April 22, 2020
Editorial
Harvard Business Review Digital Articles

Why You Miss Those Casual Friends So Much

By: A.V. Whillans and Gillian M. Sandstrom

Format:Electronic

Abstract

On a typical day, we interact with somewhere between 11 and 16 casual acquaintances—for example, the barista we see every morning or the colleague we greet in the hallway. During the Covid-19 pandemic, with many of us practicing physical distancing, these once-common interactions have disappeared, and our social ties have been limited to more formal, scheduled—and often exhausting—check-ins with family and close friends. The authors offer suggestions on how to repurpose the informality and spontaneity of weak-tie interactions to help us stay connected while reducing the risk of burnout.

Keywords

Psychology; Interpersonal Communication

Citation

Whillans, A.V., and Gillian M. Sandstrom. "Why You Miss Those Casual Friends So Much." Harvard Business Review Digital Articles (April 22, 2020). (Shared Authorship.)