The 20 most common excuses to dodge a social occasion will show what type of friend you are

Faking illness, family commitments and tiredness have topped a list of the 20 most common excuses to dodge a social occasion.

A study, of 2,000 adults, has revealed the lengths they take to get out of commitments, including saying they're ill, having to work late and simply not having the time.

Others claim transport issues, poor weather or an ill child is preventing them from attending.

But while 59 per cent claim they are often too tired to meet up with friends after work, 66 per cent think it's important to have a good work life balance.

And to ensure they stick to this work life balance, one in 10 prefer getting a taxi to events after work, with only four per cent opting for the tube.

TV life coach, Anna Williamson, who has teamed with FREENOW UK, said: "I urge people to get out of work on time and seize those precious hours in the evening to do something that makes them feel good."

"There will always be barriers and easy-to-make excuses but the more we overcome these, the better."

"Personally, my anxiety and panic on public transport can stop me from venturing into London to catch up with friends."

"I overcome this by always having my cab pre-booked in advance which gives me peace of mind and a convenient way to travel."

"Finding strategies to navigate around these barriers can make a significant difference in our ability to enjoy life and do the things we enjoy."

The study also found social gatherings such as parties or dinners with friends (47 per cent), work events (36 per cent) and family gatherings (26 per cent) are among the plans people are most likely to turn down.

But 24 per cent can be left feeling guilty after using an excuse to get out of a social situation and 14 per cent say cancelling plans can lead to feelings of loneliness or isolation.

Although 29 per cent admitted that while they dread social events in the lead up to them, they usually end up enjoying themselves when they actually get there.

And despite many throwing around excuses to get themselves out of a social situation, 41 per cent would be upset if the shoe were on the other foot.

It also emerged that 30 per cent of people socialise with friends at least once a week and 65 per cent do at least once a month, while only 22 per cent of people see their friends less than once a month.

More than a quarter (28 per cent) blame this on spending most of their time at work, while 36 per cent will work late for a few days a week or more.

Of the 12 per cent who feel they have a bad work-life balance, 38 per cent think their quality of sleep would improve if they made it better.

While 34 per cent of those who took part in the study , by OnePoll.com, said the same about their stress levels.

Nour Rasamny, head of operations at FREENOW UK, added: "You can sometimes get into a rut of saying no to things."

"However, socialising and maintaining connections are essential for mental health and overall well-being."

"Our research highlights the importance of getting out and about in the city and making time for friends despite busy schedules, and we facilitate this by allowing users to pre-book a cab so they don't need to worry about how they get where they need to be on time."

TOP EXCUSES BRITS MAKE TO GET OUT OF SOCIAL SITUATIONS:

1. Feeling unwell

2. A family commitment

3. Tiredness

4. A prior engagement they can't miss

5. Trying to save money

6. An early start the following date

7. Just don't feel like attending

8. Too much work to do

9. A lack of time

10. Needing to work late

11. An important appointment or errand

12. Recovering from a recent illness

13. Poor weather conditions

14. Visitors or guests at home

15. Double-booking themselves

16. Transport issues

17. They forgot about the event

18. Lack of convenient transport options/routes

19. A drained social battery

20. An ill child