Casual Friendships

We have lost our casual relationships during the pandemic, like saying hello to a coworker in the hall or having a quick chat with a neighbor after church. We’ve doubled down on our close friends and families–our deep relationships–but those casual interactions make us happier and improve our overall well-being. Psychologist Gillian Sandstrom of University of Essex in England studies these weak relationships and says we need to get to work bringing them back now and after the pandemic.