Friendships are all about acceptance and support, so don’t succumb to pressure from a pal who is being too demanding about how much time you spend with them. If they can’t understand that you just can’t hang out when they want to hang out, then you need to reevaluate their role in your life. You can’t rearrange your life at the whim of other people, no matter how important you think they are to your life. They’ll get along fine without you. Assure them of that.

Before judging someone based on their initial actions, look beneath the surface for their true intentions. Not everyone wears their heart on their sleeve. You might have to dig deeper.

The more structure you have, the more freedom you’ll gain. Think about it. If you and your beloved have a heart-to-heart talk about the boundaries of your relationship, you’ll know more about your expectations.

Don’t let yourself feel cut off from others. Reach out to friends and family, either at home or long distance. Modern life is fraught with financial turmoil, but it’s also replete with ways to stay connected.