Too busy to talk? Not a moment for your neighbour? Rush, rush, rush and only a second to say hi! Well, you are not alone. According to new data published in Canadian affairs, fewer Canadians see their friends regularly and complain that their social time is shrinking. As experts say, in-person relationships are vital for well-being. However, stressing about how to fit it all in is not good for your well-being either, so how do you make time for those meaningful connections?
Do not despair, there are many ways to boost your communication skills and expand your social circle. While apps might not be your usual go-to friend finder, once you have tried some out, you should find that your social time and quality expand, and hopefully, you’ll no longer feel so alone. Sharing moments with new groups or like-minded individuals can bring those special people you’ve been missing a little closer.
Worldwide wish
In Canada, we spend so much time thinking about what we could do that we miss out on the fun we could be having right now. It’s a fair bet that this situation is not exclusive to Canada either. It is a global phenomenon, characterized by a lack of genuine, one-to-one interactions, as we are so caught up in planning for the future or trying to stay afloat in the present. Many people want more quality time together, but it can be elusive if you don’t know where to look.
There are ways to connect using apps that are just calling out to be tried, start-ups Gander Social or QCLUB are vying with the old guard. The more established social media apps, like Facebook and Instagram, have been around for a long time now. In fact, Facebook has been active since 2004, to be precise. So that’s 21 years of bringing people together (or setting them against each other, depending on your viewpoint)! When using social media apps, be cautious about who you accept as friends and only connect with new people if you have genuine mutual friends.Â
Being on your own is not being alone
Using your cellphone or computer to make contact is not unusual, and it can be much easier than standing in a crowded room hoping for a meet-cute. There’s no pressure to make any commitment, except possibly to have an enjoyable time, just chatting. Chances of entering something a little deeper are always there, but it is the individual’s decision. That can be made with cool, calm reflection safely in your own time, at your own pace.
Using various platforms can provide access to a vast network of potential contacts. There are filters that can narrow down the numbers to make it a less daunting task to find compatible soul mates. Findings in a paper by Burleson et al. show that similar values in communication attract people to each other. The Boo site offers the opportunity to meet people who share those similar values with a very long list of ‘universes’ to choose from. Their base of some 6.6 million individuals expressing, for example, an interest solely in food, is a great group to join in with if eating is your happy thing.
Widening the ways of sharing
The list of apps for making new friends and connections is significantly longer than Facebook and Boo. In fact, to many, it is overwhelming. Some of them deal specifically with Canada, but quite a few have access to just about everywhere.
There is Atleto for anyone who wants a contact in the world of sport, Friender and Wink for making friends. We3 is for groups of three, and Skout is a location-based networking site.
Getting to know people online requires an openness that doesn’t always come easily. The step-by-step approach is very helpful to keep the chat alive. Everything about you or your circle doesn’t need to gush out in one splurge. Having a joyful two-way conversation will give meaning and life to that time well spent. Share your homeland, interests, experiences, and humour, then listen respectfully to the replies.                                                                                                                 Â
Be interested in your new contact’s way of life. Perhaps they are involved in activities that seem strange to you, but give it a try; you might even discover new interests. Hiking in the Jasper National Park in Alberta, taking the Canadian from Vancouver to Toronto, or visiting the Fuller Falls on the Fundy Trail, may be a challenge, but with a fun mind, who knows what the future may hold.Â
Saying yes can be a win-win result for many questions. However, the time for controversial subjects should come later.Â
Socializing online is fun and surprising
You might also find time to meet up with your real-life friends in a virtual setting. Just because you can’t meet in person doesn’t mean you should miss out on playing together. In the old days, gamers needed to be in the same room to play head-to-head at FIFA or other video games, but fast internet connections and cloud gaming changed all of that. The same is true with iGaming. If you and your friends enjoy a flutter on casino games or a bet on a hand of poker, there are plenty of opportunities to play online together from the comfort of your own homes or on the go. You will find that the best Casino apps for Canadians have plenty of options. If you opt for live dealer play, you might also find that you connect with other like-minded players and forge new friendships.
Romance and then love?
It’s possible that you may want to meet for more than a chat. Perhaps the idea of a lifelong partnership is something worth looking for. A social website whose prime aim is to build dating opportunities is Plenty of Fish.Â
Bumble makes no bones about being simply a dating site, but Hinge promotes the importance of social interaction at a deeper level. The sense of well-being and the feeling of being supported are key to its purpose. Hinge is considered a go-to destination for those seeking longer-term adventures.
So don’t sit at home feeling isolated, download an app and connect with real people.
The post As New Research Shows Canadians Have Less Time for Socializing, We Explore Apps That Bring People Closer Together appeared first on Android Headlines.
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