Monday Musing: Did you know that International Friendship Day is this Tuesday, July 30? It’s the perfect time to reflect on our friendships and the joy they bring to our lives.

According to the American Time Use Survey, prior to 2013, we spent about 7 hours a week with friends. Fast forward to 2021, and this in-person social time has more than halved, dropping to just under 3 hours a week. And it’s not just the pandemic—our in-person hangouts were already on the decline before that.

So, how can we change this trend and start reconnecting with friends again?

We often blame our hectic schedules, but if we’re honest, is it just that we’re choosing to spend our time differently? Research shows that on average, we’re spending over 6 hours a day on screens. Sure, some of that is for work or essential tasks, but it also includes 2.5 hours on social media. It might feel like ‘connecting,’ but let’s face it, a lot of that is mindless scrolling. Our tech-designed world is reshaping our social habits, often at the expense of real-world relationships.

With that backdrop, is it any wonder that loneliness, is sadly, on the rise. But here’s the good news: we can take back control.

A compelling 2019 Stanford study found that giving up Facebook for a month not only cut down overall online time, but also boosted family and friend interactions, and improved mental health.  With even more apps vying for our attention today, this insight is more relevant than ever.

Interestingly, Gen Z is catching on to this idea with many switching from smartphones to “dumb phones,” embracing simpler technology to focus more on real-life interactions.

So, how would your life change if you spent less time online? Why not find out?

Take a peek at your screen time from last week and see which apps are eating up most of your time. Pick one or two of those apps and delete them for a week, or set a 15-minute daily limit on social media.

With that extra time, focus on real-life connections. Head to the dog park and chat with fellow pet lovers, plan a fun activity with friends, or give someone a call instead of texting. It’s all about making the most of your time and enjoying the people around you.

How much time are you spending with friends each week? Compare it to your screen time.

  Decide to quit or limit an app you use more than you’d like and reallocate that time to personal interactions.

Here’s to making more time for friends (new and old) and fostering those invaluable connections! 

P.S. Don’t forget work friends matter too! Building strong friendships at work isn’t just a bonus—it’s a game-changer for you and your team’s productivity, creativity, and overall happiness. Check out my Love Mondays More article on Why Workplace Friendships Matter More Than You Think to see how they can transform your work environment.

What I’ve been up to over the week that was.

Last week I had the honour of moderating two panels at the Intuit Mailchimp  From Here To There event, including an inspiring session with AI advisor Dr. Ayesha Khanna, former Facebook CEO of Aus/NZ Stephen Scheeler, and Collide-AI’s Ryan Bodger on integrating AI into your work and business.

It was an awesome event that sparked my thinking on creativity, future skills and, as mentioned, all things AI! Thanks to Intuit Mailchimp for having me and bravo to team Bearded Kitten for organising such a professional and smooth event .👌

Head on over to our Linkedin newsletter, diving deeper into the concepts each week.

Download my game-changing insights now to stay ahead of the curve!

Hot tip: Listen to the first five minutes on Audible – or sign up for a trial and listen to the full book for free!