Illustration by Nijah Smith
Between packed schedules, work and family responsibilities, it’s getting harder than ever to maintain long-lasting friendships, and even more challenging to make new ones.
With each passing decade since the mid-1980s, Canadians have been spending less and less time with their friends. Just 19 per cent said they hung out with friends on an average day in 2022, down from 48 per cent in 1986, according to Statistics Canada.
Keeping your friendships alive takes a lot of work, but the rewards for all that effort can be immense.
Canadians are spending less time than ever with friends. Some are getting inventive to stay close
For a future Globe article, we’re looking to hear from people who don’t shy away from showing up for friends, even when it may be inconvenient. Do you babysit friends’ kids to give them a night off, bring over soup when they’re sick or simply show up for plans even when you’re not feeling it? Have you marked a consistent activity in your calendar to spend time with a friend?
Tell us why that extra effort is worth it for you in the box below, or send us an e-mail at audience@globeandmail.com. If you’d like to include a photo, submit it using this link.
How are you making the extra effort in your friendships?
For a future Globe article, we’re looking to hear from people who don’t shy away from showing up for friends, even when it may be inconvenient. How do you go the extra mile in your friendships? Do you babysit friends’ kids to give them a night off, bring over soup when they’re sick or simply show up for plans even when you’re not feeling it? Let us know in the box below.