Four friends of different ages walking arm in arm along a stone street at dusk, one carrying flowers

Together · 60 min

A standing date with a friend

Set up a regular time with a friend, the same day and time each month, so seeing each other does not depend on finding a gap.

60 minutesFrom the library, free to readFour steps

Many adult friendships fade not for lack of care but for lack of time. Every meeting needs arranging, and the arranging gets put off. A standing date, the same slot each week or month, takes the planning out and keeps the friendship going.

The steps

Four small steps,in your own time.

  1. Think of a friend you would like to see more often.

  2. Suggest a regular slot: the first Saturday of the month for a walk, a call every other Tuesday evening, coffee after a weekly class.

  3. Put it in both calendars as a repeating event.

  4. If one of you cannot make it, move it rather than cancel it, and keep the next one as normal.

The reason

Why it helps

Regular contact is one of the things that keeps friendships strong. A repeating slot means you do not have to find time each time. Knowing a friend is coming up can lift a hard week.

A gentle variation

If you care for someone and cannot get out, make it a call or a visit at your home. If you are not sure who to ask, start with someone from a class, a group or work whose company you enjoy.

One hand resting over another on a wooden table

WE · TRIBE

Try itwith someone.

Ask your friend to bring someone along now and then, so the circle grows.

Try it today

This week, ask one friend to set up a regular time to meet or call.

Add it to your day

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