9 Surprising Ways To Bond With Someone

"Sharing in a mutual goal with others creates a bonding experience that's based on a support system, which is a healthy way to build upon a relationship with friends or loved ones," says Hall. Whether you create a fitness goal together, try to focus on your career, or aim to cut down on TV time, creating a shared purpose is a sure-fire way to encourage closeness.

You don't have to plan a big vacation abroad – even a day trip together can work to facilitate intimacy. "Getting away together has many bonding components," says Hall. "You'll share space together, explore new places, and chose mutual activities, all of which can lend to serious bonding time."

"Shared activities with an edge of danger increase bonding with another," says Hall. "Choose an activity outside of your comfort zone, like skydiving, ziplining, or paragliding." Although this more applies to dating, research from multiples studies show that doing something thrilling can lead to increased attraction.

Occupying the same shared space can subconsciously make people feel more comfortable with you, according to Ori Brafman, coauthor of Click, a who spoke to Cosmopolitan. Anywhere with defined borders can be seen as "intimate," so chat up your coworker in the break room, a friend waiting in line for the bathroom, or that guy you were eyeing in your neighborhood coffee shop.

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Eating together is more than just getting to the same place at the same time. Going out to a restaurant works, but if you want to kick it up a notch, you can create a meal together. "Cooking and eating with someone is a bonding experience as old as the human experience," says Hall. "We care more for those with whom we've shared meals, and time in the kitchen can be a playful way to get to know someone better.

Intimacy is essential for a bond, and talking about personal things off the bat helps accelerate that closeness. Researcher Arthur Aron came up with 36 questions that help feel better about each other and want to see each other again, according to a study published in the journal Personality and Social Psychology. Use these as a starting point to begin having a meaningful conversation.

It's not the most fun way, but expressing your struggles or hardships can help for a bond with someone, as it indicates a level of trust. "When you experience a life tragedy together or go through times or hardships, even stress or drama in the office it can bring two people close," says relationship expert Dr. Nikki Goldstein over email. "There are those feelings of support and understanding."

Offering to help someone is a great way to take your relationship to the next level, whether it's for a friend or someone you're dating. If you are in a romantic relationship, it's best to focus on the little things you can do everyday rather than opting for grand gestures. Research shows that smaller gestures of support are more effective than overt favors, which can make someone feel trapped or obligated, according to Psychology Today.

Physical touch is a way to create bonds — given you respect someone's boundaries, of course. Multiple studies show that emotions can even be conveyed through just touching alone. Think a hug, a pat on the back, or other signs of affection that can create intimacy.