I’m somebody who loves to make my friends feel special, which is why I am always looking for ways to show them that I care while making them smile. I try to go the extra mile to be there for my friends at the best of times, but especially over the lockdowns of the last few years, I feel like friendship, and specifically expressing our joy at our friendships, has become even more important. Here are five fun ways that I show my friends that I care.

Write a letter 

Snail mail will never go out of style, but none of us ever receive enough of it – in fact, all that ever seems to come through my letterbox is utility bills! Even if you talk to your pal every day, there’s something different about sitting down to write a letter. Letters are great because they are so intentional, and they become like keepsakes that your friend can look back on for decades to come. 

Send them a care package

No matter how old you are, getting surprises through the post always makes you feel like a little kid. That’s why I love to send surprises to my friends. Gifting is my love language, so I go all out – I grab a good mix of self-care items, funny in-jokes, and yummy snacks, and put it all together in some bespoke packaging to create the ultimate adorable care package that is going to fill their hearts and definitely make them smile. 

Plan a friend date

If you live near enough to meet up in person and you and your pal have already been vaxxed, it might be safe for you to have a friend date! Plan something random and fun for you both to do together, or simply have your friend over for a movie marathon in your pajamas – taking the initiative to plan something fun for you to do together is a great way to show your friend that you love then and just want to spend time with them. Dates can definitely be for platonic friends too! 

Record a quick voice note

It’s easy to get caught in a cycle of only speaking in small talk when you’re texting back and forth, so try sending your pal a voice note. It could be a joke or a quick ‘hey I was just thinking of you’ that will make them feel special – or include them in your day, and just ramble about what you’re doing! Particularly when your friendship is at a distance and your friend might be isolating or feeling lonely, a random stream of consciousness in a voice note can be enough to brighten anybody’s day. 

Tasty treats are always a hit

I love nothing more than receiving a surprise package that contains something fun like brownies, that are able to handle the journey of being posted. A surprise is always made better by being edible, so sending your friend a surprise batch of tasty treats is a surefire way to put a smile on their face. 

What do you do to show your friends that you care? Is gifting your love language, or do you prefer regular contact? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Georgie

Georgie – twenty something content creator based in Yorkshire, writing about all things pretty in life