Spending time away from work is important. It helps you to de-stress and unwind and build your energy levels back up. After a busy week at work, spending the weekend entirely away from other people can be tempting, especially if you work in a busy office or customer-facing role. But neglecting your friends and your social life can have serious negative effects – and we’re not just talking about a few missed invitations to birthday parties.
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Socializing Regularly Can:
- Boost your immune system
- Decrease depressive feelings and boost your mood and self-esteem
- Help you to live longer
- Reduce your risk of developing dementia and keep your memory and cognitive skills sharp.
On top of all this, spending time with friends is fun and stimulating. It doesn’t have to be a high-energy, loud affair; a quiet coffee with your bestie on a bench in the park will have you feeling happy and refreshed in no time.
Read on for some fresh ideas of things to do with friends that will keep you happy, healthy, and ready to face the world.
Activities to Get You Out and About
- Meet a group of friends for a walk or a run. Gentle physical exercise has many benefits; you’ll walk further and longer if you enjoy socializing with friends simultaneously. The walk could be through the city center or around a country park. Why not set a rewarding destination, such as a favorite café, where you can sit and relax afterward?
- Hire a yacht for a day: There are many advantages to hiring a yacht for a day of relaxation. First, you can enjoy the scenery from the boat’s deck while cruising. Second, you can enjoy drinks and music on board, and third, you can have fun dancing, swimming, and enjoying well-designed yacht inflatables for sliding. Yacht inflatables are a great way to enjoy the water and the sun, and they can add extra excitement to your day. So if you’re hesitant about a relaxing day out on the water, check out all the details for enjoyment and go for it.
- Visit local museums. Most have free entry and you can learn something new about your town and its history. Alternatively, look up local walking tours – some have maps you can print out or read on your smartphone that will take you around local points of interest.
- Join a local sports team. Many community teams are open to players of all ages and abilities and always look for players. Try a local Back to Netball session for a hit of high school nostalgia and enjoy getting fit with your friends.
- Volunteer in your community. Have you got elderly neighbors who need a little help in the garden, walking the dog, or who would just love someone to chat with over a cup of tea and a custard cream? Or join an organized litter pick, church fundraiser, or youth club and lend a hand. You’re sure to make new friends along the way.
Indoor Fun
- Sign up for a class together. Perhaps you’ve always fancied learning to paint, mix cocktails, or throw pots. Learning new skills keeps your mind active and gives you something to show off at parties. Why not take cookery classes with a group of friends and then host your version of Come Dine With Me or Great British Bake Off at the end?
- Grab some homemade craft kits and have a crafting session. You can get ready-made kits for pebble painting, crochet, mosaics, and painting by numbers…if you can imagine it, a kit probably exists somewhere! It’s a great way to scratch that creative itch while laughing with friends – especially as someone will inevitably mess up hilariously.
- Did someone move house or just fancy a change of décor? Get the gang around for a painting party. Make sure you’ve got enough rollers for everyone and your room will have a new lease of life in no time.
- Crack out the board games and take turns hosting epic games nights. From the more traditional Monopoly and Scrabble to modern eurogames like Settlers of Catan and Agricola, you’ll be able to find something to suit all tastes. Nothing says fun with friends like taking all their money and celebrating your victory with a lap around the table!
- Have a movie night. Going to the cinema can be expensive for large groups, but we now have access to thousands of movies in our homes thanks to digital streaming services. Bring the popcorn, sodas, and hotdogs and settle in front of the TV for a single film or an all-night marathon—the choice is yours. You could invest in a projector and screen the movies onto a bare wall or garage door for that extra big-screen feel.
Online Fun for Long-Distance Friends
- Online video calling has become an important tool for keeping in touch with friends we can’t see in person. Schedule a regular online meeting with friends worldwide, and it will feel like they’re in the same room with you. You could even have themed calls, from fancy dress to making sure everyone has their favorite pizza with them.
- Play games online. Modern video games often have online multiplayer functions, and you can invite your friends to join you in the game. But if not everyone has access to a console or owns the same game, this can be a problem. However, plenty of online games and sites accommodate multiplayer games. For example, you can play poker with friends; they only need a computer or smartphone.
In Summary
It can be easy to get stuck in a rut at weekends; catching up on cleaning, box-setting the tv you’ve missed during the week, and sleeping longer hours to try and recover from the working week. But don’t forget that socialising and spending time actively relaxing will make you feel better and more refreshed than spending two days hiding away from the world.
Make the effort to go out, see people, and get some gentle exercise. Get your creative juices flowing, flex your competitive streak, or just have a laugh over a glass of wine and a comedy film. There are plenty of ways to spend time with friends this weekend, why not try something new?