35 Group Activities for Women: Fun Ideas for Friendship, Creativity, and Bonding

35 Group Activities for Women

Not every get-together needs a big plan. Sometimes you want to talk, sometimes you would rather make something with your hands, and sometimes it is simply nice to be around people without having to keep a conversation going. The activities below offer different ways to spend time together, whether you are meeting close friends or getting to know women in a new group.

1. Start a Book Club With a Different Kind of Discussion

Choose a short story, novel, memoir, or even a collection of essays. Ask everyone to read the same piece before meeting, then bring two questions: one about the story and one about their own reaction to it.

Instead of asking, “Did you like the book?”, try, “Was there a character you understood differently from the others?” Women who have different opinions can explain what stood out to them. If not everyone has time to read, make it a book swap and let each person introduce a title in two minutes.

2. Arrange a Weekly Walking Meetup

Pick a familiar park, walking track, or safe neighbourhood route and agree on a time and pace. A 20- or 30-minute walk followed by tea can be enough for a first meetup.

Give everyone the route details beforehand, including the distance, surface, and places to sit. Some women may enjoy talking as they walk; others may prefer a quieter pace. If you enjoy spending time outdoors but prefer smaller or more independent outings, these solo social and outdoor activities for introverts offer more ideas.

3. Host a Paint-and-Make Afternoon

Put old newspapers over the table and bring out paper, paints, brushes, and a few simple objects to decorate. You could paint small canvases, personalise flowerpots, or make greeting cards.

Choose one easy theme, such as painting something from your kitchen or making a picture of a favourite place. Nobody needs to produce a perfect result. The point is to try something, compare ideas, and enjoy the process without turning it into a competition. For more hands-on ideas, see these DIY educational crafts.

4. Have a Private Journaling Session

Give everyone 10 minutes to write in their own notebook. Use simple prompts such as “What has taken up most of my attention this week?” or “What is one thing I want to make time for?”

Afterward, invite anyone who wishes to share a sentence or thought. Make it clear that reading aloud is optional. A woman may enjoy writing alongside others while keeping the actual content to herself. If the group needs ideas to get started, these journal prompts for women in midlife can provide a starting point. Avoid asking people to explain personal entries or turn the session into a group discussion about painful experiences.

5. Hold a Conversation Circle Around Everyday Life

Choose one practical theme for the evening, such as making time for hobbies, returning to work, managing a busy week, or finding enjoyable things to do locally.

Give everyone a chance to contribute, but do not make sharing compulsory. One woman might mention that she has started taking a short evening walk; another may have found a useful local class. Keep the discussion balanced: people can exchange ideas without feeling that they have to give advice or reveal private details.

6. Volunteer for a Local Cause

Contact a local charity, food bank, library, animal shelter, or community organisation and ask what kind of help is actually needed.

Your group might sort donated books, prepare care packages, organise clothing donations, or help with a community event. Give everyone a clear task so the work does not fall to one or two people. Check the organisation’s requirements before collecting items or making plans.

7. Try a Beginner-Friendly Fitness Class

Choose a class that matches the group’s interests and experience. It could be Zumba, Pilates, yoga, dance fitness, or a gentle stretching session.

Before booking, check the price, class length, intensity, and whether beginners are welcome. Let everyone know that they can take breaks or adapt movements where appropriate. The aim is to try a class together, not to compare fitness levels or turn the session into a competition.

8. Plan a Short Hiking Outing

Find a well-marked trail that suits the least experienced person in the group. Check the route length, terrain, weather, facilities, and expected return time before inviting everyone.

Bring water, snacks, suitable footwear, and any other essentials for the route. You can stop for photographs or have lunch at a designated rest area. A short outing with time to enjoy the surroundings may be a better first experience than a demanding hike.

9. Cook a Dish None of You Has Tried Before

Pick one recipe and divide the work. For example, one person can chop vegetables, another can prepare the filling, and someone else can follow the cooking instructions.

Try dumplings, homemade pizza, fresh pasta, or a dish from a different cuisine. Expect a few uneven shapes or a sauce that needs adjusting. Check allergies, dietary needs, and kitchen equipment before shopping, and let everyone take part without expecting one person to do all the preparation and cleaning.

10. Run a Practical Skills Workshop

Choose a skill the group would genuinely like to practise. It could be preparing for a job interview, using a spreadsheet, planning a household budget, or speaking confidently in a meeting.

For an interview session, write a few common questions on cards and take turns answering them. Give feedback on what was clear and what could be more specific. Keep the examples fictional or general so nobody has to share private work, financial, or family information.

11. Make Vision Boards Around a Shared Theme

Bring magazines, printed pictures, scissors, glue, and large sheets of paper. Rather than asking everyone to map out their entire future, choose a theme such as places to visit, hobbies to try, or projects to complete this year.

Each woman can select images and words that interest her. Some may want to explain their choices; others may prefer to keep the board personal. You can display the finished boards or let everyone take theirs home. If you want to discuss the role of visualisation, see the power of visualization.

12. Go on a Phone Photography Walk

Choose a location with interesting details: a garden, market, historic street, or public park. Give everyone three small photo challenges, such as finding an unusual colour, capturing a reflection, or photographing an interesting doorway.

Use phone cameras rather than making special equipment a requirement. At the end, share a few favourite pictures and explain what caught your attention. Ask permission before photographing other people and respect any venue rules.

13. Try a Short Guided Meditation Together

Set aside five to ten minutes in a quiet room and choose a simple guided recording. Let participants sit in a way that feels comfortable, keep their eyes open if they prefer, or simply listen.

Do not insist that everyone follow the same breathing pattern or describe what happened afterward. Quiet reflection is not comfortable for everyone, and some people would rather take part in a different activity. You can offer a gentle alternative, such as listening to music or sitting outside with a cup of tea.

14. Start a Small Gardening Club

Bring pots, soil, labels, and easy-to-grow seeds or young plants. Herbs such as mint and basil can be a practical starting point if the group has suitable light and space.

Show each other how to fill a pot, plant the seeds, and label the containers. Everyone can take a plant home and share an update at the next meeting. If someone has gardening experience, she can offer tips, but beginners should feel free to ask basic questions.

15. Organise a Music and Dance Evening

Ask everyone to add three songs to a shared playlist. Include different decades, languages, and styles so the music reflects the group rather than one person’s taste.

You can dance, try a simple routine, or sit together and talk about the memories attached to particular songs. Nobody needs to join the dancing. A woman who prefers choosing music or chatting from the sofa is still part of the evening.

16. Set Up a Craft Table

Ask everyone to bring a small project or choose one simple activity for the group. Ideas include making bracelets, decorating tote bags, learning basic crochet, or creating handmade bookmarks.

Put the materials in the middle of the table and let people work at their own pace. Someone who knows a craft can demonstrate a few steps, while others can follow along or try their own design. Keep the project manageable so beginners do not feel they have to finish something complicated in one sitting. You can find more ideas in this collection of hobbies for women.

17. Play a Real-Life Budgeting Challenge

Give each pair a fictional monthly income and a list of expenses, such as rent, groceries, transport, bills, savings, and an unexpected repair. Ask them to decide how they would divide the money.

Then introduce a change: the electricity bill is higher than expected, or the car needs a repair. How would they adjust the budget? This gives everyone a chance to compare decisions without asking anyone to reveal her actual salary, debt, or savings.

18. Practise a New Language Through Role-Play

Choose a language the group wants to practise and set up a simple situation. One person can play a café server while the others order food, ask for the menu, or request the bill.

Write a few useful phrases on cards, so beginners have something to refer to. Let people finish their sentences before correcting them. The goal is to practise speaking and become more comfortable using familiar words, not to test anyone’s fluency.

19. Arrange a Small Women’s Networking Meetup

Invite women with different jobs, interests, or business ideas and arrange small discussion tables. Give each table a topic, such as changing careers, finding clients, returning to work, or starting a small business.

Allow people to move to another table after 10 or 15 minutes. This is often easier than asking everyone to introduce herself to a large room. If you need simple ways to begin conversations, these conversation games can be adapted for a networking meetup. Make the purpose clear in the invitation so guests know whether the gathering is for professional discussion, referrals, or simply meeting others.

20. Practise Speaking in a Friendly Group

Write light topics on slips of paper: a meal you enjoy making, a place you would like to visit, a useful thing someone taught you, or a funny travel mishap.

Each person can pick a topic and speak for one or two minutes. Give people time to think before they begin. Anyone who does not want to speak can keep time, ask questions, or listen. Keep feedback kind and specific rather than correcting every pause or mistake.

21. Plan a Trip Together

Choose a possible destination and turn the evening into a shared planning session. Look at transport, accommodation, places to visit, and meal options.

Give each person one task: finding travel costs, checking activities, or looking at suitable places to stay. Compare the full cost rather than focusing only on accommodation. Nobody needs to commit to booking that evening; the aim is to see whether the trip is realistic for the group.

22. Have a Relaxed Self-Care Afternoon

Keep the plan simple: tea, snacks, comfortable clothes, a favourite film, face masks if people want them, or a few magazines to browse.

You could also set up a nail-painting corner or bring hand creams and moisturisers for anyone who wants to use them. Do not assume everyone enjoys beauty treatments or wants to discuss personal routines. Some may simply want to sit, chat, or read for a while.

23. Create a Peer Support Meetup Around a Shared Life Change

A group might bring together women who have recently moved, returned to work, become parents, or started caring for a family member. Choose a clear purpose, so members know what kind of conversation to expect.

For example, women who have moved to a new area could exchange information about local services, classes, transport, and places to meet people. Let participants decide how much they want to share. Agree on privacy expectations, avoid pressuring anyone to disclose personal experiences, and be clear that a peer meetup is not counselling or professional care.

24. Write Thank-You Notes Together

Put out cards, pens, and envelopes. Invite everyone to write a short note to someone who has helped or encouraged her.

It could be a friend who listened during a difficult week, a neighbour who helped with a delivery, or a colleague who made a busy day easier. Participants can send their notes, hand them over later, or keep them. If the group wants more ideas for a private writing exercise, these gratitude journal prompts can help. Do not require anyone to share the message or name someone if they would rather keep the exercise private.

25. Read and Act Out a Short Play

Find a short comedy scene or a public-domain play and assign the parts. Read it aloud once, then swap roles and try it again.

You do not need costumes, a stage, or an audience. Someone can read the stage directions, another can organise props, and others can take the characters. If the group enjoys it, look for a beginner workshop at a local community theatre.

26. Start a Music Appreciation Meetup

Ask each woman to bring one song and explain why she chose it. It might remind her of school, a family celebration, a journey, or a particular period in her life.

Play the songs and let the group respond. You could choose a theme for the next meetup, such as film soundtracks, songs from the 1990s, or music from different countries. Avoid turning the evening into a contest about whose taste is best.

27. Hold a Small Business Problem-Solving Evening

Invite women who run small businesses or are considering starting one. Ask each person to bring one specific question rather than a full business presentation.

For example, someone might want feedback on product photographs, packaging, a customer message, or an order form. Give the group a few minutes to suggest practical ideas. Make it clear that people can discuss general challenges without sharing private financial details or confidential business plans.

28. Organise a Parenting Meetup

Meet at a park, community space, or someone’s home where children have an appropriate place to play.

Choose one everyday topic, such as school-morning routines, affordable weekend outings, or finding time for yourself. Let parents exchange what has worked in their own homes without presenting one approach as right for every family. Keep advice optional; sometimes someone simply wants company while managing a busy stage of family life.

29. Discuss Everyday Relationship Situations

Use fictional situations rather than asking women to share private relationship problems. Write a few examples on cards, such as two friends disagreeing about cancelled plans or housemates having different expectations about cleaning.

Ask small groups to discuss what each person might be thinking and how they could raise the issue respectfully. You can use these perspective-taking examples to create discussion cards. People can suggest different ways to respond without deciding who is entirely right or wrong. Keep the discussion practical and avoid turning it into amateur counselling.

30. Join a Creative Writing Circle

Set a timer for 10 or 15 minutes and give everyone the same prompt. Try “A letter arrives at the wrong address,” “A day that did not go as planned,” or “Two strangers meet on a train.”

When the time is up, invite anyone who wants to read a few lines. Respond to the writing with specific observations, such as a detail that stood out or a character that felt believable. Do not correct every sentence unless the writer asks for editing help.

31. Explore Your Town’s Local History

Choose a neighbourhood, old building, museum, or heritage street and ask everyone to find one interesting fact before the meetup.

During the outing, compare old photographs with the places as they look today. One person may find the history of an old cinema, while another discovers how a market or street has changed. You can finish with tea nearby and choose another area for the next visit.

32. Hold a Spiritual or Values-Based Discussion

Choose a short reading, reflection, or question about values, forgiveness, gratitude, faith, or how people make difficult decisions.

Explain the group’s approach before inviting others. Is it based on a particular faith tradition, or are different beliefs welcome? If you need a starting point, choose from these philosophical questions. Let women disagree respectfully and pass on any question they do not wish to answer. The purpose is thoughtful discussion, not persuading everyone to share the same beliefs.

33. Work Together on a Charity Fundraiser

Choose one local cause and contact the organisation before planning the event. Your group could organise a second-hand book sale, bake sale, craft stall, or small community gathering.

Divide the tasks: one person can contact the venue, another can prepare signs, and others can collect suitable items or manage the stall. Keep a record of money received and expenses, then share the final amount and donation details with the group.

34. Try a Beginner Outdoor Adventure

Choose one activity that the group can try with suitable instruction, such as a beginner kayaking session, an indoor climbing introduction, or a guided cycling route.

Check the cost, equipment, safety requirements, instructor experience, and any age or fitness restrictions before booking. Tell everyone what to expect and make it easy to opt out. Some women may want to participate, while others may prefer to join for lunch afterward.

35. Share a Skill You Use in Everyday Life

Ask each woman to bring one small skill she can demonstrate in 10 minutes. It might be sewing on a button, wrapping a gift, taking better phone photographs, arranging flowers, or using a useful phone feature.

Let the group try the skill rather than only watching. At the end, ask what people would like to learn next time. You may find that one member has a skill others have wanted to try for years.

How to Choose a Group Activity That Suits Everyone

A cooking night with four friends is fairly easy to organise. Invite 20 women, though, and you have more to consider: kitchen space, ingredients, different schedules, and how everyone will take part.

Before choosing from these 35 group activities for women, think about the people attending. How many are coming? What can they comfortably spend? Would they prefer a relaxed conversation, a hands-on activity, or time outdoors? A little planning can help you choose something that feels manageable rather than complicated.

1. How Much Can Everyone Spend?

A group activity doesn’t need a large budget. If you’re planning something free or inexpensive, consider a book swap, walking group, or photography challenge.

For a craft evening, you could ask everyone to bring materials they already have at home. One person might have spare yarn, another may have paints, while someone else can bring paper and scissors. Sharing supplies keeps costs down and gives everyone a chance to contribute.

Paid activities need a little more thought. A £15 dance class, for example, may seem affordable, but transport and refreshments can increase the total. Let everyone know the likely cost before collecting money or booking places. This gives members a fair chance to decide whether they can attend.

2. How Many Women Are Taking Part?

The number of people attending can change how an activity works.

With three or four women, you could cook together, complete a puzzle, or discuss a book around the kitchen table. Smaller groups usually need less organisation, and everyone has more room to contribute.

A group of 15 needs a different setup. A volunteer project can work well because members can divide into smaller teams. For a photography walk, you could split everyone into groups and agree on the same route and meeting point.

Discussion-based activities also benefit from a little structure. If you have a large group, arrange chairs in circles of five or six rather than asking everyone to speak in one big circle. This gives people more time to share their thoughts without feeling they have to speak in front of the entire group.

3. How Can You Find Out What Members Actually Enjoy?

Instead of sending a general message asking, “What should we do?”, offer three clear options.

For example, you might suggest Saturday gardening, a Sunday brunch and book swap, or a Friday evening craft session. Ask members to vote and choose a date that works for most people.

You won’t always find one activity that interests everyone. That’s fine. Try rotating the format each month so the group doesn’t become centred around just one person’s preferences.

If some members prefer quieter pastimes, these hobbies for introverts may give you a few more ideas to consider.

4. Does Everyone Feel Comfortable With the Type of Activity?

Some women enjoy spending hours chatting over coffee. Others find conversation easier when they have something to focus on, such as painting, cooking, or walking.

If several members are meeting for the first time, a hands-on activity can take some pressure off introductions. During a photography walk, for instance, someone can ask, “How did you get that shot?” The conversation has a natural starting point because everyone is sharing the same experience.

A book discussion or language club may suit people who enjoy exchanging ideas. A support circle is different because members may be invited to discuss more personal experiences. Explain its purpose beforehand, make participation optional, and avoid creating the impression that anyone is expected to share something private.

It’s also worth remembering that being quiet doesn’t automatically mean someone feels uncomfortable in a group. Introversion and social anxiety are not the same thing. Give members room to participate in their own way rather than assuming everyone wants the same level of conversation.

5. What Should You Include in the Invitation?

Once you’ve settled on an activity, send one clear message with the date, location, expected cost, duration, and anything members need to bring.

Include practical details that could affect someone’s decision to attend. For a walking group, mention the distance, terrain, and whether the route has steps. For a cooking club, ask about food allergies and dietary requirements before buying ingredients. For an evening gathering, share the finishing time so everyone can plan their journey home.

You could begin with a two-hour get-together rather than organising an entire day. Afterward, ask what people enjoyed, what felt awkward, and whether they’d like to do it again.

The aim isn’t to make every gathering perfect. It’s to find an arrangement that people can realistically attend, enjoy, and feel comfortable returning to.

How Group Activities Can Help Women Build Friendships

Think about the last time you met someone at a book club, fitness class, or community event. You probably didn’t leave knowing everything about her. You may have exchanged names, talked about the activity, and recognised each other the next time you met.

That’s often how friendships begin. You share a few conversations, notice something you have in common, and gradually find out whether you enjoy each other’s company. There is no need to become close straight away.

You Start Recognising Familiar Faces

At your first walking group, you might spend most of the time following the route and trying to remember everyone’s names.

The following Saturday, you recognise the woman who walked beside you last week. You ask whether she enjoyed the book she mentioned. She remembers that you were planning to visit your sister.

After a few meetings, you might start saving each other a place or walking together without arranging it beforehand.

These small moments can make a group feel more familiar. Seeing someone regularly doesn’t guarantee a friendship, but it gives you more chances to notice whether you have shared interests, similar values, or simply enjoy spending time together.

You Have a Natural Reason to Start Talking

At a cooking club, you can ask someone how she managed to fold her dumplings so neatly. During a photography walk, another woman might show you a picture and ask what you think.

These conversations have an easy starting point. You don’t have to sit across from a stranger and come up with an interesting question. You can talk about what you’re doing and let the conversation develop from there.

Sometimes you’ll spend the entire session discussing the recipe or photograph. Other times, you’ll discover that you both enjoy the same author or grew up in neighbouring towns.

This also gives you time to get to know someone without feeling pressured to share personal details too soon. You can decide what you’re comfortable discussing as trust develops.

You May Start Making Plans Outside the Group

Imagine you’re at a craft meetup and another woman mentions an exhibition opening next weekend.

You say you’ve been meaning to visit, and she suggests going together. A few days later, one of you sends a message to confirm the time.

Your next outing might be coffee, a weekend market, or another activity neither of you has tried before. The friendship is no longer limited to the original group because you’ve both shown an interest in spending time together elsewhere.

Not every acquaintance becomes a close friend, and that’s perfectly normal. Some relationships remain connected to a particular activity or setting. If you want to understand how shared routines and circumstances can shape a relationship, read our article on the convenience of friendship.

You Notice Whether the Interest Is Mutual

Perhaps a woman from your gardening group misses two meetings. You send her a photograph of the herbs you planted and ask whether she’ll be joining the next one.

She replies, asks how your plants are doing, and suggests meeting a little earlier so you can catch up.

Now imagine a different situation. You invite someone for coffee several times, but she doesn’t respond or suggest another time. You may decide to leave the invitation open rather than keep pursuing it. There could be reasons you don’t know, so one response-or lack of one-doesn’t tell you everything about how she feels.

Friendship usually becomes more comfortable when both people have opportunities to show interest. That doesn’t mean every conversation or invitation has to be equally balanced. People have different schedules and ways of communicating.

Some women will become close friends, while others will be happy exchanging a few words at their weekly class. Both relationships can have value. The important thing is to let the connection develop naturally rather than expecting every group activity to lead to a lasting friendship.

How Group Activities May Support Women’s Emotional Well-Being

You might spend the whole week answering work messages, arranging appointments, or taking care of things at home. Then Saturday arrives, and you’re meeting a few women to paint flowerpots, exchange books, or try a new recipe.

The activity won’t make your responsibilities disappear. But it gives you time to do something that isn’t another item on your to-do list. You can focus on the conversation, the people around you, or simply the task in front of you.

Whether a women’s group feels enjoyable or supportive depends on the people, the setting, and what you’re comfortable doing. Not every gathering will suit you, and you don’t have to attend every event to benefit from having some social time.

Having Plans That Aren’t About Responsibilities

Imagine signing up for a Thursday pottery class with two friends.

On Monday, one sends a photograph of a bowl she’d like to make. By Wednesday, you’re deciding whether to try something similar or make a small plant pot instead.

When Thursday comes, you spend an hour working with clay, asking the instructor questions, and comparing everyone’s slightly uneven creations.

For someone whose evenings are usually taken up by cooking, cleaning, or answering messages, that hour may be a welcome change. It’s something she has arranged because she wants to do it, not because someone needs her to.

This distinction can matter when you regularly put other people’s needs ahead of your own plans. If that sounds familiar, our article on constantly pouring into others’ cups discusses the experience of giving your time and attention to others while leaving little room for yourself.

Talking About a Problem Without Making It the Whole Evening

During a walking group, you mention that you’ve been arriving late to work since your schedule changed.

Another woman explains that she prepares her bag and lunch before bed. Someone else knows a different bus route you haven’t tried. You make a note to check the timetable, and a few minutes later, everyone is talking about a café that has opened nearby.

You haven’t organised a formal discussion or asked the group to solve your problems. You mentioned something that was bothering you, heard a couple of suggestions, and carried on with the walk.

Conversations like this can offer a different perspective or remind you that other people have practical difficulties too. You can share as much or as little as you want.

Of course, a casual conversation isn’t a substitute for professional support when you’re dealing with a serious or ongoing problem. Friends can listen and offer company, but they don’t have to take responsibility for solving everything.

Having Something to Focus On Outside Your Thoughts

At a cooking club, someone is rolling dough while you’re trying to stop the filling from falling out of a dumpling. Another friend is checking whether the water has started boiling.

You may spend half an hour concentrating on the recipe without checking your phone or thinking about unfinished work.

That doesn’t mean cooking has reduced your anxiety or that the same feeling will last after you get home. You might return to the same responsibilities and concerns.

Still, some women enjoy activities that give their attention a clear direction for a while. Gardening, dancing, painting, and learning a new skill all involve something specific to do, rather than expecting everyone to keep a conversation going.

If you find that your thoughts return to work or responsibilities even when you have free time, our article on why you can’t relax even when nothing is wrong explores that experience in more detail.

Knowing When a Group Doesn’t Suit You

Suppose you attend a women’s networking event where everyone is expected to introduce herself to 30 strangers. You manage the introductions, but spend the journey home wishing you’d chosen a smaller gathering.

The following week, you try a book club with six members. People take turns speaking, nobody insists that you share personal details, and you’re already interested in next month’s book.

The difference is worth paying attention to. You may prefer smaller groups, activities with a clear purpose, or gatherings where conversation develops naturally instead of being expected from everyone.

You can also notice how members respond when you decline an invitation, ask for a less expensive activity, or choose to watch rather than participate. Respect for these preferences can make a group easier to return to.

A group that suits your friend may not suit you. You might enjoy occasional outings, prefer one-to-one friendships, or decide that regular meetings aren’t something you want. The point is to find social activities that fit your circumstances rather than forcing yourself into a particular setting.

What Does Research Say About Social Relationships and Well-Being?

Research suggests that social relationships are associated with important aspects of health and well-being. However, this doesn’t mean that joining any particular women’s group will improve your mental health.

In a 2010 meta-analysis, Julianne Holt-Lunstad, Timothy Smith, and J. Bradley Layton reviewed 148 studies involving 308,849 participants. They found that people with stronger social relationships had a greater likelihood of survival than those with weaker relationships.¹

The review examined social relationships broadly, including different measures of social integration and support. It did not test whether activities such as book clubs, cooking evenings, or women’s walking groups improve emotional well-being. Its findings show why social relationships matter in health research, but they shouldn’t be used to promise a particular outcome from a recreational activity.

A 2019 randomized controlled trial led by Catherine Haslam examined a structured intervention called Groups 4 Health. The study included 120 adults experiencing psychological distress and compared the intervention with treatment as usual. At the two-month follow-up, participants in the Groups 4 Health program reported greater reductions in loneliness and social anxiety.²

This is a useful distinction: Groups 4 Health was a specific psychological intervention designed to help people develop and maintain social group memberships. It wasn’t a study of ordinary social activities. The findings suggest that structured support for building social connections may be useful for people experiencing loneliness, but they don’t establish that a casual group gathering has the same effects.

Another study, published in 2008 by Karen Ertel, M. Maria Glymour, and Lisa Berkman, examined social integration and memory changes among 16,638 older adults in the United States over six years. The researchers found that greater social integration was associated with better preservation of memory function.³

This study also examined broader social relationships, not participation in women’s clubs or recreational activities. It cannot show that joining a group prevents memory loss. It does, however, add to research examining how social connections relate to health across adulthood.

Taken together, these studies provide a reason to value social connection without treating group activities as a form of treatment. A weekly gathering may become something you look forward to. For someone else, an occasional visit with a close friend may feel more suitable. Neither arrangement needs to follow a fixed formula.

Conclusion

The best group activities for women aren’t necessarily the most elaborate or expensive. A book swap, a cooking evening, a photography walk, or a simple coffee meetup can all give people a reason to spend time together.

Start with something your group has shown genuine interest in. Share the practical details, make room for different ways of participating, and see how people respond. You might find that everyone wants to repeat the cooking night, or that a Saturday morning walk suits their schedules better.

And remember, not every gathering has to become a regular event. Some groups enjoy meeting every week, while others prefer an occasional craft afternoon or a different activity every few months.

The aim is to create an opportunity people want to return to, without making attendance or participation feel like an obligation.

Of these 35 group activities for women, which one would your friends be most excited to try?

FAQs

1. Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. B., & Layton, J. B. (2010). Social relationships and mortality risk: A meta-analytic review. PLoS Medicine, 7(7), e1000316. ↩︎
2. Haslam, C., Cruwys, T., Chang, M. X-L., Bentley, S. V., Haslam, S. A., Dingle, G. A., & Jetten, J. (2019). Groups 4 Health reduces loneliness and social anxiety in adults with psychological distress: Findings from a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 87(9), 787–801. ↩︎
3. Ertel, K. A., Glymour, M. M., & Berkman, L. F. (2008). Effects of social integration on preserving memory function in a nationally representative US elderly population. American Journal of Public Health, 98(7), 1215–1220. ↩︎