Friends…a treasured resource of supporters there to laugh and cry with through the ups and downs of life. Yet it’s all too easy to let friendships slip away over time. A former co-worker who was once your closest confidant may gradually find his or her way out of your speed dial while new friendships may seem less significant without the benefit of time and history.

Friendship, like other types of relationships, requires effort to maintain. Without the blood and legal ties of family, it can be difficult to hold closely those who were once strangers but now feel like a part of who we are. Life changes, such as marriage, childbirth and relocation, can be especially tough on friendships as distance, time and new situations complicate and distract.

If you are struggling to hold onto old friendships or to strengthen new ones, try some of the following tips gathered from relationship experts. As they say, anything worth holding onto is worth working for.

• Be in the know. Be aware of your friends’ schedules and routines. This makes timing phone calls and get-togethers much simpler and shows a high level of consideration for the other person.

• Keep in touch. Frequent contact is essential to building and maintaining a friendship. Whether by phone calls, emails, text messages or cards, reaching out is important. Many experts suggest setting an appointment for a weekly phone call or lunch date to help keep ties strong.

• Go digital. With all of the options available for internet-based communities, it is easy to keep up with friends, even if your schedules and zip codes don’t allow much live conversation. Just dropping by your friend’s Facebook page and leaving a message on his or her wall lets that person know you are thinking about him or her and that you care.

• Find resolution. Conflicts left unresolved can chip away at any relationship but can be especially destructive to friendships. Be willing to be flexible and quick to offer forgiveness. If a conflict does arise, deal with it honestly and swiftly. If a resolution can’t be reached, agree to disagree and be willing to let the matter go. This places the friendship ahead of any particular opinion. After all, even the best of friends won’t agree on everything all the time.

• Be proactive. When a significant change is approaching in your life or in the life of a friend, talk about it. Determining how the new situation will impact your relationship can help you both accept the changes and plan ways to move forward without losing touch.

Anyone who has graduated from high school, moved to a new city or changed career paths knows how quietly and effortlessly friendships can fade away. A little effort can rectify this, however; and, according to recent medical research, the time and energy is well worth it. Friendships have been found to hold many benefits beyond those implied such as reducing stress and increasing longevity.