How to make and follow through with weekend plans with friends
By: Dilame Lindmeier
Making and keeping weekend plans with friends can be a fun way to spend your days off. But it can also be challenging to coordinate schedules and plan an activity that everyone is interested in. Here are some tips to help make and keep weekend plans with friends:
Commit to getting together. A social network has plenty of benefits, provided there are healthy bonds and genuine intentions. Developing strong, healthy connections require work and most importantly time. Hanging out with a loved one activates a part of the brain known as the reward pathway. The circuit releases feelings of pleasure, happiness, and peace. It also inhibits the stress response, otherwise known as anxiety. Research shows that seeing a loved one is enough to release these feel-good chemicals in your brain. It also boosts the hormones that mediate over rest and sleep. Similarly, if you never see your friends in person, you’re not really sharing experiences with them but more so providing updates on your separate lives. This is not necessarily bad but these exchanges are different. It is important to spend quality time with your friends. You can start by creating a group chat with your friends to discuss potential plans and set a date to see one another. This way, everyone can weigh in on what they’re interested in doing and you can see what everyone’s schedules are like. You can use popular messaging apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or iMessage.
Plan ahead. To avoid last-minute cancellations or scheduling conflicts, plan your weekend activities in advance. This will give everyone enough time to adjust their schedules accordingly and ensure everyone can attend. Try to set a date and time at least a week in advance. Once you find like-minded friends, you’re going to have to work to maintain that relationship. One might think friendships are supposed to be helpful and enjoyable, and not extra work. But the truth is, it’s both. Lucinda Thimm-Jurado, a clinical social worker practicing in Madison, Wisconsin, says, “It’s extra work to schedule time to spend with people who are outside of your immediate family. The payoff for that, though, is fulfilling relationships that help you grow, provide you with a support system, and live happier and longer.” Making plans ahead of time can provide you with something to look forward to after a long week.
Set a budget. Similarly, depending on the activity you choose, it’s important to set a budget for the weekend. You don’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable or unable to participate because of the cost. Discuss with your friends how much everyone is willing to spend and plan accordingly. If you plan to go out to eat, make sure to make reservations in advance. This will ensure that you have a table and won’t have to wait for too long. You can also reserve tickets for events or activities ahead of time to avoid disappointment.
Consider everyone’s interests. When planning activities, make sure to consider everyone’s interests. Grace Gaffney, a senior at the University of Minnesota-Mankato, says, “I know my friend Molly likes going on little weekend road trips, and Madeline enjoys going out to the bars on Saturdays, but my friend Megan would rather stay in, cook dinner together and watch a movie. So I make sure to keep everyone’s interests in mind.” Friendship is not a one-size-fits-all kind of thing. Each relationship is one of a kind-there are no two exactly alike. If you have friends who love the outdoors, plan a hike or picnic. If others prefer something more relaxed, plan a movie night or game night.
Be flexible. Sometimes plans change, and that’s OK. Be flexible and open to making changes if necessary. Try to be understanding and accommodating when this happens, and work together to find a new time that works for everyone. “When my friends asked to reschedule or cancel our weekend plans, I used to take it personally and view it as an act of rejection,” said Lilly Murphy, a student at the University of Minnesota. “But that wasn’t true. Sometimes life throws us curveballs, and we can’t make it to every weekend hangout, and that’s okay. I started to enjoy my friendships when I set aside my ego and set realistic expectations for my friendships because we are all human and have limitations.” It’s a good idea to confirm your plans with your friends closer to the weekend to avoid any miscommunication or confusion. This can be done through group chats or individual messages. Make sure to confirm the time, location, and any other important details. It’s important to prioritize spending time with your friends and having a good time, so don’t stress too much if things don’t go as planned.
Do your best to follow through. Don’t cancel at the last minute unless it’s absolutely necessary. Your friends are counting on you, and it’s important to show up and have a good time. Remember, the most important part of making and keeping plans with friends is the time spent together. According to the Encyclopedia of Human Relationships, many young adults spend 10 to 25 hours a week with friends, and the 2014 American Time Use Survey found that people ages 20 to 24 spent the most time per day socializing on average of any age group. Likewise, making friends at college may be easier. College is a common place where you meet every day, allowing those relationships to flourish. It can be easy to become complacent and lazy in our friendships, especially when life gets busy. But that’s no excuse to neglect your friendships or your weekend plans.