When the honeymoon phase of a romantic relationship hits, don’t let your friendships fall by the wayside…

One of the most defining moments in a friendship is when one of you starts a new romantic relationship. Somehow, you’ve entered into a throuple without any of the benefits. Have your bestie dates become impossible to pin down? Maybe you both feel the distance growing between you? To help navigate this shift, we speak to psychotherapist at First Psychology Centre, Eimear O’Mahony, for her top tips on maintaining friendships through the honeymoon phase.

Schedule regular check-ins

According to Eimear, the honeymoon stage of a romantic relationship is exciting for both psychological and biological reasons. “Your brain is flooded with chemicals such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin,” she explains. “This can create intense feelings of pleasure, excitement, and attachment. Your body also releases high levels of oxytocin during physical touch and intimacy, which promotes bonding and trust.”

On a psychological level, everything feels new and full of possibility. “You’re constantly discovering new things about your partner,” says Eimear.

So, where does that leave your friendships? Her advice: don’t leave it to chance. Set a friendship date – maybe a monthly brunch, a weekly voice note catch-up, or an activity you both enjoy. If your pal lives abroad, try a recurring video call that works across time zones. The key is to make check-ins intentional, rather than relying on “We should catch up soon!” (which we all know never happens).

Set some digital boundaries

We’ve all been there – One minute, you’re exchanging memes and voice notes, the next, your friend is rapid-fire texting you updates about every romantic weekend away and inside jokes with their new partner.

Before you press the mute button on WhatsApp, Eimear suggests taking a gentler approach: set some digital boundaries. If the constant relationship updates feel overwhelming, it’s OK to communicate that.

Eimear reminds us that friendship should be a two-way street – so both of you should share updates, stories, and snapshots of your own lives. It’s not just their love story; you both deserve to romanticise your lives.

And if you’re the one wrapped up in a new romance? Eimear has some advice for you too. “When you’re with your friends, resist the urge to constantly text your partner. Try putting your phone in your bag, or even in another room. This will help you be more present and deepen your connection with your friend. Let your partner know that when you’re out, you won’t always be available to text.”

Show you care

Remember why you became friends in the first place – whether it was bonding over your love of trashy TV, a shared passion, or the fact that no one else quite gets your wicked sense of humour.

The honeymoon phase won’t last forever, but small gestures can help you stay close while life gets busier. Eimear suggests simple but meaningful ways to show you’re thinking of each other – like sending them a photo of a nice memory, mailing a handwritten card, or dropping a meme into their inbox.

shutterstock_1968316336.jpg

“Scheduling future plans is another great way to show commitment to the friendship,” says Eimear. “Strong friendships can withstand periods of less frequent contact when they’re built on a foundation of understanding, respect, and non-judgement.”

Celebrate each other’s milestones

Life is busy enough – juggling work, family, and friends – without adding a romantic partner into the mix. But celebrating each other’s big (and small) wins is what keeps friendships strong, so make sure you’re showing up for the moments that matter.

Eimear suggests keeping track of important dates – birthdays, anniversaries, career milestones – so they don’t slip through the cracks. TV and film would have you believe that the only achievements worth celebrating are engagements, weddings, and babies. But let’s normalise cheering each other on for other wins, like launching a business, writing a book, starting a new hobby, or finally nailing that tricky yoga pose.

One of the trickiest times to stay connected is when one of you is in the dizzying highs of new love, while the other is navigating grief or loss. The friend caught up in romance might (consciously or not) avoid heavier conversations, while the one struggling may be happy for them, but unable to fully engage in the way they’d like to.

The key? Find small ways to show you’re thinking of each other, while respecting that you might be in very different emotional spaces. It’s OK if you’re not perfectly in sync – you still love each other.

Eimear reminds us that friendships should be a safe space to be yourself, without comparison or pressure. “The goal is to maintain meaningful connections while respecting your own needs and boundaries. Friendship dynamics change and evolve over time – this is natural.”