A poet, William Cowper, once said, “Variety is the spice of life.” One way to impart several different flavors to your existence is to have a more engaging social life.
“Interdependence is and ought to be as much the ideal of man as self-sufficiency. Man is a social being.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Try these strategies to get started:
1. Have a few good friends. Because it’s good to be taken out of your element once in a while, ensure you have a couple of friends to help you escape life’s humdrum. A good friend will listen when you’re frustrated, make you laugh when you’re down, and feed you a great meal, in the toughest of times.
2. Plan hang-out time with a friend at least once monthly. Although life is busy, it’s nice to re-connect occasionally with a friend. Seeing a movie, going fishing, playing golf, or just spending time together at your friend’s house will bring contentment.
3. Look for ways to expand your social circle. Once in a while, venture out of your comfort zone to see what’s going on in the rest of the world. You and your wife might want to volunteer to work at an upcoming Street Fair or join a church. Explore the venues in your city to come up with a plan to socialize with different groups of people.
7-Day Checklist will help you cultivate a more engaging social life
Day 1. Call an old friend and have a good, long chat. Find out what he’s up to and then share what you’ve been doing.
Day 2. Go out for coffee or a drink after work with a friend. Spending one hour together will keep your connection intact.
Day 3. Plan time to spend 2-3 hours with a good friend. If the situation calls for it, tell your friend how much you’ve missed her and that you’d love to go shopping next Saturday or have him come over to watch the big game with you on Sunday.
Day 4. Take a look at your schedule over the next month. How many times do you have a social outing or get-together with a friend? Shoot for twice a month.
Day 5. Think of a couple of new activities you’d like to do. Perhaps you’ve seen advertisements for the new sports complex and want to take a look. Invite a friend to go with you. Maybe you want to try skydiving. Find a friend to accompany you.
Day 6. Go all out for a friend. Invite them over for dinner. Plan a great evening and then tell your friend how thankful you are for their presence in your life.
Day 7. Find a way to meet others. What social opportunities are in your community? Museums? Community events? Social groups and clubs?