​Everybody needs good friends in their life.

So you want to know how to be a good friend? You might think you’re a good friend when in fact you’re actually not that good of a friend and that should scare you. Good friends are hard to come by and we should all strive to be that good friend that someone needs in their life. Do you know what it takes to be a good friend? We have created this guide on how to be a good friend so that you can read through this guide and apply it to your own friendships, making you a great friend.

​A Bit About Being a Good Friend

Being a good friend is important because everyone goes through bad times and often people can feel lonely without good friends in their life. That’s where you come in. Be a good friend by being there for the people close to you and have some fun.

What is a good friend?

A good friend is someone who always has your back. Someone who is always there for you and is available always to offer advice or even just a hug at times of need. Good friends will be fun, caring, considerate, loyal and honest. A good friend will always be there to offer a listening ear and will always be there for you when you need them the most. The best kinds of friends are the ones who are there for you without you even needing to ask.

Why is it important to be a good friend?

We all go through bad things in our lives and quite often, friends are the ones you rely on to make you feel better or to help you get through your problems. Without friends, many people would feel alone with their problems. It is important to be a good friend to help others feel less alone. It’s also important to be a good friend to others because then at times when you’re in need of a friend, they’ll reciprocate and be there for you when you need them too. Great friends are also often to most fun people to be around, so by being a great friend, you’ll have a lot more fun in your life.

Easy Tips for How to Be a Good Friend

Following is our list of ten tips on how to be a good friend. These tips will provide some great advice on how to be a good friend, and will also give you some tips on how you can strengthen and improve your friendship bonds with others. If you’re looking for tips on how to be a good friend, this list is perfect for you.

1. Make sure they’re okay the moment you sense something wrong.

This is one of the most important tips on how to be a good friend. Friends often rely on other friends to help them through their problems but more often than not, people won’t seek out for help or advice. It’s up to you to determine when your friends are not being themselves. If you notice a dip in your friend’s mood, immediately ask them what’s wrong. Don’t wait around, they need you.

Some people can be very good at hiding their emotions. A good friend will always be able to sense when something isn’t quite right and will immediately be on hand to offer advice or a shoulder to cry on if that’s what is needed. Figure out what your friend needs and be there to provide that for them.

2. Go the extra mile when they ask you for help

When a friend asks for your advice or your opinion on something, it means they value your thoughts and really want your input on something. Take that as a huge compliment and go that extra mile to help them with whatever they need.

Everyone needs reliable people in their lives, so it’s up to you to be that reliable person they need. Whatever it is they need from you, even if it’s just a bit of advice, offer them the best advice you possibly can. Go into great detail and give them very informative advice so that they feel that you have given them great advice.

3. Don’t give up on them when they’re down

We all go through terrible things in our lives and it’s at that point when your friends will need you the most. Although your friends may seem less fun when they’re going through a tough time, you should always try to be the person that brings their mood back up.

No-one should be left to suffer alone, and good friends will always be there to help. Friends can always cheer you up when you’re down. Often people rely on friends even more than their family when they’re struggling and so that is why you need to be there more than ever when your friend is going through a tough time.

4. Understand and respect boundaries

Your friends may be so much fun that you want to hang out with them 24/7 but that can’t always be the case. You have to be aware that your friends have their own lives. If your friend says no to something, it doesn’t mean they don’t want you as a friend or they don’t want to hang out with you, it’s more likely that they’re just genuinely busy with other things. Appreciate that they need time to spend with their family or other friends or even just with themselves. The best types of friends are the ones that instantly click again no matter how long it’s been since you’ve seen each other.

5. Be honest and constructive when needed

If you think your friend is making a bad decision, let them know. If you notice that your friend is doing something that may be bad for their health such as smoking or excessive drinking, let them know. Show your friend that you are concerned about them and that you care about them.

In less serious cases, let’s say for example you notice a stain on your friend’s t-shirt and they’re about to leave the house. Tell them about it. They’ll appreciate your honesty and will be happy that they’ve got someone that cares enough about them to let them know about those little things that may have embarrassed them later.

6. Be loyal and dependable

This is one of the most important tips on how to be a good friend. When your friend tells you something personal, they should always feel confident in knowing that you will never tell anyone their secrets. A good friend is one that can be relied on to offer advice without feeling the need to spill the gossip to others.

Loyalty is one of the most important parts of friendship. That involves never lying to your friends and always being the person that keeps their secrets.

7. Make time for them

Have you ever asked your friends to do something only to be turned down? Don’t be the person that’s constantly turning down your friends. Don’t let saying no become a habit in your friendship. Say yes more often. Just remember how much fun you have with your friends. It can be easy to get stuck in a rut and stuck in a routine. Going out with friends can be a great break for you from your every day life.

8. Be okay with gaps in conversation

As with talking to anyone, there will always be some moments of silences. Be comfortable with these silent moments. You don’t have to be constantly talking the entire time you’re together. Just enjoy being in each others company. That’s all you really need. If you feel yourselves running out of things to talk about, try doing something else, perhaps put a movie on and just enjoy being in each others company.

9. Show small gestures on occasion

This can be anything as simple as just buying them something you’ve seen while out and about that they may like. If you know your friend well, buy them something that you know they really like. That way they’ll know how well you know them, and they’ll feel wonderful in knowing that you’ve thought about them and spent your hard-earned cash on them.

It always feels great when someone makes an effort to show you they care. It doesn’t matter how simple it is, just show them you’re thinking of them.

10. Keep in touch with them

Everyone has their own lives and we can often get so busy living our lives that we can easily drift apart form the people we were once closest to. In this day and age, with the use of social media and with everyone having a phone in their hand constantly, it’s easier than ever to keep in touch with your friends. Just send them a quick message every now and gain to let them know you’re thinking about them and to show them that you still care even if you’re not seeing them as much as you used to.

​Do you think you’re a good friend?

After reading through this guide on how to be a good friend, evaluate your relationships with your friends and determine if you are a good friend to them. Try to incorporate some of these tips into your current friendships and show your friends how good of a friend you really are. What are your thoughts on the tips in this article? Do you have any friendship stories you’d like to share with us? We would love to hear them. Please leave us a comment in the comment section below.

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