As new students start to settle into college life and become accustomed to fresh routines, it becomes more and more difficult to maintain relationships with friends who aren't local. People are typically a bit more motivated to keep up with long-distance romantic relationships over long distance friendships but both can be difficult to manage. With effort, it is possible to maintain any relationship or friendship, regardless of how far away those friends may reside.

The key to any relationship, romantic or otherwise, is communication. It is just as important to reassure those who are close to you that you care about them as it is to let them know when you feel things are going awry. Talking out issues, big or small, will help to ensure that tensions never get bottled up until one of you bursts and lashes out.

Remember, it's always better to care a bit too much than to not care enough. Phone calls, Snapchat and Skype calls are lifesavers when it comes to staying in touch with those who are close to your heart that may not currently be close to your homes.

Another way to keep long-distance relationships thriving is through random acts of kindness. Surprising your girlfriend or boyfriend with something that you know they adore at a time they would least expect it is sure to put a smile on their face.

Even if you don't get the chance to see them face to face, sending someone you love a sweet text, a thoughtful letter, or a spontaneous package is a fun way to keep in touch. Additionally, having a physical item like a letter, a printed photo, or a gift to physically hold helps to make it feel like they aren't really that far away at all.

On the rare occasions that you do get to spend time with these friends or your girlfriend or boyfriend, it is best to spend that time making new memories. Rather than sticking to tradition, why not spice things up a bit every once in a while? Try a new restaurant, take a day trip to an amusement park, attend a music festival or some other unique local event like a fair or a farmer's market.

If the two of you are making new memories every time you see each other, you'll have distinctive experiences together. That way, you'll avoid feeling like your relationship was just one never-ending movie date every time you reflect back upon it.

Another unique way to bond on days when the two of you are in the same place at the same time is to bring this significant person through a typical day in your life. You could ask them to attend a few classes with you, pick you up from work, or even run errands together.

Some of my favorite conversations have happened in the aisles of grocery stores between my girlfriend and I. Doing simple, mindless tasks like grocery shopping gives your mind a chance to wander and makes for some very interesting conversations. Also, seeing your friends or your S.O. at work and at school can give you a fun glimpse into their everyday life that you otherwise may have never gotten to experience.

Asking each other random questions once or twice a week will ensure that you will never stop learning new things about your friends. Random questions can be serious or just plain silly. They can range from discussing your favorite and least favorite things to asking some obscure would you rather and never have I ever style questions that might even lead to a few memorable stories.

As long as you make the effort to regularly communicate with the people who you care about from outside of college, your relationships will continue to stay strong and will never fade out.