Prioritizing Friends

Friends are the people that we love to be around. We can relax around them and enjoy being around like-minded company. Right now, you value your time with your friends and you want to keep prioritizing them.

That’s great! We have the tools and tips to help you keep it that way.

Toxic Friendships

Unfortunately, not all friends are created equal. In fact, some of the people we call our friends may be doing us more harm than good. Toxic friendships can affect your mental health and build unhealthy dependencies. Friends are the support network that you cultivate around yourself. So, as you continue to build and nurture your friendships, make sure that you focus your time on the friends who support you without expecting anything in return. In other words, the friends who love you for you.

Circles of Friends

You have probably already noticed this by now, but there are some friends that you share a deeper bond with than others. That’s totally fine! In fact, it’s great. Depending on your mutual interests, hobbies, etc., you will connect with some people on a deeper level.

I look at my friends in three concentric circles. I have my BFF Circle, my Inner Circle, and my Acquaintances. The BFF circle is the smallest circle. It’s three people and these are the people that I trust and rely on more than anyone else. One layer out is the Inner Circle. This is where I categorize a handful of my friends who really know me and have my back, and vice versa. Finally, the last circle is the Acquaintance Circle. I know acquaintance sounds very distant but they are not distant for any negative reason. These are still people I like and consider my friends but our interests and passions just aren’t aligned.

These circles help to distinguish which friends I want to spend the most time with and the types of activities we do together. For example, I may call or invite friends in my Inner and BFF circles over for a movie but I wouldn’t invite anyone in my Acquaintance circle.

More Tools To Prioritize Your Friends

1. Interview with NYT Bestselling Author of Fair Play, Eve Rodsky

2. Interview with Global Leadership Speaker and Author of All In, Robb Holman

3. Interview with Author, Synchronicity & Flow Mentor, Sky Nelson-Isaacs

4. Interview with Public Speaker and Entrepreneur, Onno Faber

5. Friends are the Family You Choose

If you haven't already, be sure to take our quiz to understand your values and realize the Quality of Life you desire.