9 Incredibly Easy Ways to Get More Social Time ...

One of the best ways to get more social time is to put it in your schedule. When you're extremely busy, you tend to live and breathe by a set schedule. Why not add in a quick lunch with friends on Wednesdays or an hour to chat on the phone after dinner? If you check, you probably have a few hour here or there to squeeze in some quality time with your friends.

Odds are you have several things you do on a regular basis that you could do with friends or family. Do you go to the gym everyday? Invite your friends along. Do you go out to lunch daily? Have friends or family meet you. Check the activities you do each week. With a little work, you can easily find a few things that you can invite your loved ones to do with you.

You have to eat dinner anyway, so why not throw a few dinner parties? Once a month or more, invite everyone over for a dinner party. If you don't have time to cook, ask everyone to bring a dish or have the party catered. It's a great way to get everyone together. Plus, it gives you something to look forward to on a regular basis. For cleanup, recruit a few friends to help.

Do you and your friends work near each other? Get extra social time and save gas by carpooling. Many of us have an hour long drive everyday. Imagine how much more fun that would be with a friend in the car. You can even do this with co-workers you might not see often. You could also try to make new friends with people in nearby businesses. Odds are, some of them live near you.

Everyone loves getting together to play games. Schedule a game night each week at a different person's house. Pick a night that works well for everyone. Since it's only one night, it's not as hard to work into your busy schedule. By alternating houses, no one person is left trying to clean up each week. Plus, it's a great way to change up the setting.

Volunteering might sound like another job, but it's actually quite rewarding and an excellent social activity. Ask a few friends to volunteer too. I've met several close friends through volunteering. It doesn't take much of your time and you'll feel great as a result. Personally, I love being able to meet new people all the time. I get to socialize with a varied group every time I volunteer.

While it might not be as social as getting together, it is comforting to chat with friends on social media. You can share photos, play games, debate politics or whatever you want. It's something simple you can fit in throughout your day. Since no one has to be on at the same time, it fits into any schedule. You can also text if everyone can't agree on the same social site.

If you don't have time to travel to friends' houses, get everyone together for some online gaming. Whether you use a PC or game console, many games have a multi-player option. You can chat with friends while you slay monsters or go on quests. It may sound geeky, but it's a fun social experience. It's also easy to fit in 30 minutes here and there to sit down and relax with friends.

Most communities have a variety of free local events and classes. For instance, during the summer, my area has Zumba classes and movie nights. Since it's local I don't have to go far, which saves me time. Plus, most of my friends participate as well. It's something quick, fun and local that puts some much needed social time into your schedule.

Don't let your busy life destroy your social life. Make some time to spend with friends and family or to meet new people. Whether it's only an hour a week or a few minutes every day, you'll be grateful you made the time. How do you fit social fun into your schedule?