As we grow older, it's easy to lose touch or feel disconnected from those we once spent time with daily. We often forget that friendships, like romantic relationships, require effort to thrive. Amidst busy lives and new responsibilities, these bonds can start to feel weaker than they once were, but simple and intentional actions can revive them.

The idea is to maintain consistency without the pressure of planning long conversations, and at the same time keeping it fun. This will not only help you feel connected with friends but also inculcate the habit of prioritizing these friendships in your life. It's a reminder that nurturing friendship does not have to be complicated—it just takes a little intention and a couple of minutes each week.

Here are two reasons why wholesome trends like "Wednesday Waffles" can save your friendships and enrich your life.

1. Rituals Can Strengthen Your Friendships

Rituals play a crucial role in deepening connections. Michael Norton, a professor at Harvard Business School, in his PopTech talk titled "Why Rituals Matter," delves into the significance of rituals in our daily lives.

"It turns out that when groups of people do rituals together, it has some really interesting psychological effects. Rituals aren't necessarily good or bad, but they're powerful, and they really seem to have bizarre effects on our thoughts, feelings and behavior," Norton says.

He goes on to explain one of his experiments where participants were split into groups, asking some teams to perform a simple ritual together, while others just spent time chatting and getting to know each other.

Afterwards, the groups tackled a high-pressure scavenger hunt, and the results were fascinating. Teams that had performed a ritual together cooperated better—they communicated more smoothly, stayed more coordinated and argued less compared to the teams that hadn't participated in a ritual.

Norton also shares an interesting moment after the experiment. The team that had done the ritual approached one of his students and asked if the team could exchange emails to stay in touch. This small, but heartwarming act was a clear sign of how impactful rituals can be as means of sustaining connection.

Much like this experiment, "Wednesday Waffles" serve as a consistent ritual to stay in touch, creating a sense of closeness and continuity in friendships, no matter the distance or business in one's life.

2. Wednesday Waffles Are A Loving Reminder Of Your Support System

At the core of all our relationships is a deep human need to belong. It's not just about having friends—it's about building meaningful connections that make us feel seen and understood.

Simple rituals like "Wednesday Waffles" are a reminder of the emotional support we have in our lives, and show the people we love that we're always there for them, and care about their well-being.

Additionally, while our world may feel more digitally connected than ever, loneliness is on the rise. Meaningful connections help reduce feelings of loneliness and stress, helping us feel better equipped to handle life's challenges and more motivated to maintain connections with others.

In her TEDx talk, "Frientimacy: The 3 Requirements of All Healthy Friendships," author Shasta Nelson shares how positivity, consistency and vulnerability move relationships fromsuperficial to truly meaningful.

A 2024 study published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships also confirms that spending time together and sharing positive experiences help build trust-filled friendships.

As we spend consistent time together, we also begin to understand what predictable behavior looks like. Trust grows when we no longer feel like we're walking on eggshells, unsure of how someone will respond. Nelson explains that we feel safe when we can predict others' reactions, and that predictability is built through time and shared experiences, which weekly interactions can help us achieve.

Nelson also suggests that we only feel loved when we feel truly known, and we can only be known if we allow others to see us. The third requirement—vulnerability—involves revealing one's authentic self,be it sharing insecurities, successes, dreams, past wounds or future goals. Such sharing reminds us of the strong community that supports us through it all.

Are you curious about how socially connected you are? Take this science-backed test to find out:Social Connectedness Scale

A similar version of this article can also be found on Forbes.com,here.