What is a ‘couch friend’ and why having one can make your life so much better: Do you have one?

A true friend offer many benefits. There’s a friend who goes with you for lunch; you have one who goes for coffee and another one who will shop with you.

But have you heard about a “couch friend?” A couch friend is someone you feel comfortable with.

You can hang out on the couch for hours without needing to impress them.

You can spend hours with them chatting, eating, or practically nothing, and you won’t get bored!

Charlotte Negron, a content creator from Los Angeles, popularized the term through a TikTok about this unique friendship, which has since garnered over 7 million views and over 11,000 comments.

Charlotte told HuffPost that she coined the term couch friend to describe the frequent hangouts she and her friends have on the couch.

She started using the term about a year ago, and it became popular.

“To me, a couch friend is a friend who you need no social battery for. You can simply coexist and spend hours doing practically nothing, having the best time just enjoying each other’s company,” she added.

When hanging out with her couch friends, Charlotte mentioned they typically watch shows, browse their phones, and chat or share funny videos.

She described it as doing what you’d normally do alone but with your friend beside you.

In our busy and expensive lives, having an easy-to-reach true friend that doesn’t need a lot of effort or money is really something else.

Charlotte stressed the importance of couch friends, who provide a safe space where you can be yourself without stress.

These casual get-togethers with your true friend offer a simple way to relax and recharge.

Friendship expert Danielle Bayard Jackson emphasizes that humans have a natural longing for intimacy.

She explains that the idea of sitting on the couch with a friend symbolizes the comfort and closeness we crave in relationships.

“I think we all desire a friendship that does not require you to get dressed up, to perform, to commute, to come up with something entertaining to do. So, if we can sit on the couch and talk and be free in our everyday clothes, it says something about our comfort level and intimacy. And I think that’s why it’s such a popular concept,” she said.

Do you want to have a couch friend?

Danielle Bayard Jackson advises seeking couch friends among those in your social circle whom you find easy to converse with and enjoy uncomplicated social situations with.

“Are you hanging out with people who constantly need something flashy, something expensive, as the social backdrop upon which you all interact? Look for people who you feel like it’s safe to be yourself,” she said.

Find friends who don’t require you to perform but instead create a safe space for you to express yourself and share humor.

These are the kind of people you should seek out, she added.

Danielle stresses the importance of reflecting on how you present yourself to attract like-minded individuals.

This involves being comfortable expressing your true thoughts and opinions, as well as being open to vulnerability, such as allowing others into your personal space.

Fostering an environment where conversations flow naturally is essential for cultivating this type of friendship.

Anna Goldfarb, an author and journalist, explains that becoming a couch friend typically evolves gradually.

She highlights the significance of shared interests as the basis for this friendship.

Whether through mutual hobbies, professional backgrounds, volunteer work, or similar life stages, these commonalities can strengthen the bond over time.

“So you’re not going to go up to someone and be like, ‘Hey, you seem cool. Do you want to be couch friends?’ I mean, you could, but usually, it develops as a result of having a clear and compelling interest with someone,” she said, adding that when hanging out together, conversations naturally revolve around these shared interests.

It’s normal not to have as many couch friends as you’d prefer at this stage of life.

As we age, finding time for relaxed friendships becomes tougher.

Prioritizing career, romantic relationships, family, and major life events often comes before casual hangouts with your true friend.

“I think people feel sadness that they don’t have a couch friend. And it’s not because of anything that they did wrong,” Anna said.

Anna highlighted that feeling sad about not having a couch friend isn’t a personal failure.

She noted that it’s not about missing the mark but rather about adapting to changes in life circumstances.

As adults in a busy world, forming these friendships may require a different approach due to shifting priorities and responsibilities.

Despite limited free time, Anna encourages extending invitations for relaxed hangouts, such as watching a movie on a Sunday.

Although these opportunities may become less frequent, they become more cherished.

Spending time with couch friends is immensely fulfilling.

Watch Charlotte’s viral video about couch friend below:

@charlottenegron My soon to be long distance couch friend @alyssa ♬ what once was by hers – @

Follow Charlote Negron’s TikTok to watch more of her videos.