Friendship Dynamics & Activities: What People Value Most

What Do People Do With Friends? Common Bonding Activities

Friendships thrive on shared experiences. Here are the most popular ways people connect with friends:

• Relaxing at home: Watching TV after dinner
• Outdoor adventures: Motorcycle rides, horseback riding, or paddleboarding
• Food-focused gatherings: Big meals with snacks and bonfires
• Shopping and dining: Lunch dates and retail therapy
• Creative activities: Ceramics classes or movie nights
• Simple connections: Long conversations and celebrations

The Most Valued Friendship Qualities

When asked about essential friendship traits, respondents prioritized:

1. Understanding (38%)
2. Trustworthiness (29%)
3. Compassion (13%)
4. Positivity, generosity, humor, and shared interests (15% combined)
5. Other traits like self-awareness and honesty (5%)

Friendship Dynamics People Appreciate Most

• 24/7 availability and support
• Shared positivity levels
• History of experiencing milestones together
• Mutual understanding of personalities
• Guidance toward better decisions

Family, Pets, and Friendship Connections

• Pets as friends: 80% consider pets friends
• Childhood friends: Many maintain these lifelong connections
• Family as friends:
  • 16% keep family and friends separate
  • 60% consider some family members as friends
  • 24% view all family as friends
• Friends as family: 80% include non-relatives in their "family" concept

Workplace and Digital Friendships

• Coworker friendships:
  • 26% have many work friends
  • 52% are friends with a few colleagues
  • 22% keep work and social life separate
• Online friends: Many now maintain digital-only friendships

This article originally appeared in the August 2018 issue of Mindful magazine.