LIFE

When your #1 has a new bae in her life, it can be hard to figure out what your friendship will look like. Though everything may not be *exactly* the same as before, these tips will help you keep your friendship strong for years to come.

Recognize your self-worth

Even if you're practically the head cheerleader when it comes to your friend's relationship, there may be moments when you feel tinges of jealousy and sadness. This is totally natural, so don't beat yourself up for wishing you had a S.O., too. But remember this: just because your bestie has a relationship does not mean you are *any* more or less deserving of one. If it helps, write down a list of all your amaze talents (yes, making trendy TikToks counts!) and refer to it when you need a confidence boost. Someday, you'll meet someone who cares for you just as much—but don't feel like you need to rush.

Give her space to talk about the relationship...

It can definitely be hard to listen to your BFF talk about her relationship when you're wishing you were in one, too—we *totally* get it. But put yourself in your bestie's shoes. If it were you, you'd want to be able to talk to her about your relationship, right? Being a supportive friend means being there for each other's wins and losses. Though this doesn't mean talking about her S.O. *every* night, it's important for her to know you've got her back no matter what.

...but take time for yourself, too

That being said, giving your friend time to talk about her bae is important, but remember not to overdo it. If it's getting to be too much to hear about her relationship all the time, take some time for yourself to do what you love. There's nothing wrong with prioritizing yourself and choosing to kick back with an episode of Riverdale instead of FaceTiming all night. 

Get to know her S.O. with a group hang

Don't want to be the third wheel? We don't blame you! But you actually have something in common with her S.O.: you're both *very* important people in your friend's life. See if you can get some other members of your squad together to go hiking, out for pizza or even just playing a game on Zoom together. That way, you can spend time with your bestie *and* get to know her date. 

Plan one-on-one time just for you two

Especially in new relationships, finding the balance between spending time with bae and spending time with BFFs can be tough. Give your bestie a break if she seems a little busier at first. But when everything starts to settle down, be sure to make time just for you two. Whether it's watching your fave show together over Zoom or going shopping together, making memories and strengthening your friendship is even more important now. Dates will come and go, but friends are forever.

Surround yourself with new friends, too

We're not saying to ditch your friend just because she has a new relationship. But this is the perfect time to branch out and expand your current inner circle. Anyone you've always wanted to get to know? The quiet girl in your art class? The hilarious guy from debate? Take a look around you and spend some time getting to know others, too. You can never have too many friends!

What are your tips for keeping your friendships going strong? Tag us on Insta @girlslifemag and let us know!

Top image: alexandra lammerink on Unsplash. All GIFs via GIPHY

by Ariane Faro | 4/29/2021