Is It Okay If You Don't Want To Chill With Your Work Friends Outside Of Work?

The ability to make friends with fellow co-workers at work is ideally the gold standard everyone aspires to achieve. Because having a friend at work doesn't only make your job more enjoyable and fun, it can also increase productivity levels exponentially.

And in all honesty, life is too short to be lonely every Monday to Friday. But as you learn to make work friends, the next logical question to pose then is, do you want to make your work-buddy an actual, real-life friend?

While people in a new city or those starting a new job would jump at this offer, for some of us chilling with work friends beyond the office can feel like a trap.

And you know what? It's totally okay.

There's no big crime in not wanting to hang out with colleagues from work. Considering you are with these people for several hours five to six days a week, weekends and other days off can be reserved for close friends and family.

But something tells me that's not how it works. There's plenty of unnecessary guilt and awkwardness (may be even office politics) to traverse which make the idea of reserving your precious weekends seem almost wrong.

Pexels

That's why, we did some research and discovered five strategies that will enable you to get out of 'office fun' with respect. Here's how you can do it:

1. Stop stringing along people who invite you out.

If you get an invite for happy hour drinks after work or someone is hosting lunch at their home and you know in your gut that you don't want to go, then it makes sense to let the host know almost instantly that you won't be able to attend. That way you avoid coming across as pricey, no one will consider you to be rude and most importantly you won't be stringing anyone along, especially not the host who might have to follow up with you again later.

2. Avoid saying "next time!"

Because you are invited for something and you don't want to go, naturally some people might feel guilty. This guilt leads many to say "I can't make it this time, but next time for sure." Please don't make this commitment if you have no intention of following through. People respect those who are honest, not those who say what the other person wants to hear. Be true to yourself and those around you and see the magic that unfolds then.

Pexels

3. Get rid of the guilt that comes after you say 'no' by envisioning what you'll do with all that personal time.

We all know that we should set firm boundaries but executing them is another task altogether. It's not that easy. What can help you set boundaries at work and stick to them is envisioning what these boundaries, when relied on, can offer. It's okay to say 'no' if you really don't want to go, and once you do, you have plenty of time to do the things you really want to. Like finishing that book, cleaning up that rack or even watching a movie.

4. Don't spin a web of lies.

A lot of co-workers will ask you why you can't make it. And instead of coming up with trashy excuses, be honest and just speak the truth. You don't want the lies coming back to haunt you later.

Pexels

5. Make an exception, sometimes.

You don't owe your work friends your personal, off-duty time but sometimes it's wise to show up to an event and make your presence felt and valued. With this you have nothing to lose. And what you do gain is a chance at having a really good time.