A report from the UNSW’s Time Management Institute reveals that the social convention of saying goodbye at parties may have hidden costs.
The study, based on interviews with 2000 Australians attending an average of 25 parties annually, found that the act of bidding farewell takes an average of 45 minutes once the decision to leave is made.
This translates to an annual average of 18 hours and 45 minutes spent on goodbyes, with some respondents spending double that time.
Researchers suggest that those who say their farewells often find themselves repeating the same excuses to multiple people and may be coerced into staying longer, especially by hosts.
Lead researcher Dean Hoddle advises against this, recommending the “backdoor benny” or a quick exit strategy to avoid unnecessary social exhaustion.
Respondents like Wayne Canning from Sydney share their preference for a clean exit, highlighting the draining nature of prolonged goodbyes. The study sheds light on the social dynamics and time-consuming nature of parting rituals at social gatherings.
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