SIX in 10 Brits admit they are “rubbish” at staying in touch with friends and family – taking days, weeks or even months to return calls and messages.
A survey of 2,000 adults found a quarter said they never know what to say, while 19 per cent struggle to find the time.
And for a fifth, keeping on top of missed calls and messages is “too overwhelming”.
However, the good news is 28 per cent believe they’ve gotten better at staying in touch with others during lockdown.
Three in 10 (29 per cent) have even reconnected with old friends and family over that period.
While around a quarter (24 per cent) have made new friends as a direct result of the pandemic – getting to know people they might not have corresponded with otherwise.
And as a result of more adults working from home, 22 per cent are now friendlier with their neighbours.
The research was commissioned by mobile phone network giffgaff as part of its Have A Proper Chat campaign.
The initiative is urging Brits to have a meaningful conversation between 7pm and 8pm from May 10 to 14 – by calling loved ones they’ve not seen in person since restrictions were reduced.
Ash Schofield, giffgaff CEO, said: “We’ve never had so many different ways of communicating with one another – but this can be a bit of a double-edged sword.
“As the study suggests, many adults are struggling to stay on top of their messages and missed calls as we know busier lives can leave less time for those proper chats.
“However having a routine can help, which is why we’re calling on the nation to make the effort to take time out for a proper chat with people they can’t yet see in real life.”
The study also found the pandemic has changed the way 61 per cent of the population corresponds with friends and family.
A fifth have more active WhatsApp groups, and 13 per cent make a greater effort to schedule in catch-ups with others.
‘DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD’
One in 10 also send more video messages, 11 per cent send more voice messages, and seven per cent have been penning more letters.
But with restrictions now easing, 59 per cent are worried they might fall back into old habits and revert to their pre-pandemic ways of not being very good at staying in touch with loved ones.
Further to this, 23 per cent have already started to forget to call friends and family in recent weeks.
Jo Hemmings, behavioural and media psychologist said: “It’s easy to slip back into our old habits, post lockdown.
“Unless we resolve to keep up the good ones, perhaps ensuring that we make regular – even scheduled – audio or video chats with those people that have appreciated and cherished that communication as much as you have.
“As the world opens up, we’ll have more to share with our friends and family, and psychology shows that chatting to people who we care about on a regular basis is beneficial to both our wellbeing and our sense of genuine and authentic connection.”
