1. At Work
Take a closer look at your colleagues—perhaps you’ve wanted to get to know some of them better? You could make a list of people and invite them for a chat over coffee one by one.
If you work remotely and organizing a joint lunch break is difficult, you can still connect with someone from the work chat in other ways. For example, reach out to colleagues on senior friendship sites or social networks.
To make your meeting proposal appropriate, start the conversation with a casual question: “Hi! I was impressed by your project. Can we have lunch together so you can tell me more about it?” Or: “You mentioned in the chat that you are into photography. Could I ask you for a basic lesson?”
Additionally, there’s always the chance to make friends with someone at a corporate event. If you’re worried about finding conversation topics, prepare a small list in advance.2. In Hobby Clubs
Finding friends among like-minded individuals—those who share your interests and hobbies—is easiest. Look for groups of people who engage in activities together.
For example, if you’ve wanted to try geocaching, check out a dedicated website and join a treasure hunt, and possibly make friends as well. There are also many sports clubs—whether for chess lovers, bodybuilders, or those interested in shooting. In such places, you will likely talk a lot with people who are kindred spirits.
If there’s nothing like this nearby, take the initiative and start your own interest group—one of our readers created a book club this way.
Older individuals shouldn’t shy away from meeting new people either. For example, by joining the “Moscow Longevity” program, senior citizens in the capital can find new goals in life and make friends.
Moreover, you might connect with others not just through hobbies but also life circumstances. For instance, some users told us they found friends in local dog clubs. One anonymous reader shared that during her maternity leave, interacting with other young mothers was helpful.
3. At Educational Courses
School and university might be behind you, but that doesn’t mean you can’t experience student life again and make friends with your desk neighbor. There are many educational courses—on English, writing, programming, or cooking—that can unite you with other participants and lay the groundwork for friendships.
Preferably, opt for longer, offline courses. This way, you’ll have enough time to get to know the person you’re interested in—grab a coffee during a break, chat during intermissions, or walk together to the bus stop.
4. At Events
Concerts, stand-up shows, art parties, and quizzes can also help you make friends. One of our readers wrote that sometimes it’s better to attend such events alone; being with friends can diminish the need to meet new people.
In restaurants and clubs, thematic events are held every week. For instance, the Moscow bar Marie Laveau hosts “modern witches parties” every Thursday, and the “Davaynasvidanie” team organizes “speed dating” several times a month.
5. In Online Communities
On social networks, you can find both thematic channels—for book lovers, cinephiles, or numismatists—and local groups for making acquaintances. Often, in communities like “Dating in Penza” or “Overheard in Cherepovets,” there are discussion threads where people can exchange contacts.
6. In Online Games
Multiplayer online games—like World of Warcraft, Overwatch, GTA 5, and others—build strong connections among participants. By forming guilds and clans, players undertake raids and face various challenges together. A common goal brings strangers closer and fosters friendships.
Players often use third-party services to communicate with each other during the game—for example, Discord or Skype. Some then continue their interactions in the real world.
7. Through Dating Services
There are offline and online services aimed at finding friends. Among them, for example, is the closed women’s community “Zabuyki,” whose founder we interviewed. Its members go to exhibitions and travel together. Another popular service is Random Coffee, which connects people based on location, interests, and expectations from the acquaintance.
Among online apps, there are universal ones like Tinder, Hoop, or Meetup, and thematic ones based on interests.
