Fun Social Activities You Can Do On the Road

 

By Leigh Morgan, Contributor

As a travel nurse, you have the opportunity to visit new places and learn what each new city has to offer. After long hours caring for patients, it's important to relax and unwind. Otherwise, it's easy to get tired and stressed out. Next time you're on the road, try one of these fun social activities to blow off steam and meet new friends.

 

You don't have to be a culinary genius to throw a successful dinner party. According to Elisabeth Sherman of Food & Wine, fancier is not always better when it comes to serving food and entertaining guests. Keep things simple by preparing dishes that have just a few ingredients. Steak with baked potatoes, baked chicken with roasted vegetables and pasta with marinara sauce are all easy to make and don't require any specialized knowledge.

 

Going out to restaurants and bars is a lot of fun, but it also costs a lot of money. If you're looking for fun social activities that won't break the bank, host a weekly game night in your home. To avoid getting stuck in a rut, ask each friend to bring a board game or card game instead of playing the same few games every time. Keep everyone happy by serving light refreshments such as chips, pretzels, fruit salad and raw vegetables. Games make it easy for people to interact with each other, reports Marie Elizabeth Oliver of the Washington Post.

If you're ready for a change, check out the American Mobile job board to find travel nursing positions across the United States.

 

Enjoy great food and great conversation by inviting some of your new friends to a picnic. Picnicking creates an opportunity to socialize with others while you soak up some sunshine and enjoy fresh air outside the workplace. Bon Appetit recommends bringing iced tea, deviled ham, dill pickles and other gourmet picnic foods.

 

If you're new in town and don't know many people, taking part in a service project is a great way to make friends. As an added bonus, you'll get the satisfaction of helping others while improving your social skills, according to Western Connecticut State University.

 

Paint-and-sip classes are increasingly popular in cities throughout the United States, reports Ann Carrns of The New York Times. Attending one of these events gives you a chance to socialize with friends while exploring your artistic side and having a glass of wine or beer. Best of all, you don't have to be the next Picasso to enjoy participating. Paint-and-sip events are fun for people of all skill levels.

 

If your next assignment takes you to a place with great weather, take advantage by inviting your new friends over for some lawn games. Badminton, horseshoes and cornhole are all fun activities to do with friends. For added fun, invite people over to create custom gaming boards that you can use for years to come.

 

Painting isn't for everyone, but if you are a little bit crafty, you can easily set up a weekly craft night for your friends. Lifestyle blogger Erin Spain recommends choosing easy projects to ensure that everyone has fun instead of struggling to finish a complex craft. You could even purchase supplies for two or three projects and let your friends decide which one they want to do.

 

Fun social activities don't have to be costly. If you're short on funds, invite your friends over for a movie marathon, one of the most inexpensive things to do with friends. Keep costs down by choosing movies from your personal collection, making microwave popcorn and buying inexpensive candy from the grocery store.

 

If you have a strong sense of adventure, gather a few friends and set off on a camping trip. Renting your equipment instead of buying it can help you save money and avoid having to move a lot of extra items when you move on to your next assignment. If sleeping in a tent isn't your thing, ask your friends to go glamping (glamorous camping). Instead of sleeping in the woods, glampers stay in "sophisticated outdoor lodging," reports Bryanna Cappadona of the Washington Post.

If you work as a travel nurse, it's important to socialize with other people when you're not working. Participating in these fun social events can help you make new friends, strengthen existing relationships and avoid burnout, making you more effective when you're on the job.