Our close friendships are precious, life-enriching relationships that require care and maintenance to continue growing stronger over time. While the usual advice suggests catching up over coffee or sending the occasional text, there are more creative, outside-the-box ways to inject freshness into long-term friendships.
Implementing exciting and thoughtful new activities into your interactions will bring you closer together, deepen bonds, and show your friends how much you value their place in your life. Here are 10 unusual yet clever friendship-boosting ideas to try:
1. Take a Class Together
Partake in a one-day workshop or regular class exploring a new interest, skill, or hobby with a friend. Learning and trying new things together forms powerful shared experiences. Opt for something fun yet challenging you can laugh through like pottery, improv, cooking, or photography.
2. Hit the Road
Plan a weekend road trip or mini-vacation with a couple of close friends. Explore an intriguing nearby town or city neither of you have visited before. Trying new activities in a fresh setting away from home forges fond memories and inside jokes.
3. Volunteer as a Team
Find a local cause or charity you both care about and sign up to volunteer together on a regular basis. Giving back as a team is rewarding and builds camaraderie. Working side-by-side also presents plenty of bonding opportunities.
4. Host Themed Game Nights
Inject excitement into your usual friend group hangouts by declaring a fun theme night devoted to your favorite board games, video games, trivia, or creative activities. The friendly competition and laughs will bring your circle even closer.
5. Write Old-Fashioned Letters
In today’s digital age, receiving personal mail is a rare treat. Surprise your long-distance friends by occasionally writing thoughtful, newsy letters detailing your life and expressing how much you value their friendship. Mail delivery adds meaning.
6. Form a Book Club
Fireside chats discussing favorite reads are a cozy way to spend time with friends. Pick engrossing books together and meet up monthly to dissect plots, characters, themes, and your reactions over snacks and drinks.
7. Take a Couples or Friends Trip
Multi-day group trips are bonding extravaganzas. For a super memorable experience, gather your favorite friend couples or singles for a blowout vacation to celebrate major milestones or just because.
8. Craft Together
Get creative with friends by dedicating arts and crafts nights. Make vision boards, sew, put together puzzles, arrange fresh flower bouquets, design home décor, or whatever suits your crafty interests. Creativity fuels connection.
9. Form a Support Group
If you and particular friends face similar life challenges, form an informal support group to regularly meet and discuss. Listening, sharing advice, and empathizing through ups and downs strengthens ties enormously.
10. Collaborate on a Project
Rally friends to work on a substantial DIY project or creative endeavor together. Collaborating toward a common goal like a photo book, short film, or fundraising initiative unifies your group. Achieving something together feels amazing.
Stepping outside your normal friendship routine and introducing new shared activities, adventures, and conversations promotes growth. Silly escapades, emotional exchanges, cooperative creation, and exciting exploits all help you learn more about each other and celebrate why your bond means so much. With continued care and creativity, you can nurture priceless friendships to last a lifetime.
