my boyfriend can get along with anyone. When I'm torn between spending time with him, or spending time with my friends, i don't have to choose. Fortunately, we can all hangout.
3. "Visit me at work".
I'm at work more often than not, and there are times where I feel like I'm missing out. My friends aren't always in town, but when they are I can almost always expect a visit at work. It may not be as memorable as a night out, but it means a lot when a friend is willing to give up an opportunity to go out and have fun, just to see you at work.
4. Study Sessions.
When I'm off from work, I can usually be found doing homework. More often than not, I'll ask a fried to sit with me and study. Though this isn't exactly "fun", you're still continuing to nurture your relationship.There's also a certain beauty in proof-reading. There's nothing better than having a friend catch your crazy typos, and laughing about it when you're both sleep deprived and fed up with school.
5. Car Rides.
When I drive to work, I pick a friend and call them. Whether our conversation is five minutes or twenty five minutes, it is meaningful. A phone call doesn't compensate for a visit, but it's an easy way to let your friend know you're thinking about them.