Men's friendships tend to run on shared activity rather than conversation, and they fade when the activity stops: the job changes, the kids arrive, the team folds. "Let's catch up soon" is how they end.
A standing slot removes the deciding. Strong social ties are one of the best-established protective factors for health and mood there is; the standing slot is the everyday way to keep them. Evidence: decent
Same theme: Keeping them
Keeping them
Add a friend at the big changes
New job, a move, a baby, retirement. In the first three months, pick one person from the new setting and suggest something specific. Then again a fortnight later.
10 minEvidence: worth trying
Keeping them
Do something for someone
Coach, fix, drive, volunteer, mentor. A regular slot, not a one-off.
1–2 hours a weekEvidence: decent
Keeping them
Games night, monthly
Cards, board games, chess, poker. Same people, fixed date, rotate the game.
3 hours a monthEvidence: worth trying