Low-Maintenance Friendships are the secret to a happy social life. We are often told that to be a “good friend,” we must text back immediately, remember every birthday, and hang out every weekend.
That sounds like a full-time job. However, real friendship shouldn’t feel like an obligation.
If you are tired of social burnout, you don’t need more friends. Instead, you need to embrace the low-maintenance lifestyle.
What Is a Low-Maintenance Friend?
A low-maintenance friend is someone you haven’t spoken to in three months. Yet, when you call them, it feels like you just hung up five minutes ago.
There is no guilt. Furthermore, there is no “Why haven’t you texted me?” drama. There is just understanding.
Basically, these friendships are built on connection, not frequency.
3 Rules for Lazy but Deep Connections
1. The “No Apology” Clause
Stop starting your texts with “So sorry for the late reply!”
When you apologize, you make the friendship feel transactional. In other words, you are admitting you failed a deadline. Instead, just jump straight into the conversation.
Your real friends know you are busy (or just lazy). Consequently, they don’t need an apology; they just want to hear from you.
2. Send Memes, Not Essays
You don’t need to have a deep 2-hour phone call to stay connected.
On the contrary, sending a funny Instagram reel or a meme says, “I am thinking of you,” without demanding any mental energy. It is a “ping” that keeps the connection alive with zero pressure.
3. Quality Over Frequency
You don’t need to see each other every Friday.
One meaningful dinner every three months is worth more than ten superficial happy hours. Therefore, stop forcing weekly hangouts that leave you exhausted. Save your energy for the moments that count.
Why This Saves Your Mental Health
High-maintenance relationships are energy vampires. As a result, they make you dread looking at your phone.
In comparison, Low-Maintenance Friendships are safe harbors. They allow you to be yourself—even the lazy, tired, overwhelmed version of yourself.
Conclusion
You are an adult. You are busy. You are tired.
So, cherish the friends who let you be all those things without judgment. Those are the keepers.
Tell me in the comments: Do you have a friend you can go months without talking to? Tag them (or don’t, that’s fine too).
