'My best friend and I hadn't caught up in ages. So we decided to have a staycation together.'

Does anyone else feel like they've been dropping the ball a bit when it comes to maintaining their friendships? I know I certainly have...

Chatting in the Mamamia office, it's a feeling so many can relate to, with lots of women noting that when juggling kids, families, work and often a relationship all at the same time - friendships can be low on the totem pole.

My very close friend Rachael and I haven't seen each other for quite a while. Months to be exact. And once we had both realised just how much time it had been since we properly caught up, the guilt seeped in.

Watch: To Dogs. Our Best Friends. Post continues below.

For both of us, life has been quite stressful recently. And amid the stress and burnout of everyday life, I guess neither of us felt up to reaching out. But after messaging back and forth over a funny meme (that will always do it) we figured some quality gal-pal time would be pretty restorative. 

So we decided a staycation would be a good idea. 

It's been a while since I did an overnight stay with a group of mates, or even just one, and let me tell you - it was so incredibly nostalgic, like the good ol' sleepover days. 

It was perfect timing for us as well, considering the stay was on the weekend eve of International Friendship Day. How wholesome.

And honestly, it was everything we needed.

We reminisced about old memories (we've known each other since primary school), vented about our worries and gripes, shared a few tears as we opened up on how we were really doing, planned future group catch-ups and had lots and lots of laughs.

It was seriously brilliant. 

We also had a delicious high tea, some drinks at a bar and breakfast the next morning which certainly doesn't hurt. As local Sydneysiders, we opted for a staycation as it would be a no-stress option. We stayed at the InterContinental Double Bay, which is part of IHG Hotels & Resorts for reference. And it was seriously fabulous.

Honestly, these sorts of opportunities just don't come along that often in adult life. 

Rachael and I having a quality catch-up, as part of a BFF package. Image: Supplied.

And as someone who is in their mid-20s, I'm only now starting to realise how important it is to continue fostering my friendships - because these mates are my everything. 

Professor Julie Fitness specialises in the psychology of close relationships. 

Speaking to Mamamia, she notes how friendship plays a critical role in human wellbeing. Interestingly, researchers have found that older people who have good friends live longer and have healthier lives compared to those with fewer social connections. 

"One of the most important features of friendship is that it is a voluntary relationship. Family relationships have been described as 'the ties that bind', because they are characterised by obligations and duties that may not always be rewarding, but are difficult to avoid (without guilt). Friendship is voluntary," she explains.

Of course, friendship in general can be pretty amazing - whether it's having a one-on-one with a close friend, or a group interaction with a bunch of mates.

Because at the end of the day, "we are fundamentally social beings who cannot survive alone".

And interestingly, it's those in-person and real-life interactions with friends - whether actively doing things together, catching up for a coffee, or going for a staycation - that you simply can't substitute.

"COVID seriously disrupted people's abilities to meet their needs for physical, meaningful connections, and I believe we are still seeing the aftermath of that disruption. Social media can be a great supplement, but if we are using social media to fill a gap as compensation for human warmth and connection, it can make feelings of loneliness worse," says Professor Fitness.

The takeaway message: "Friendships help to meet our needs for belonging and intimacy. So it's worth cultivating and nourishing them."

It's been interesting to reflect on that initial guilt I felt, after realising how long it had been since Rachael and I had properly caught up.

Ultimately, those feelings of regret don't serve anyone. It speaks to the intense mental load so many of us weigh on our shoulders. For Rachael and I, our staycation gave us much-needed time to reflect on our friendship and how much it means to both of us.

Sometimes when it comes to close mates, it's that quality time together that is far more meaningful than quantity. 

So will we be booking another staycation and perhaps making it an annual occasion? Absolutely. 

Image: Supplied.

The writer travelled as a guest of IHG Hotels & Resorts.

Feature Image: Supplied.

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