'I have to wash my hair today', 'I have a terrible headache': almost everyone knows the excuses people make to avoid social plans. No Excuses Day sets them aside for one day, with a simple message: no excuses today, get out and spend time with friends and family.

The day was started by the Canada-based company SCENE to encourage people to socialise and meet in person, rather than stay glued to their phones or find new reasons to stay home.

SCENE's surveys found that about 90 percent of people have at some point made an excuse to skip a social event with friends or family, while 75 percent think social connection is good for wellbeing, even though many admit they do not get enough chances to meet in person.

Millennials are more likely to make excuses to cancel plans, the survey said, and the most popular excuse is a familiar one: 'I'm too tired'. The list of odd excuses is long, including someone afraid to leave a cat alone after dreaming it had died.

So if a friend asks you to a film, a chat or a meal out today, the old excuses can wait; and if nobody asks, you can always call and suggest meeting up yourself.

Source: Bangla Tribune