I used to be painfully shy. The summer before 8th grade, I became obsessed with Friends. And I don’t mean casual-watch-every-now-and-then—I mean watching reruns all summer and memorizing lines like it was my job obsessed.
Before this, I was actually super quiet at school. But something shifted that summer. I came back to school in the fall fully transformed… into Chandler Bing. Sarcastic, funny (or at least trying to be), and finally feeling like I could say what I was thinking out loud. That show didn’t just entertain me—it gave me a voice. A confidence upgrade.
I dreamed of someday showing it to my teenage daughter. Hoping it would hold up. Hoping she’d get it. Hoping she’d love it the way I did.
And last week—on a totally random Wednesday—she was home sick, I had a coaching call canceled, and I said: “Hey, I want to show you something.”
I pressed play, wondering if it would still work its magic.
It did. She laughed. I laughed. And now we’re squeezing in episodes like it’s our own little ritual.
While rewatching with my daughter, I noticed something I’d never fully appreciated when I was 13 and trying to master Chandler’s timing:
These six weren’t just funny. They were showing us how to do friendship right. And honestly? The habits they modeled are the same ones that change everything—how you feel, how you connect, and how supported you are when you're trying to build something new. So for all my fellow Friends lovers out there—here are 3 things rewatching it reminded me about real friendship habits:
1. They assume the best—and forgive fast.
Someone forgets your birthday. Someone kisses your sister. And somehow… they still find their way back to each other.
This group doesn’t hold grudges—they assume the best, say the hard things, and move on.
That’s not just friendship, it’s a habit.
And it’s one worth practicing: assume the benefit of the doubt, clear the air, and keep showing up.
Because when you’re not wasting energy nursing resentment, you have way more capacity to actually support each other.
2. They’re fully present. No one’s scrolling while someone else shares their worst date story. I mean…it's also true that smartphones didn’t exist yet... But mindfully giving someone else your full attention is a habit. They show up in person at each other's apartments. They sit on the same couch every day. They make time. And in a world that’s constantly buzzing, that kind of presence is rare—and powerful to watch.
3. They don’t take themselves too seriously. Their teasing is always wrapped in safety. They let themselves be weird, messy, and honest—and that’s what makes the friendship strong. Play is a habit, too. And that joy is contagious.
So here’s your mini friendship habit challenge for the week:
Assume the best.
Look someone in the eye.
Be willing to laugh at yourself.
Hit reply and tell me your favorite all-time episode. (Mine is the one where Phoebe “seduces” Chandler. It FULLY holds up.) xoxo, Katie Day (write back soon)
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Up Next: April: The Decluttering Challenge Monthly theme is fully unhinged inside the Habit Lab. I'll be shared garbage person's guide to decluttering hacks. (Jump in and join us! You're right on time!) Tuesday, April 8: 12noon CST: Group Coaching with Katie inside the Habit Lab! Join the lab, then join us on zoom! ------------------------- Work with me! NEW! A la carte Deep Dive Session: If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and actually create a habit plan that works for you, I’m offering something new:The Deep Dive 1:1 Session, a powerhouse one-time session. 1:1 Coaching Package: I'd love to be your transformation ally! (You also get access to my signature Love Your Habits mastercourse!) Hit reply and we'll get started. Group Coaching Community: I offer group coaching at an affordable rate through The Habit Lab. Included is my signature Love Your Habits Masterclass, daily posts and check-in's, and I lead live zoom calls twice a month. Join us. You're right on time!
“I’ll be there for you. (When the rain starts to pour.)”
— The Rembrandts, aka the Friends theme song
Our Family Movie night Friday was "Singing in the Rain" (Callie's pick) which felt extra special because it was my grandma Callie's favorite movie of all time. (If you don't know about how seriously we take Family Movie night, we rotate turns every week picking the movie and I have a spreadsheet of all past choices dating back to 2018. 😆 No one can argue they got skipped.
We also did a "couch karaoke" party before Family Movie night. Hysterical moment: These two were singing "Defying Gravity" from Wicked. My son was collapsed on the couch in agony. Then right before the last epic, iconic vocal run, he popped up and sang it himself at the top of his lungs. We were dying laughing. He kinda killed it.
After hitting rock bottom, I've embarked on a radical journey. For one year, I'm taking a break from all cynicsm and trying out some crazy self-improvement experiments (so you don't have to.)