What is “Wednesday Waffle”, and why it matters

November is the season of gratitude – a time to pause, give thanks, and reconnect with what truly matters. Yet in today’s world, where we’re constantly surrounded by people and notifications, many of us still feel quietly lonely. Connection often feels more digital than personal, and while our lives are full of noise, genuine conversations are becoming rare.

That’s why gratitude feels more important than ever – not just as a feeling, but as an action. It’s about checking in, listening, and showing up and it’s definitely my mantra to living more happily. I know when I feel low, it takes a second to reach out to a friend who can help me through the moment. As a woman, my female friends, my sister, cousins and even my daughter provide an instant female support system, but what happens to men? Do they have this same circle to rely on, on a daily basis like women do?

When women have emotional lifelines. But who do men turn to?

I’ve been wondering how men really get to bond, share, and connect with their male friends as routinely as women do. As a wife, I’m always there for my husband, and he’s always there for me – but I also have a plethora of other people to call and rely on. It’s the age-old saying: women have their girlfriends to lean on, to talk to, to unload with. But for many men – especially those busy with work, or raised in cultures where emotional openness isn’t encouraged — how do they get support?

How is the Wednesday Waffle changing male friendships?

The other week, I was sitting with a group of girlfriends and someone brought up something called Wednesday Waffle. I looked at her, surprised – I had never heard of it. She explained that it’s an intentional way for friends (often men) to connect: every Wednesday you send a short video clip or voice message to a friend or group, sharing something about your life. 

Maybe it’s a feeling, maybe a milestone – a promotion, engagement, fatherhood – or maybe just a “hey, I’m OK but could use a chat.” Two conflicting emotions washed over me: first, a pang of sadness that men felt they needed a structured prompt to open up; and second, excitement that this movement exists at all.

What I later discovered is that Wednesday Waffle began in Australia with Zachary Perez and a small group of friends around 2020. The idea was simple: once a week, send a quick update video, voice note, or message – not polished, not curated, just real. The term  “waffle” in Australian slang means “to talk or write at length without very clear direction,” which perfectly captures the spirit of casually “yapping it out” with friends.

Fun hangs don’t always mean deep support

When I think about my own husband and his male friendships – yes, he has guy nights, dinners out, catch-ups. But often, the tone is fun and surface-level banter. Rarely do I sense a space for “Hey, this week was hard. I’m under pressure. I could use a chat.”

Compare that with myself – a speed dial full of friends, family, cousins, and my sister – the instant I need to talk, I reach out. Is it just that men and women are wired differently? Maybe. 

But the science says: all of us need connection. We need someone to speak to when we’re struggling, to share when we feel good, to feel seen without judgment.

The silence beneath the scroll

And yet, loneliness can exist even in a crowd. In a society as fast-paced and high- achieving as Singapore, it’s possible to be surrounded by people and still feel deeply alone.

We rush from one commitment to another, constantly plugged in – scrolling through Instagram, replying to messages, consuming endless updates – but rarely pausing for a real, authentic conversation. The noise of our digital lives often drowns out the silence inside us. We see people’s highlights, but we don’t hear their struggles. We share witty captions, but not what’s really weighing on our hearts. And it’s in this gap between constant connection and genuine communication that loneliness quietly takes root.

One small check-in can change everything

Find your circle

Identify a small group of friends, colleagues, or family members who would be open to  receiving your weekly Wednesday Waffle updates. These should be people you trust – the  ones you can be real with.

Just get started

Don’t overthink it. Record a short video, send a quick voice note, or write a simple message. It doesn’t need to be deep or polished – this is simply a way for you to connect, be seen, and  be heard.

Spread the movement

Encourage others to join in. When you share your Wednesday Waffle, you might inspire someone else to open up too. Over time, these small acts create a supportive community where people can lean on each other, one Wednesday at a time.

Structure makes space for softness

 In a busy city like Singapore – high-achieving, fast-moving, and sometimes
emotionally quiet – we all benefit when connection isn’t left to chance. Gratitude isn’t just
“thank you for being in my life” – it’s about being present, being open, giving the other
person space to respond, and letting them know they matter.

And for men especially, rituals like this can break down stigma: “Let’s connect weekly” doesn’t feel as scary as “I need to talk about my feelings.”

Shireena Shroff Manchharam is a Her World Tribe member, the founder and principal consultant of Sheens Consulting, and the founder and creator of Getting To Happy, a mental health movement to inspire our community and society to live happier, more mindful lives.