When I moved to Germany, I quickly realized how easy it was to lose touch with people who mattered to me. Between new personal responsibilities, career demands, and adjusting to a new culture, staying connected fell by the wayside.
Months would slip by without a real conversation. At best, I’d exchange a few short messages over social media — nothing like the deep talks we used to have.
That’s when I decided to bring a professional practice into my personal life: 1:1s.
1:1s
In a work environment, 1:1s are regular check-ins between a manager and a direct report, or between colleagues, to catch up.
I adapted this idea into Friendship 1:1s.
Friendship 1:1s
Intentional 30/60 minute catch-ups with friends or family, scheduled just like any important meeting.
The impact has been incredible. Each month, I aim for at least three Friendship 1:1s. These conversations help me feel more grounded, closer to the people I care about, and better balanced in life.
If you’ve been struggling to find time for meaningful connections, give this a try. A simple scheduled 1:1 could be the difference between not keeping deeper connection with people and staying close enought to have meaniful friendships.
Make use of your Caleandar
One thing that can drastically improve this is by opening some slots on your Calendar (free on Google calendar), and then send the link to the people you want to have 1:1 with. This helps keep track of when was the last time you spoke to someone and avoids events onverlaps.
If you’ve been struggling to find time for meaningful connections, give this a try. A simple scheduled 1:1 could be exactly the thing you need to reignite the spark of friendship with the people you love and admire.
