8 Ways To Build Friendships By Doing What You’re Already Doing
By Pastor Joe Caruso
We all want to make our friendships better, and maybe we even want to make new friends, but who has the time? I mean really — we all have a million things to do, 100 places to be, and no time to add anything else! Where do the people with awesome friendships find the time to make those friendships happen? Is there a secret to getting more hours in the day or days in the week that mama never told us about? Are there some multi-tasking ninja moves we’ve yet to master?
Well, actually, there are some multi-tasking ninja moves that can really help us here. Check out these eight things you probably already do and could also be using to rock friendship on a whole new level:
1. WATCHIN’ THE GAME
Come on guys. You’re going to watch the game anyways, right? Well, invite that fellow fan over that you’ve been meaning to connect with. It doesn’t have to be Superbowl-quality snacks in front of a Rent-a-Center 80” screen to make it a good time. Just grab a pizza and enjoy the co-misery of watching your favorite brown and orange team tank together.
2. GETTIN’ STUFF DONE AROUND TOWN
If you know that you have to run to the store, the post office, stand in line at Town Hall, and pick up your new superhero t-shirt, why not see if a friend (or future friend) needs to get some things done too? Sure, maybe it adds an extra errand in there, but the benefit of doing it together can not only help build a friendship, it might make that to-do list more enjoyable too.
3. EATIN’ DINNER (OR LUNCH OR BREAKFAST OR 2ND BREAKFAST)
This may be my favorite one on the list. You have to eat right? Your friend does too. Why not combine some of those mundane meals into mini-soirees? Keep it simple, but combine efforts. If you take the main dish, they can grab the side and something sweet. Don’t overdo it — friends don’t have to impress each other, they can just do life together…with food!
4. SUNS’ OUT GUNS’ OUT
Gonna head to the gym? (Or, do you need accountability to actually get there in the first place?) Well, grab a buddy and pump it up. Not only can you keep each other going through those tough workouts, you’ll generally stay more encouraged to keep going back, you’ll have more fun, and maybe even have a conversation as opposed to only counting all those steps & reps.
5. BINGIN’ ON NETFLIX
Is your rainy day to-do list getting lost behind the fact that all 3 Sharknados are now available for your viewing pleasure? Well, pop the popcorn, grab an extra bean bag chair, and have your friends over for some bonus R&R. (Besides, conversation should thrive overtop of the riveting writing of Sharknado 3).
6. HAVIN’ FUN WITH THE KIDS
Headed to the zoo? Going to the little league game of the week? Headed out for ice cream? Invite your friends to meet you there or use these gatherings as places to make new ones! Honestly, kids and dogs are the best out-and-about ice breaker I’ve ever had!
7. WORKIN’ HARD AROUND THE HOUSE… X2
Hate pulling weeds? Got a tree to take down? We all know “many hands make light work,” so offer some chore-exchange opportunities to your friends. You’ll knock yours out in half the time, you’ll help them level their lawn, and you may even crack a smile or three figuring out if your fingers or back hurt more! Share the love!
8. MAKIN’ YOUR HOBBY WORK FOR YOU
Thinking about picking up knitting? Headed to the shooting range? Taking a cooking class? What better way to learn something than sharing it with others. Hobbies are more fun when we have a good friend to share tips and secrets of the trade with, so build up that network and make friends.
Whatever we do, we can easily make more of our time count for building friendships. Whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert, you can take your time and to-do lists and make them catalysts for friendship instead of roadblocks.
