Resources For Women

Ten Great Ways for Busy Women to Nurture their Friendships

By Jennifer Wright

Women are born multi-taskers. Our lives are so busy, however, many of us are loosing contact with our most valuable social support, our girlfriends. Here are ten great ways for busy women to multi-task and foster the precious relationship of a friend.

1. Forget who rang who last. Pick up the phone and call. We never know what is REALLY happening with our friend, especially if we haven't spoken for a time. Don't hesitate.
2. Once a month, have a "get ready for the week" cooking gathering with 1-3 of your friends. Bring your slow cookers, cook whole chickens, debone them, cut up veggies to place in bags, bake some bread, make homemade pasta, cook tofu, etc. You will be ready for a week or two worth of recipes by mixing and matching. Host "buys" and get reimbursed or other arrangements are made
3. Saturday garage sales. For those who love to and those who don't, in lean times, garage sales can make a big difference. Meet for coffee with the newspaper, map, list, and tape measure. Plan your attack. Know your sizes, special desires and go for it.
4. Exercise: Meet for a walk in the park, walk the golf course in winter, aqua jog, or pop an exercise video in once a week and do together. All of these put you side/side to have a catch up.
5. Charity work or your favorite cause: Volunteer the power of more than one to a church or charity organization and feel great for doing so. Some example are : Habitat for humanity, Girl Scouts/Guides, school fairs, senior citizens, and your own local church are just a few.
6. Craft class: Look at local high school programs or craft stores for adult arts/craft. Experience the joy of making something (pottery, beadwork, stained glass) and do it with a friend.
7. Host your own do something new at your house. Go to the library or Internet for ideas or share your own expertise. Example: making bath bombs from very simple ingredients, Christmas ornaments, card/paper making. Friends either bring their own ingredients or you ask for reimbursement for what you have purchased.
8. Chick flicks: Get friends together on a Friday night, Sunday afternoon and watch a good chick flick. Have tissues and popcorn.
9. Book club: Two-three friends can do this. The book can be fiction or non-fiction, something interesting to study together. Email support can make this easier if getting together in person on a regular basis is difficult.
10. Do it yourself/Handywoman: 2-3 pledge a trade of time to help the other with a particular task. Example: painting a bedroom for cleaning the basement for garden maintenance.