Friendship IRL: Real Talk About Friendship, Community, and What It Actually Takes

Are Low-Maintenance Friendships Actually Low Maintenance? (Plus, Tips on How to Make Them Work Better For You!)


Listen Later

Are low-maintenance friendships all they’re made out to be?

So many of us are trying to live in this impossible zone of wanting friendship to be little effort but not neglectful. The effort of staying in this bubble can make maintaining a friendship more difficult, and it also denies many of our inherent needs.

Today I’m going to talk about why this mainstream current definition of “low maintenance” friendship is not serving us. How can we think about low maintenance friendship differently and make it work for us?

Friendship should be a reprieve, not a burden; let’s make it easier on ourselves by focusing on consistent, simple connections. Think breadcrumbs, not bread loaves.


In this episode you’ll hear about:

  • The language we use about “low-maintenance” friendship and the fine line that defines them – you want “low attention” but can’t be neglectful
  • How so much of low-maintenance friendships is denying that we matter, that we want to be seen, that we have needs
  • The amount of energy we spend staying in the exact right zone of a low maintenance friendship – which in the end isn’t very low maintenance!
  • The importance of having conversations about how we each are able to show up in friendships
  • How to leave “breadcrumbs” instead of bread loaves through scheduling hacks, reoccurring meet-ups/texts/calls, voice messages, etc.


Resources & Links:

Like what you hear? Visit my website, leave me a voicemail, and follow me on Instagram and TikTok!

Want to take this conversation a step further? Send this episode to a friend. Tell them you found it interesting and use what we just talked about as a conversation starter the next time you and your friend hang out!


...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Friendship IRL: Real Talk About Friendship, Community, and What It Actually TakesBy Alex Alexander

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

53 ratings


More shows like Friendship IRL: Real Talk About Friendship, Community, and What It Actually Takes

View all
Happier with Gretchen Rubin by Gretchen Rubin / The Onward Project

Happier with Gretchen Rubin

12,926 Listeners

The Baggage Reclaim Sessions by Natalie Lue

The Baggage Reclaim Sessions

669 Listeners

The Terri Cole Show by Terri Cole

The Terri Cole Show

1,357 Listeners

How to Be Fine by Kristen and Jolenta

How to Be Fine

5,402 Listeners

Highest Self Podcast® by Sahara Rose

Highest Self Podcast®

5,711 Listeners

For The Love With Jen Hatmaker Podcast by Jen Hatmaker

For The Love With Jen Hatmaker Podcast

6,379 Listeners

Heal Squad x Maria Menounos by Heal Squad

Heal Squad x Maria Menounos

2,032 Listeners

The Liz Moody Podcast by Liz Moody

The Liz Moody Podcast

2,969 Listeners

On Purpose with Jay Shetty by iHeartPodcasts

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

27,028 Listeners

ShrinkChicks by Jennifer Chaiken, LMFT and Emmalee Bierly, LMFT

ShrinkChicks

723 Listeners

Unlocking Us with Brené Brown by Vox Media Podcast Network

Unlocking Us with Brené Brown

23,612 Listeners

Friend Forward by Danielle Bayard Jackson -- Female Friendship Expert

Friend Forward

264 Listeners

The Best Advice Show by Zak Rosen

The Best Advice Show

365 Listeners

We Can Do Hard Things by Glennon Doyle and Audacy

We Can Do Hard Things

41,217 Listeners

The Mel Robbins Podcast by Mel Robbins

The Mel Robbins Podcast

20,737 Listeners