Developing new relationships in your short-term community can add a lot to your travel experience. Don’t be afraid to find friendships outside the healthcare space. Here are a few ideas to make sure your social interactions don’t stay within your temporary facility:
Networking Apps
Meetup is a website and social networking app where you can find a group of peers with similar interests. Search an interest or hobby you enjoy and set a radius around your current location, and Meetup will suggest groups you may want to join for face-to-face activities.
Try the Nearify website or mobile app to identify events in your temporary city. Anything from festivals, yoga meet-ups and puppy parties are listed on this app.
Social Media
Social media is a popular way to meet new travel therapists and travel nurses. There is an abundance of public and private Facebook groups for traveling medical professionals. Join and share your adventures, ask advice from fellow travelers or recruiters, or use it to see who is in your area that may want to meet up in person. And don’t forget Instagram!
Go Offline
You don’t need to rely on technology to identify new ways to meet peers and potential friends. More “traditional” meetings, like book clubs, still exist. Any type of group that meets regularly is an opportunity to grow your personal network—and likely enjoy a hobby at the same time. Book clubs, cooking classes, quilt or craft classes, spin classes, and other group-fitness activities that have a regular meeting schedule are all good ideas you can find in most locations. Try looking for flyers or ask around at the establishments you would normally visit (libraries, stores, fitness clubs, etc.).
Community Involvement
Many of our travelers find that having somewhere to spend time consistently on the weekends, away from work, helps them stay positive and find meaningful friendships that make their 13 weeks more enjoyable. Consider places you can volunteer as part of a group, like a local non-profit organization or a volunteer health clinic. They usually have regular volunteer hours making it likelier that you’ll spend time with the same volunteers week-over-week. Alternatively, places of worship offer opportunities for fellowship via attending services, classes and social functions.
Have your own friend-making resources to share? Add a comment below.