Social Life and Relationships, How Do You Maintain Balance? Comment and Win!

I always keep my girls nights separate from date nights. And I never cancel on my friends, even if I'm tired!

It really helps if you can cultivate a good relationship between the BF & the BFFs. That way some activities can be done together as a group!

I always make sure I have time for my girlfriends as they are the ones who will always have your back. I make one night on the weekend for my girls and one night for my man.

I always am sure to contact my closest friends on a regular basis regardless of need or method, just to stay and touch. I also always make sure that my friends and bf get along, but have time for them separate and together.

My boyfriend and my friends make an effort to really get to know each other so that we can all spend time together in addition to our hang out time apart.

I plan my week so that I make time for both...the tricky part is having time for myself too. So I try to invite my man or my girls to do things that I also want to fit in...like a work out or a new restaurant I've been wanting to try.

I try and split up my time evenly so that I make time for my girlfriends and my husband. I do this by seeing my girlfriends during the week and my husband on the weekends. It's always a tough task and never easy to find the balance.

a getaway from each other creates a healthy relationship

My BF and I do the little things together. We go grocery shopping, cleaning and running errands; it is these times that remind us how great of a team we are. And those other things, like sports and shopping, we do apart. I get to spend time with my girls, and my guy.

As I live with my BF, I plan a weekly girls night out with my girls. Also, even if I'm tired, I always follow through with our plans; that is key!

Dont bail on plans, and make sure your BF and BFF get along!

Never assume the BF is invited, always check to see if its a mixed group or girls only!

Remember that the fun, independent girl that you were when you met your SO is who he fell in love with. It's all about making the time for your girlfriends (even when you don't have the time) and remembering that your SO loves you for having your own life!

It helps if everyone gets along, but you can try to cultivate similar interests between your s.o. and friends.

Prioritize. It's they key to keeping yourself in check. New romantic relationships seem to require a little more time and energy than well established relationships do. But never use this as an excuse to forget about your girlfriends. Keep up with phone calls and lunch or dinner dates with your BFF's. Meet up after work for a hike or a manicure. It's always difficult for friends when one of their single friends meets a new love interest and disappears entirely. It's hurtful to be pushed aside because of a new beau. Remember who is always there for you in times of difficulty and emotional turmoil: your girlfriends. Don't isolate yourself from the rest of the world because of a man in your life. If he is the right guy for you he will encourage you to take time with your pals. It's also important to spend some time apart so you can miss each other. Pining for your love is sweet, romantic and keeps relationships exciting. Girlfriends will always forgive and be there for you but a mistake many women seem to make is isolating themselves and focusing only on the romantic relationship. A good and healthy relationship should fit easily into your life but not consume it. Continue to do the things that keep you grounded in your life and happy and don't compromise friendships. This is something I have talked to my daughters about over the years. There is a saying that I remember and feel there is truth in (I hope it won't offend anyone). "Women will pat you on the back, while men will pat you on the behind." A healthy life needs a bit of both. XO

The best way that I have found to balance the two is to communicate. My fiance is in law school, and we only can see each other 1 day a week right now. My BFF is at school an hour away, and she and I are lucky if we can see each other consistently.

I am a very busy person, so in order to make this work, I had to be open, honest, and communicate with both of them. I explained the situation to each of them, and now my fiance is understanding when I want to spend time with my BFF, and my BFF understands that I rarely get to see my fiance. It works!

I like to bring everyone together. My boyfriend and my best friend even call each other brother and sister! We all like to hang out together where it doesn't have to be romantic...that way no one is left out.

Friday and Saturday nights are with my boyfriend unless there's a special event like a birthday or party and if it's a girl's night, it's girl's night! And sometimes we all get together and hang!!! Gotta make some time for everyone that's important in your life.

Every week my best girlfriends and I go out for drinks to relax and have fun and catch up on our lives. This girls night always happens no matter what. My boyfriend understands that we need time apart and I love hanging out with my friends and it shows that I am always there for them, even when I am in a relationship.

I think as we get older and have to deal with "grown up" responsibilities it becomes harder to see our bff's, whether you have a significant other or not. I find working them onto your to-do list actually helps. Run errands with your girls on the weekend, or meet up for a exercise class at the gym. When my boyfriend schedules time to hang with his bros, I take the time to see one of my girls. I'm no longer big on "girls night", but going out as couples is always a fun idea. Also, going to visit a friend, even when she is hanging with her man isn't a crime, especially if they live together or our married. I get along well with all my friends significant others and consider them friends or part of the extended family. You can't be attached to your friends by the hip like you once were in high school, but as long as you make the effort to connect on a consistent level, you can still remain bonded. Just meeting once and awhile for Starbucks or even weekly emailing can do the trick (which I find helpful for friends who have moved away).

I set aside nights for both. I might do a weeknight with my BFF, and a weekend night with my husband. The weekend days are for playdates, where my husband and I get together with our parent friends and their children. I also regularly e-mail, call, or facebook message my BFFs.

I think that your boyfriend should be one of your best friends. Usually, I fall for my guy friends who is already close to my other friends (or at least get along with them). So there are activities that both sides can do together. However, you should always set aside separate dates and times for your friends and boyfriend. I try not to be biased. And also, if I had to bail on one of my friends, I would have a legitimate excuse and my friends are always understanding ♥

don't forget about the bffs!!! keep a girls night only on the calendar to keep in touch with the girls [and gossip and the boys of course!]

My girlfriends and I usually do lunch dates with a "girls night out" once every couple of months. My sweetie doesn't mind a bit.

Moderation in everything! NEVER, EVER cancel plans with a girlfriend to be with a man unless it's for a funeral!

Save lunches for the girls, cocktails for the girls, dinner for the guys

my only gfs are the online kind, so I can hang with the husband of 20years and email at the same time.

My BF is my BFF, so its easy to balance out the relationship, we go everywhere together, its a good way to spend time together. My friends are all online, we are the Virtual BFFs, lol. Its a great way to stay in touch, everyone has their own lives but we come together online to chit chat and stay connected.

We all hang out together. It helps that the three of us lived together at one point; we all know each other well and have positive regard for one another.

I'm not a Klingon, therefore this isn't a problem. I don't see why you can't have the best of both, It's not that difficult. It's important to make time for your boyfriend and your girlfriends.