What Is International Day of Friendship?

International Day of Friendship is on July 30^th and aims to celebrate friendships and their overall benefits to our wellbeing and mental health. But with this awareness day also comes an opportunity to assess how good we are to the people around us that we consider friends.

Could we do better? Are we offering the support they need during difficult times? Do we reach out enough and ask how they are?

To make sure you’re maintaining good friendships at work and in your personal life, as well as being open to forming new ones, here’s how you can do your part for International Day of Friendship 2024.

Tell Others What They Mean to You

Sometimes just being open and honest with someone about what they mean to you can make a huge difference. Not only are you reminding your close friends about their own value, but you’re also likely to get the same back from them.

Reconnect With Old Friends

Time passes quickly and it’s easy to put off sending that text or email to an old friend. Avoid that urge to let too much time pass and make the first move. If you’re feeling really brave, why not pick up the phone and call them for a change?

Reminiscing about the past can be a huge boost to your wellbeing and remind you of how important the small things in life can be during poor mental health days.

Plan to Make New Memories

Looking back on fond memories and telling old stories is a great way of connecting with old friends. But it doesn’t have to be so focused on the past. Aim to make plans for new memories and experiences with them, whether it’s a weekend away, a camping trip, or just a trip to the cinema.

Keep the Conversations Going

After your catch-up conversation, consider setting up a WhatsApp group that continues the chat. With everyone being so busy these days, it’s a great way of keeping in touch without having to immediately respond to everything.

Try to Make New Friendships

Part of moving forward in life is in forming brand new friendships and enjoying the new experiences that come with them. Approaching people at work about putting social events together can be a great way of finding new friendships while improving the culture within your organisation.

A Sensitive Approach to Social Events

For International Day of Friendship 2024, being the person in the room brave enough to make the first move for arranging social events is crucial. However, it’s also important to remember that for some people this time of year can be a sensitive subject. Maybe someone has just lost a close friend, or they struggle to develop good friendships, making them feel anxious, depressed, and isolated.

Try to keep social invites broad and open for anyone who’d like to participate. Doing so prevents anyone from feeling excluded and continues to help build that positive culture within your organisation.