6 Alternatives to Coffee Dates at Work- The Muse

6 Alternatives to Coffee Dates at Work- The Muse6 Alternatives to Coffee Dates at Work- The MuseSure, youre friendly at work. You say a quick hello as you pass colleagues desks and smile during meetings. And- thats pretty much it.You binnensee your co-workers every day, but how well do you actually know them? Spoiler Not really at all. Does it matter? Actually, it does. Because building relationships at works increases happiness and productivity.You first idea for fixing this may be grabbing coffee together, but in all honesty, you really dont want to. At best, you find a table and mostly hear the other person while you sip a $5 latte. At worst, you wait in line, stand in a corner, shout, and if youre on a budget or dont really like coffee, feel like youre wasting time and money. Listen, if your main goal is to step outside the office and grab a latte- dont let me stop you. By all means, go for it and while youre at it, invite a colleague to come along. But if youre goal is to actual ly get to know the other person, choose one of these less predictable options.1. Ask Him or Her a Random QuestionThink fast What are three things you discuss with your colleagues? If you answered work, the weather, and lunch, you need some fresh topics.A quick internet search can yield some quirky and random questions, like, What TV host would you want to interview you? Or, If you could have a picnic on any mountaintop in the world, where would you go? Personally, I like this list of questions. Try using these as ice breakers. Itll get you out of your shells and help you connect.2. Get Some Fresh AirStarbucks isnt the only destination outside of your office walls. So, skip the coffee, and schedule your next meeting outside the office. Better yet, invite a colleague to join you on your next walk. Just a small change of scenery can bring with it a welcome change of perspective. Its a double win to see the local neighborhood, especially if you dont live close to your office. And hey, e ven if your walk just involves the parking lot, its still a different meeting view than usual.3. Celebrate BirthdaysThis is a way to bond with all of your colleagues- after all, everyone has a birthday Its easy just take five minutes to approach someone on her special day and wish her well. If you work together closely, bring a small token like a balloon or cupcake and strike up a conversation about how she celebrates. Even a card goes a long way. 4. Find Shared HobbiesLove The Bachelor, like me? Odds are some of your colleagues do, too. If you find out who, youll have an instant conversation departureer and find yourselves in the break room- or on Slack- every Tuesday morning rehashing the most ridiculous moment of last nights episode. From there, it wont seem so out of blue to send the other person a message, and youll start to really open the lines of communication. Seriously, sharing your hobbies- no matter how quirky you may think they are- can help you learn a lot about each o ther5. Mix Up Your CommunicationDo you always communicate with your colleagues the exact same way? Is your go-to email, or meeting in person, or chatting on the phone? Whatever it is, this week, plan to mix it up.For example, do you have a co-worker who is pop culture obsessed? Respond to his next great idea with a positive GIF. For the person whos always on Twitter, tweet some praise. Obviously, you shouldnt respond to your boss with a series of emojis- but feel free to get creative when its appropriate.6. Start an Article ClubI love going to bookstores and seeing the newest it novel sitting pristinely on the shelf, or reading book reviews online. But taking the next step and actually reading is a different story, which is why I rarely join book clubs. An easier commitment for me was an article club, where people agree on a quick read on a common interest topic and then discuss it over lunch. Its fun, easy to plan, and wont leave you staying up late at night when youre in desperate need of some shuteye. All of these options cost less than five dollars, take less than 30 minutes, and are mora exciting than a traditional coffee date. So, give them a shot and watch your relationships with your co-workers blossom.Photo of happy co-workers courtesy of Shutterstock.