Illustration by Drew Shannon
With each passing decade since the mid-eighties, Canadians have been spending less and less time with their friends.
Just one in five people said they hung out with friends on an average day in 2022, down from nearly half in 1986, according to Statistics Canada. When people do manage to see friends, they’re parting ways faster, after 3.8 hours, versus five in the eighties.
The Globe and Mail wants to speak with friends bucking this disheartening trend. For a future story by The Globe’s time use reporter Zosia Bielski, we want to hear from Canadians who’ve come up with thoughtful and inventive ways to see dear friends more often.
Why time feels like it’s speeding up, and how to slow the pace
We’re looking for specifics. Do you have a standing dinner every month, or a phone call scheduled each Friday? Do you make a point of meeting in person to learn something new, or do you travel well together? Do you bake, work out, or watch films in tandem, while apart? Text each other photos of what’s outside your window, or share long voice notes? Or is it gifts and postcards in the mail?
Share your story in the box below, or send Zosia an e-mail at [email protected]. If you’d like to include a photo, submit it using this link.
How do you make time for your friends?
For a future story by The Globe’s time use reporter Zosia Bielski, we want to hear from Canadians who’ve come up with thoughtful and inventive ways to see dear friends more often. Do you have a standing dinner every month, or a phone call scheduled each Friday? Do you bake, work out, or watch films in tandem, while apart? Share your tips in the box below.