When work, home, and life schedules make it hard for friendship, schedule time to chat by phone or in person, just like you would a conference call or an important presentation.
Ask each person to bring a bag of canned goods or used books to your next gathering, and then donate them to a good cause. Don't forget to share the experience with your friends afterwards.
Make an acquaintance more of a friend by inviting someone you want to know better for tea and cookies.
Just as you might for travel or shopping, clip and save items that remind you of a friend or activity ideas for future friend dates, and then refer to it when plan time comes.
Go out of your way to tell a friend what specific quality or ability you admire about her – something that you believe but rarely have an opportunity or reason to say. Your friend may not know you feel that way until you say, "You make everyone you speak to feel so important – I really admire that." Or: "I'm so impressed with your ability to keep your cool under pressure." Or: "You have such a great sense of style."
When a friend is stressed or over-extended, switch out a lunch date for a help session, offering your best skill, organizing ability or even a new set of eyes on a problem.
After an ear and a shoulder to cry on, the gift of comic relief is one of the best you can give a friend in need. If humor's not your forte, just commit one silly joke to memory to break out on these occasions. (Here's one: Question: What do you call a boomerang that doesn't come back to you? Answer: A stick.)
Next time you're with a friend, change your experience by walking a new route together, eating a different cookie than usual, picking a new café for your coffee date, or meeting at a different time of day.
Offer up a little treat or goody bag at your next meeting, group lunch or class – something small but festive makes people feel included and invested in the connection and event.
Five minutes of "connection meditation" (Who needs something today? Who is going through something? Who might benefit from a phone call?) + 5 minutes of action (send three emails, make one phone call, write one birthday card) = upping your friend-connection level for a lifetime.