What's your usual way of staying connected with the people who live far from you?

A natural way to answer

I usually call my parents every Sunday, like clockwork. With friends abroad it's more relaxed, just voice notes back and forth whenever something happens, which somehow makes it easy to stay in the loop without much effort.

Key phrases to use

• keep tabs on — to stay aware of what someone is doing or how they are“We keep tabs on each other through the group chat.”
• catch up properly — to have a real, unhurried conversation to share each other's news“We never get to catch up properly anymore.”
• stay in the loop — to remain informed about what's happening in a group or someone's life“The group chat helps me stay in the loop.”
• melt away — to gradually disappear or stop being noticeable“The distance just melts away when we talk.”