Warmth has a half-life
Relationship warmth is not static. It is an active state maintained by interaction. When interactions stop, warmth decays toward a neutral baseline — not animosity, but the absence of active connection.
The 30-day rule provides a conservative baseline: close-circle relationships that go beyond 30 days without medium-value contact start to cool.
What counts as contact
- High-value. A real conversation, in person or voice-to-voice. Earns a longer interval.
- Medium-value. A thoughtful message referencing something specific to them. Maintains warmth.
- Low-value. A social media reaction. Technically contact; minimal warmth maintenance.
The 30-day rule applies to medium-value contact at minimum.
The challenge is that relationship maintenance is rarely urgent. It is important but never pressing. The solution is to make it scheduled behaviour, not reactive.
Once a week, review your close contact list. Anyone approaching 30 days gets a message within 48 hours.
In LIFE, this review happens automatically — the system surfaces the names. You provide the attention.
Steady wins.