Functional Hangouts with Friends
Balancing academics and a social life in school can be difficult, especially as your courses begin to get more challenging. It can be frustrating to have to consistently turn down plans with friends in order to focus and get important things done. While there are certainly going to be times when you will have to decline offers for fun social gatherings, your friends and your productivity aren’t always mutually exclusive. Functional hangouts are a great way to spend time with friends while also being productive.
What is a functional hangout?
When it comes to juggling school and friends, functional hangouts are a great way to have your cake and eat it too. Instead of trying to split your time between being with friends and going out to run errands, try inviting friends along to do things with you and be productive together. In doing so, you’re able to spend quality time with your favorite people and cross things off of your to-do list.
Some examples of things you can do with friends during functional hangouts are:
- Study
- Complete projects or assignments
- Do laundry
- Exercise
- Go grocery shopping
- Clean your dorm or apartment
- Take a walk
- Meals between classes
Intentional invites
You can also maximize this time with friends by being intentional and strategic with the friends that you invite. Some friends may help motivate you to stay on track, while others may be a better choice for fun chats and weekend outings. This doesn’t mean that any of your friends are better or worse than others – it just means that they bring different kinds of energy into your life. Being aware of these energies and how your social group might affect your mindset is a crucial part of balancing friends and work.
The Bottom Line
Ultimately, functional hangouts truly do give you the best of both worlds. You’re able to boost your mental health by indulging in your social life, and at the same time you’re helping one another knock things off your to-do lists. Whether you’re studying, grabbing lunch, or even doing laundry together, these motivational meetings are a great approach to college life. Having this method tucked into your toolbelt could be a great way to practice your time management skills, nurture your social life, and set yourself up for success moving forward.
