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When you think about going out to have fun with friends, it probably involves some sort of alcohol and high-fat and salty food. This isn’t a bad thing if you only do it occasionally but it is quite a limiting way to enjoy time with your friends.
Reducing your alcohol consumption, in particular, can be quite tough when your friends encourage you to drink all the time. If you have real concerns and you are worried that you can’t stop drinking there are Treatment Centres for Alcoholism in Canada that can help.
It doesn’t matter whether you are on a health kick, looking for a new lifestyle or worried about drinking too much, finding fun and healthy ways to socialize will build your friendships in a positive way. When you get out and do different things together, you will learn more about each other and find new ways to bond.
Go for Coffee
Having a drink together is a nice way to chat casually and relax. But you don’t need alcohol to do that! Swapping out a glass for a mug is a small change to make but it will make a big difference to your lifestyle.
If you are worried about swapping alcohol for caffeine, please don’t. No-one is going to judge you for going decaf! Coffee comes with all kinds of benefits from making you feel happier to possibly helping your liver. For a start, you can go for a coffee at any time, evening or day, and you won’t suffer the consequences in the morning.
Of course, you don’t have to go out for coffee. With a few gadgets, you can make some awesome coffee at home. A handheld milk frother is all you need to make a wide variety of coffee shop coffees and investing in a couple of syrups is a good idea too – just be aware of the amount of sugar they contain.
Take a Walk
Going for a walk might not sound that exciting but actually, it’s a lovely way to connect with friends. Taking a walk removes all the usual distractions giving you proper time together. Plus, if you take a picnic, you can make a full day out work for everyone.
Of course, there are a few other reasons to go for a walk. You will get some fresh air, clear your head and all of this comes for free! All walking counts so whether you are planning a hike up a mountain, a wander around the shops or something in between, the main point is that you are out and moving.
Walking is also a nice way to make new friends and network. Walking clubs can be found almost everywhere and the people are usually welcoming and friendly. You don’t need to be super-fit to manage and if you need to go slow, that’s fine too.
Try Cultural Pursuits
Taking in some culture is a great way to spend a weekend and it doesn’t have to be expensive. Going to the cinema or the theatre are more obvious routes for fun outings with friends but don’t exclude museums and art galleries.
If you are willing to open your mind, the humble museum can spark plenty of interesting conversations and could even be a good location for a date! Lots of exhibitions are free for you to enjoy but do buy a ticket if you have a particular interest you want to pursue.
Going around museums is a good way to chat casually, another way to get a walk in and an ideal location for conversation starters. Try going to some of the more unusual museums in your area and don’t worry about taking it all too seriously! Museums are designed to make you think and hopefully enjoy yourself – and you don’t need to be a professor to do that.
Cook Together
It might sound weird to cook together but if you think about how barbecues work, it’s not so mad after all. Indeed, barbecues are the ideal way to enjoy an afternoon together with a large group and you can all get involved with the cooking and fire-making.
The danger with cooking together is that you might slip into old bad habits. However, there’s nothing to worry about as long as you provide some alternatives. There are all sorts of delicious mocktail recipes you can try and if your friends fancy a tipple, they can always add their own alcohol to the mocktail base.
And there’s no reason for barbecued food to be less healthy than your regular grilled dishes either. There are lots of great homemade burger recipes and as well as all the side dishes you could want for a healthy barbecue. Putting out a big bowl of salad and fruit on the table is a good way to encourage healthier eating too.
Play Sports Together
Sport is a great bonding exercise as well as a way to get out of breath building your strength and stamina. Just make sure you drink plenty of water! You might decide to form a team together if there are a few of you but you could join an existing team with one other friend. Alternatively, going to exercise classes as a pair can be really fun and you can support each other. Even a casual kick-about can be a lot of fun.
The real bonus that comes with doing sports activities together is that you can develop your skills together and have another activity to bond over. You don’t have to be good at sport – in fact, being terrible at sport can be just as fun! The most important thing is that you have a good time.
You don’t have to drink alcohol or eat badly in order to have a good time. In fact, there are lots of activities that can get you moving and don’t require anything but good company. The more you branch out and do different things, the more fun you will have with your friends. What other plans could you come up with?
