Never Be Too Busy for a Hello: Why Staying in Touch Matters More Than We Think

Dan and I were just recently discussing how we often let too much time go by in connecting with dear friends.  We remarked how we need to reach out more with just a quick call or text…or set up a coffee, lunch or dinner or movie date.  We have so many amazing people in our lives and a busy schedule is simply no excuse for not taking the time to reconnect.  We vowed to do better in 2026.  

What happens when you let too much time go by? 

You miss special moments, you miss being able to support and advise your friends when they need you.  Yes, there are those friendships that even though much time goes by in between check-ins, you can pick right up where you left off like no significant amount of time has passed.  But, why take the chance you may not get the chance to connect.

Life has a funny way of speeding up. Days blur into weeks, weeks into months, and suddenly you realize it’s been far too long since you last checked in on someone you deeply care about. Not because you stopped caring—but because you got busy. Work deadlines piled up. Family needs took priority. Energy ran low. And without meaning to, time slipped through your fingers.

This is exactly why staying in touch with dear friends—regularly, intentionally, even briefly—matters so much.

Friendships don’t usually fall apart from one big moment. They fade quietly through neglect. Through the “I’ll text them tomorrow” thoughts which never turn into action. Through the belief we need a long conversation, the perfect update, or the right timing to reach out. In reality, most friendships don’t need grand gestures to survive. They need presence.

A short message.

A quick “thinking of you.” A simple hello and how have you been?

Those small check-ins carry more weight than we realize. They say, You matter to me. They say, You’re still part of my life, even when things are hectic. And often, they arrive at exactly the moment the other person needs them—even if you didn’t know it.

We tend to underestimate how powerful consistency is. A five-minute call once a month does more for a friendship than a two-hour catch-up once every two years. Regular contact builds a sense of continuity, reminding both people the connection is still alive and safe. It removes the pressure which builds when too much time passes—the awkwardness, the guilt, the feeling you have to explain or apologize not being present for a time.  Because the truth is, the longer you wait, the harder it feels to reach out.

Many people say they’re “too busy,” but busyness is rarely the real issue. What we usually mean is we’ve let urgency crowd out importance. We answer emails immediately but postpone checking in on people who actually know us. We scroll endlessly yet hesitate to send a one-line message to a friend we love.

No one is too busy for a hello. We just have to decide it matters, make it a priority, and then take action!

Friendships are emotional anchors. They remind us who we are outside of our roles and responsibilities. They hold shared history, laughter, inside jokes, and memories which shape us. When life gets hard—and it eventually does—it’s often our friendships which soften the edges and make things bearable. But those supports don’t magically appear when we need them; they’re built and maintained over time.

Staying in touch is also a quiet act of care. It tells your friends they don’t have to earn your attention with a crisis or a milestone. That they don’t need to have big news to be worth your time. Just existing is enough.

And the effort doesn’t have to be perfect.

Your message doesn’t need to be eloquent. Your timing doesn’t need to be ideal. A voice note while walking, a heart emoji on a tough day, a quick “saw this and thought of you”—these are the threads which keep friendships woven together.

If you care about someone, don’t wait for the “right” moment. Don’t let months turn into years. Don’t assume they already know how you feel. Reach out while the connection is warm, not after it’s gone cold.

Send the text. Make the call. Say hello.  Because in the end, we rarely regret making time for the people we love. We regret letting time take them quietly out of our lives.

This is our year to do better.  To let our dear friends know how important they are to us, how much we love and cherish them.  For me, I decided to reach out to at least one friend each day just to check in and let them know they matter to me.  I hope my friends do the same and I show up on their check in list!  I sure feel really appreciated when someone reaches out to me…so I can return the appreciation to another.