These tips will help you plan your next group activity.

Doing things in groups can be delightful. If you’re like me, when it comes to leisure, as much as you love hanging with yourself, you also love to partake in a group activity. 

This could be a day or night out, a party, weekend plans, or a full-on holiday trip. (Leisure plans is also a gig I run, meanwhile. So, hit a girl up, and let’s plan the hell out of something for you!)

However, I’ve been meaning to write about group plans, for some time now. ‘Really just observations, discoveries, and experiences I’ve had in my short time on earth doing such, and I thought to share.

One time, I came across a quote somewhere on social media that said something about how you never really know someone until you travel with them, and the truth of it hit me. Also because it goes beyond travelling to generally just sharing time and activities with others.

And also because it cuts both ways. (is “cut both ways” an actual phrase?)

On one hand, you could plan a group activity with people, and have some of the best times and make some of the best memories of your life! Y’all make plans, get together, execute them, even add more unplanned things to the list, and have a major blast.

On the other hand, it’s the opposite of what I just typed. Or just not what you expected, culminating in an anti-climax. Yuk! No?

To the latter end, I’ve come up with some… tips. They’re supposed to help you avoid certain unpalatable situations on your group activity, trip, or hangout, as well as decide if you really want to make such plans, or consider doing things on your own (which could also just involve one other person and no more).

We can add them to Thia’s Real Life Tacks.

• If you decide to travel in a group, going with people that share the same interests as you is a healthy start. You can be friends for 10 years, or for one month, but if you have less than one thing in common when it comes to leisure and recreation, chances are a mistake has been made. No matter how much y’all agreed on the itinerary. Don’t do it.
• If you plan a group hangout, be prepared to be ‘separated from the pack’. Intentionally or unintentionally, the outing can take a slightly different turn or vibe from what you bargained for. Be ready to go with the [good] flow. Also, be prepared to get back to base on your own. For whatever reasons. 
• On a group trip, make plans that you can execute on your own/or with a willing person(s). Not everyone shares your tastes. Not everyone is on your same vibe, and not everyone can be. Don’t try to force it on them/include them all the time, and vice versa.
• Speaking of vibes, if you notice or feel like yours is being fucked with, get the hell out of there. Remember, you do not spend your energy where it is neither needed nor deserved.
• If you can go alone anywhere (like me), COME AND BE GOING! That’s also how you have new experiences, FYI. It’s okay – You’ll give the gist to willing listeners. If not… the experience would only ever be truly understood and appreciated by you anyways.
• Don’t forget to have fun every time. Remember, travelling, for instance, is always an opportunity for self-discovery, recovery, recreation, and adventure. Don’t waste it. Ever. Not for a second. Especially not if you and your group have left the same page.

Carpe diem!

Meanwhile, making group plans is not the same as attending a party/function, and so forth. It’s making a conscious effort to carry out activities TOGETHER with someone, or a group of people. 

Can you please comment on your experiences around travelling with people, or planning group activities in general?

Let’s not quite sign off with that.