Remember how easy it was to make friends as a child? Those were the days! Back then, you could just walk up to another kid at the playground and squeak out, “Wanna be friends?” and that was usually all it took. As an adult, things are admittedly a little more difficult. In fact, it’s been reported that almost 50% of Americans have less than three close friends.
When you think about it, though, this isn’t that surprising. Becoming an adult means taking on more responsibilities, beginning a full-time career, and having children to look after. Eventually, making and maintaining friendships ends up on the back burner or disregarded altogether. We also can’t overlook the role that the COVID-19 pandemic played in isolating people further, causing them to lose touch with their existing friends.
This is a shame because people with supportive friends lead happier, more fulfilled lives. It has been scientifically proven that friendship can reduce stress, boost your immune system, and increase longevity. As the Swedish proverb says, “Shared joy is double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow.” Friendship is beneficial both mentally and physically.
Many people seem to believe that you make friends during childhood or at college, and that’s basically all you get for the rest of your life. This doesn’t have to be the case, however! It’s still possible to forge significant relationships as an adult. Are you in the market to make new friends? If so, let’s examine five practical ways you can go about finding your next BFF.
- Be Open To Opportunities
If you lead a busy, career-driven life, you might be thinking to yourself, “That’s nice, but I really don’t have time to make friends!” To that, we respond: Hey now, don’t count yourself out before even trying! If you look closer, there might be parts of your daily schedule that are quite conducive to making friendships. For example, if you go to the gym every morning, why not strike up a conversation with your fellow health enthusiasts? Or, you could finally say hello to the other patrons who frequent your favorite coffee shop. Even coworkers are strong candidates for friendship if you find yourself hitting it off with them. You could start small by asking a few of them out to lunch and see if things develop from there.
Now, this isn’t to say you should be a nuisance and beg everyone you meet to hang out. There’s a time and place for everything. The goal is to simply be more aware of the people around you and receptive to chances for interaction. If you do that, you’ll discover many organic opportunities for friendship as you go about your day. It can be scary to talk to someone you don’t know, but you can’t let fears or misgivings hold you back. After all, every friend you’ve ever had was once a perfect stranger.
- Social Media
Ironically, social media is frequently blamed for causing people to become insular and withdrawn. Anti-social media, if you will. Regardless, it can still be a powerful way to make friends IRL. You can use social media to find people in your area, look up local events that people are attending, and even reconnect with old friends or acquaintances. Many communities, from niche to mainstream, gather on social media sites as well. Whether you’re an artist, dog parent, or aficionado of French New Wave cinema, you can easily find people who love what you love.
Making friends online is usually the more comfortable choice for introverted people. The emotional stakes are lower compared to in-person interactions, and you can take your time when deciding what to say. Also, getting to know someone first online can reduce potential jitters before actually meeting up with them. There are so many convenient tools for finding friendships right at your fingertips.
- Volunteering
Working alongside others and striving for a shared goal creates strong bonds. By volunteering you’re almost guaranteed to meet kind, considerate people who share your values. No matter where you live, there is always some form of public service that is needed, whether that’s cleaning beaches, feeding the homeless, or lending a hand at an animal shelter. You should never volunteer just to make friends, but if you like the idea of socializing while making your community a better place, it’s a literal win-win.
Besides, what’s the worst-case scenario? Even if you don’t come away from the experience with brand new buddies, you’ll still have made a serious difference and enriched yourself on a personal level. It may take time, but if you’re constantly embracing the chance to learn, grow, and help out your fellow human beings, friendships will blossom.
- Group Activities & Meetups
Think about all the ways you’ve made friends in the past. There are exceptions, but it likely happened while you were at school, at a party, or at some other social gathering. What do all these things have in common? They involve many different people interacting! This is probably the best method for making friends in a natural, more spontaneous manner. Group activities remove the social burden from any one person, providing a structured environment to mingle and converse where everyone is on the same page.
If you prefer low-key recreation, try attending a wine-and-painting class, a book club, or a bar trivia night. If your tastes are a bit more energetic, you could become part of a hiking group, attend local concerts, join a sports league, or even travel the world with a tour group. There are countless people out there who share your interests. Sometimes, all it takes to make new friends is a willingness to add a social element to your favorite hobby.
- Friendship Apps
Dating apps are so widely used that they’re basically a fundamental part of every 21st-century romance at this point. In recent years, though, a new type of app for meeting people has started to rise in popularity: friendship apps. While most of them operate similarly (the old swipe right/left method reigns supreme), they’re all about companionship of the platonic kind. If you like the convenience of social media but want a far more focused and streamlined experience, these types of apps might be perfect for you.
Everyone on a friendship app is there for the explicit purpose of making friends, so you can immediately cut to the chase. Also, in addition to direct messaging, many of these apps allow for video chatting without the need for a phone number. That way, you can safely get to know someone on a more personal level before you decide to meet up in person. Cut through the ambiguity and kickstart your friend search in a more direct manner by using friendship apps.
Start Making New Friends Today!
Making friends as an adult can be daunting, but it’s far from impossible. At their core, the basics haven’t changed since we were children running around the playground. If you try to be friendly, you will eventually make friends. It’s all about breaking out of your comfort zone and looking for situations where you can meaningfully engage with other people. By leveraging the following tactics and resources we discussed, you’ll be making new friends before you know it.
Speaking of friendship apps, Caviar Lifestyles offers one of the most innovative ways to meet people by seamlessly connecting users through shared interests and group events. You can create your own event for people to join or choose an existing event to attend. Depending on the types of activities you select, the app will begin to make personalized recommendations, so you can find something new and exciting to do at any time. This app removes two of the biggest barriers to friendship: “Where can I meet people? And what should we do together?” with a stylish and accessible interface. Whether you’re looking for camaraderie, love, or a little fun over the weekend, you can’t go wrong with Caviar Lifestyles.
The modern world is often very lonely. Many people feel that technology has only created more division, not less. However, when it’s used properly, technology can still be a force for good, bringing people together who may have never met otherwise. No matter what approach you decide to take, we wish you the best of luck in your search for new friends. Human connection, in all its forms, is always a beautiful thing. You’ve got this!
