How often do you feel the need to socialise with friends?
Posted by CrazySim00_@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 40 comments
and is it a big part of your necessity for happiness?
RecentTwo544@reddit
There's a bit in the Ricky Gervais, Steve Merchant and Karl Pilkington podcasts (I think it was the podcasts not the XFM show) where they ask Karl what his favourite thing in life is, and he can only come up with fishfingers, potato cakes, and beans. Which obviously causes much amusement and piss taking.
When Ricky is asked though, in rare moment of sincerity and seriousness, he immediately replies with "friends" and says how they're the most important thing in his life, wants to just call them up, see what they're up to, can't wait to hang out with them, etc.
I'm 1000% with him on this, by far the most important thing in my life too. I despise doing things alone. Doesn't matter what it is - travelling, going for a pint, going for a walk, even just going to Asda, everything is better with company. Having no friends and them drifting away is my biggest fear.
Unlike Gervais though, I don't squeeze their heads or making loud squeaking sounds to wind them up to the point they hate me.
CrazySim00_@reddit (OP)
That's really nice. Thanks for taking the time to share that :)
CrumpledStar@reddit
Sir this is reddit, what are these 'friends' you speak of? Never heard of them.
teacup901@reddit
This. I don’t have friends, sadly.
FinanceBloke99@reddit
Does gaming with people count as socialising?
CrazySim00_@reddit (OP)
Yeah I'd say so!
squirrrrrm@reddit
I wouldn't tbh but thats just my opinion
MJ-Franklin@reddit
I haven't since... 2021? 2020?
GuybrushFunkwood@reddit
I find once every 18 months keeps the old ‘social battery’ nicely topped up
MarilynManson2003@reddit
I don’t have any, but if I did I’d ideally like to spend time with them every day.
No-Sandwich1511@reddit
What is friends?
Able_Arm_7201@reddit
Once a week on weekends is what I force myself to haha
ScumBucket33@reddit
Now that I’m older, have kids and live further away I’m happy if I get the time to meet up once every month or two. Before kids it would have been at least twice a week.
Poo_Poo_La_Foo@reddit
Probably one or two times a week? I'll probably see a family member too on top of that. Otherwise I'm alone. Live alone, work alone. Love it.
ganjaferret420@reddit
Once every few years
Saito09@reddit
I feel a constant need to be socialising or to at least have plans to meet friends in order to validate my sense of self worth.
In contrast, I have a tiny social battery, and when in the presence of others I want nothing more than to be left alone and yearn for all social engagements to end as soon as possible.
My life is thus a never-ending anxiety fuelled balancing act, which more often than not results in a complete neurotic shutdown.
hunsnet457@reddit
I live with one of my friends so every single day.
I tend to go a bit stir crazy if I don’t at least talk to one of my friends every other day, outside of the one I live with I usually see the others maybe every 2 weeks, it’d be way more often if we all weren’t very busy people.
max_christensen@reddit
Occasionally when there's no alternative.
Severe_Mastodon8072@reddit
Very reddit comment, but I genuinely don’t have any.
Luckily not too necessary for my happiness. I’m quite solitary, and I have a wonderful partner who I want to spend most of my non-solitary time with.
Would absolutely love some proper friendships though
Lazy_Cat1997@reddit
1x a month
DrH1983@reddit
I play boardgames nearly every week, speak to a friend online weekly and see some other friends 4 or 5 times a year.
I could probably happily go longer, but would probably go insane after a month.
The_39th_Step@reddit
I see my mates between once to 4/5 times a week. I live in central Manchester and I have a quite a large friendship group and so I have quite a lively social life. I like it that way.
MiserableSympathy230@reddit
Don’t, and have never had friends
Scarred_fish@reddit
I'd say a few times a day.
Socialising is THE key to mental wellbeing after all..
Plus, not Socialising is boring af!
sniffing_dog@reddit
Never. I don't socialise.
jack_watson97@reddit
Every few months I need to do something. Ive always been very solitary and since my first child was born when I was 23 (now 29) I just havent felt any need to socialise often. But then every few months I need to get away and blow off steam.
I love to play playstation, PC, golf and go to football but I enjoy doing all of those on my own more than with people
zZIceCreamZz@reddit
Every few weeks is good
SpecialistDaikon4663@reddit
Honestly one good catch up a week is fine for me for a close friend. I see people in work, at yoga, out and about and chat. I’ve a son and a partner, I’m tired lol. I need the solitary time to recharge. But once a week is a good refresh and keeps me in the loop
Traditional-Win354@reddit
I think it depends. I'll go through periods where I talk to friends regularly, maybe play video games and chat with them daily. and go out for food regularly.
But I'll also go through periods where I'm very antisocial and don't really talk or hang out with friends for weeks or months at a time.
I think it's different from person to person. I honestly feel like in adulthood, there's not enough time in the day, especially if you have goals and hobbies. So sometimes sacrificing socialising to devote time to the other two is reasonable in my opinion.
I'm a person in my early twenties and feel this way, so I can't imagine working in time for socialising and hobbies as a person with children to take care of.
martyrees76@reddit
Friends? I remember them I see them on weddings and funerals. Sometimes I’ll bump into one in the shop and have a 5 minute chat.
Feisty-Lifeguard-550@reddit
Never lol , not very often. I used to be a social butterfly and was out all the time. I’m older now so it’s just usually family and the odd concert I go with friends
DJ-200@reddit
I tend to socialise with my closest sets of friends around once a week, if not every two weeks. There’s no hard and set rule though - sometimes we’ll hang out a few times in a week, and sometimes we won’t see each other for a few weeks. We’re all adults and it becomes harder to see people super regularly. None of us have kids, which no doubt would make it harder.
I have people I socialise with more regularly through circumstance - be it people I play football with or going for post-work drinks with colleagues. Not necessarily people I regard as friends but keep my social needs ticking over.
More casual friends that I don’t talk to very often, and don’t have any natural reason to cross paths with, I’m more likely to see once every few months as that requires more organising.
My friends bring me a lot of happiness and we all show up for each other to celebrate our landmarks. I think it’s important to me to have them in my life.
But everyone is different. Other people don’t necessarily need that social interaction that regularly and that’s okay!
So don’t feel you have to be keeping to anyone else!
Aylez@reddit
Probably every other weekend. The other weekends I’ll spend with my girlfriend / family
sarahlovesflowers@reddit
Now and again
boobiemilo@reddit
WHAT? Socialise, why? Are funerals considered socialising?
CrazySim00_@reddit (OP)
Bit boring, but I'd say so!
No-Calligrapher-7415@reddit
Regularly on the 29th of February..
MACintoshBETH@reddit
You guys have friends?
Designer-Lobster-757@reddit
What are those ?
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