What is standing in the way of you being close? Are your schedules too busy, are you unwilling to open up, do you have someone that is coming between you? You can't be close to someone if you don't pinpoint and remedy the thing that is standing in the way of that happening. For example, you may find that they only thing holding you back is you. Or, you might find that your hectic schedule and too full days are leaving little to no time to cultivate friendships and relationships. If you can see the problem, you can change the problem. You have to be willing to be honest with yourself, and recognize when you are the one to blame.

Spend time together. How can you get closer to someone without shared experiences and opportunity for talking, sharing and getting to know one another? You can't. If you want to have a closer relationship with someone, start by spending quality time with him or her in large quantities. Once you have established closeness, the amount of time will not matter as much as the quality, but in the beginning the quantity is key. Invite, make time to get together, and make sure when you are spending time together that you optimize it by talking and creating memories together.

Work. All relationships take work. This does not mean the work has to be unpleasant, but it does mean doing things like picking up the phone, making an effort, reciprocating efforts made on their part. It means sharing with them, and listening as they share in return. It means making someone a priority. If people can feel that they are at the bottom of your list, they are not going to appreciate that, and they certainly are not going to make an effort to get closer with you. The work in relationships means demonstrating to them how much they matter, and that you care and are going to make efforts. When someone feels important they will reciprocate those feelings and make efforts in return. This means the overall desire of a closer, better bond, is more easily achieved.

If you want to be closer to someone, you can't just wish it, you have to do the work to make it happen. Try communicating the wish to them, and see if they feel the same way. You may find that the desire to be better friends is reciprocated, and thus the task of doing so is easier because you are both working toward the same goal.