Thinking of reaching out to old friends but nervous it will be awkward or that they won’t appreciate it? You should make those phone calls or send a text or email, according to new research.

Experts shared sample scripts for reaching out to someone when it's been too long and why they work. Related: The #1 Thing To Say to Someone Who's Going Through a Breakup—Plus, What *Not* To Say ...

Reaching out to an old friend can be good for you 00:51. If you haven't reached out to an old friend in a long time, a new study finds doing so could boost your mental health - and theirs.

If you do, when you're reaching out, "I really recommend against immediately asking them for time," says career coach Phoebe Gavin. Here's how she recommends building up that correspondence.

How To Drop Your Hesitations About Randomly Reaching Out To a Friend—Because Research Says They’ll Appreciate It. Randomly reaching out to a friend is often highly appreciated, per a new study.

“Even sending a brief message reaching out to check in on someone, just to say ‘Hi,’ that you are thinking of them, and to ask how they’re doing, can be appreciated more than people think ...