Despite the average UK adult having HUNDREDS of online friends and followers, time-poor Brits are fast losing touch with their closest friends and family, according to a new study to mark the NESCAFE Gold relaunch. Here are some of the worst stats- and if you can relate- what you can do to redeem yourself.
Relationships on Female First
Grandparents receive a phone call just three times a year
The average call is around 3 minutes long, that’s 3 minutes out of your working today to pick up the phone and share the love with those that see you as the apple of their eye! You wouldn’t be here without them!
Over half (54 percent) of Brits having not seen their closest friends from school in over three years
Organise a reunion for all those you shared key life milestones with in school. Go back to a place you visited together or simply invite everyone to an evening of wine and dinner
Sixty two percent of us claim they are just “too busy” to get to see the people who mean the most to them
When things get too busy, sometimes sacrifices have to be made. Swap in your usual Saturday gym session for a new yoga session with your bestie. If you can’t get to brunch, invite them along to your existing plans!
38 percent of adults admitting to neglecting their friends and family due to work and family pressures getting in the way
Work life balance is so important. Take an hour out of your weekend every other week to make the most of seeing those most important to you. Don’t let a busy week at work hinder you from making time for others
Nearly 40 percent have not seen their own siblings in 1.5 years
You have the same parents, grew up together and some of you may have even shared the womb, get into a habit of catching up with your closest family members once a month to catch up on all things love, life and work related. You’ll probably find yourself reminiscing…tie your meets in with a visit to the rents and you’ve nailed it
Living in a world with so many online connections sure has its benefits, but more than two thirds of us (67 percent) say that as a result they’re lacking real life communication with real friends
We’ve all heard of the digital detox, but now it’s more important than ever. Having coffee with an old friend? Switch off your phone to ensure you’re not distracted. At a family event? Switch your iPhone for a camera so you don’t find yourself spending the evening on WhatsApp
Most of us now live on average 57 miles away from our parents and 71 miles from our oldest friend
Distance is hard to challenge and with the increasing costs of rail fares and petrol it can be hard to make longer journeys. Why not find a suitable location to meet in the middle, travelling 25 miles or so is better than 50!
10.4 million of us haven’t seen our oldest friend in more than 12 months
It’s a sad thing when we haven’t had contact with the family we choose for ourselves in a year. Why not pop a postcard in the post with an old photo of yourselves in. Looking back on good memories will make you more inclined to make new ones!
Most of us have not visited our home town in the last year
We’re all partial to some home cooking and a trip to your old local pub for a chinwag. Take friends from the city with you to show them where you grew up, it’ll make you see it in a whole new light.
We keep in touch with cousins just twice a year
Cousins? Sorry what cousins? We’ve all been there. Extensive family are still family and as we get older we begin to appreciate them more and more. Invite them to your annual Christmas bash, spend their birthday with them, or pop round to see their new house. Whatever it may be, they’re sure to appreciate it.