Meeting new people can be challenging. While making friends is not easy, it is certainly possible. People often make friends at a young age: in childhood, at school, and during university. Later, they form relationships at work. But what if school friends have moved away and no friendships have formed at work? Life without friends may seem less enjoyable. Here are seven ways to make friends even in adulthood when it can be difficult to change your habits and let someone new into your life.
Why is Friendship Important?
We are social beings. Human connection is necessary for happiness. But friendship is important not just because being lonely is worse. Friends improve your overall health. They offer someone to talk to, providing emotional support that helps you cope with what you’re experiencing, whether it’s financial stress or mental health issues.
Benefits of Friendship
- Physical Health Improvement: Studies show that having friends can reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, and weakened immune function.
- Reduction in Loneliness and Social Isolation: Close friendships can help you avoid feeling like an outsider.
- Boost to Self-Esteem: Being around supportive people makes it emotionally easier to deal with failures and more joyful to celebrate successes.
- Stress Relief: Research has shown that people with friends generally handle stress and shocks better.
Seven Ways to Make Friends in Adulthood
- Know What You Want Define what you are looking for before you do anything else. Think about what you want from the relationships you are trying to build. How much time and effort are you willing to invest in finding and maintaining a friendship? What kind of friend are you looking for? Remember, friendship is a two-way street. As you seek support from your friends, be prepared to offer the same.
- Put Yourself Out There This isn’t about bragging. To make friends, you’ll need to work at it. Stepping out of your comfort zone means going beyond your familiar boundaries. A great place to start is your community. Attend local events, public meetings, parties, and other social gatherings. There will also be people looking to make new friends. However, avoid overstretching yourself; start small and keep stress minimal.
- Try Online Groups While social networks can create an illusion of friendship, they can also be useful. Many people prefer online interactions because they don’t require going out and meeting in person. This is a great option for those dealing with anxiety or who are introverted. Online interest groups, like gaming servers or support groups, provide a platform to make friends globally.
- Host a Gathering This isn’t for everyone, but if you’re sociable, consider organizing an event to meet new people. It doesn’t have to be a party per se—a board game night, watching a sports event, or hosting a trivia night works too. The idea is to organize a public event on your terms—choose the time, the nature of the event, and create a guest list.
- Use Friendship Apps Finding friends can be tough. Sometimes, you need an algorithm’s help. Like dating apps, there are apps specifically designed for making and fostering friendships. Simply create a profile, add some photos, a few lines about yourself, and you’re ready to connect. Many apps offer filters for age, gender, and interests.
- Engage in Volunteer Work This is particularly relevant in contexts like Ukraine, where many volunteer organizations constantly need people. By volunteering, you accomplish two good deeds: helping those in need and meeting new people.
- Time for Yourself Making friends as an adult is a process. Expect ups and downs in responses. Try not to link your self-esteem to the success of making friends. Remember, you are your best friend. Take care of yourself, indulge in activities you enjoy, whether it’s watching a movie or taking cooking classes. Being at peace with yourself makes finding friends much easier.
