The Before Breakfast podcast has featured a new tip every weekday morning since March 2019. That is a lot of episodes. So in case you’ve been busy and missed a few here or there I’ve been pulling together playlists of episodes on different topics.
Today’s topic: Friendship. I believe people are a good use of time. This playlist includes episodes that help you invest in your friendships without ending up over-scheduled. With intentionality, creativity, and a few scheduling hacks, even busy people can maintain relationships with the people they love. I also invite you to accept the fact that it takes time to make friends and keep them, because friends are worth the time!
Make time for friends — This oldie ran on March 28, 2019. It covers some of my favorite strategies for making time for friends, including setting relationship priorities for each week and planning recurring get-togethers.
Look for context friends — When people say they want more friends, they really want more people to do specific things with, so consider the context.
Invite people over this weekend — Small, casual gatherings at home nurture relationships, so invite people over this weekend. There’s never an ideal time, and your house doesn’t have to be perfect. You can get together anyway. (Fun fact: This episode aired in February 2020, right before Covid hit, so perhaps there weren’t a lot of dinner parties getting scheduled over the next few weeks. But hey, I still think it’s good advice.)
Take the friendship challenge — Be more social and strengthen your friendships by scheduling four get-togethers with friends this month. This could be just the nudge you need to plan a lot that you’ll look forward to over the next 30 days.
Try a limited engagement — Spend more time with your friends by scheduling a recurring get-together, but with an end date, so it’s easier to commit.
Commute with a friend — The morning commute is the low point of many people’s days. If you add a friend, what feels like unpleasant, wasted time could become a highlight.
Send show notes for life — Extend the fun of gatherings by sending information and links for what you discussed at your last get-together with friends.
Friendship isn’t efficient–and that’s OK — It takes time to develop and maintain friendships, and that’s okay — because people are a good use of time.
Enjoying Before Breakfast and this blog? You might also enjoy my new book, Big Time: A Simple Path to Time Abundance. Click here to learn more or to order.
Photo: Re-running this gem!
