To say that it’s hard to meet friends as an adult is basically the understatement of the decade. Back in school, it was as easy as sitting together on the bus to strike up a conversation and become attached at the hip with someone who was a relative stranger just moments ago. Once you’re grown up, however, that all changes. If you’re struggling to widen your social circle in your twenties and thirties, here are some tips to help you out.
- Remember to be proactive. Much like in dating, you’ll never meet friends if you simply expect them to fall into your lap. As an adult, we often find ourselves with fewer opportunities to make connections unless we actually put ourselves out there. If you want to forge new connections, you’ll have to put in a little effort. You can hang out on the couch together once you actually find your crew.
- Accept random invitations. If one of your colleagues invites you to some event you’re really not interested in and you’re tempted to say no, fight that urge and go along. Maybe your sister wants you to go to some acquaintance’s party with her where you know no one or your boyfriend invites you to join his Saturday morning park running group. Get out there! You might just come across some interesting people.
- Try new things and go new places. In order to meet new friends as an adult, you’re going to have to switch things up and get a little uncomfortable sometimes. Don’t always go to the same places and do the same things. You know who’s there and none of them are really your cup of tea. Instead, push yourself out of your comfort zone a bit. The rewards could pay off big time.
- Join a new club or group activity. Maybe you’ve always wanted to take French classes or learn how to do pottery. What’s stopping you? Not only with these things be great for your personal enrichment, they’ll also be full of other people and potentially some great friends. Plus, it’ll keep you from sitting on your couch scrolling through your phone for hours on end, which is always a positive
- Volunteer. There are always people out there less fortunate than you that could really use your help. Whether you volunteer a few hours at a local animal shelter, at a food bank, or another charitable organization, not only will you be making other people’s lives better, which is incredibly rewarding, but you could also meet new friends in the process.
- Make concrete plans and stick to them. One of the best parts of being an adult is that your schedule is your own to make and, with a few exceptions, if you don’t want to do something, you don’t have to. However, you’ll never meet new friends if you’re invited to do something and you keep flaking on people. Good friends understand and appreciate the need to chill out sometimes, sure, but in those beginning stages when you’re
- Reconnect with old friends. Just because you want to meet new friends doesn’t mean your old ones should fall by the wayside. I’m not suggesting you reach out to people you haven’t spoken to since second grade and try to rekindle your friendship, but don’t forget the people who’ve known you for a while. They’ll be some of the best people you could have in your life.
