"I'm really busy."
Is what everyone says when you ask how they're doing. Or what they're up to.
But the truth is that many people don't actually do much.
In fact, most people wait for others to invite them to activities, events, and experiences.
Are people actually less social?
Yes. A few stats for the inclined
- Working age Canadians (25-64) socialize on average one day a week (link)
- The average amount of time Canadians and Americans socialize has gone down from 2-3 per week pre COVID down to 1-2 post-COVID (link 1, link 2, link 3)
- Just about half of Americans say they're less sociable in 2023 compared to 2019 (link)
Socialize by leading
You can't change people. All you can do is change yourself.
So, become a friend organizer. Come up with and invite people out to events.
Examples of activities to invite friends to (that create bonding and connections)
- Poker nights
- Board games
- Improv comedy
- A show you like
- Beach/ river/ park
Remember that everything you want is on the other side of cringe.
And this means low turnouts, people ignoring you, and flakey no shows. That's the price of admission for socialization.