How to Make Friends as an Adult

When we're young, making friends and maintaining relationships with them can seem so straightforward and effortless. Throughout school and college, we're almost always surrounded by people we can relate to, whether due to age, similar interests, or proximity. However, this can become significantly more challenging as we journey into adulthood. It's easy to feel as if people don't feel the need or want to make more friends with age, but far more people than you might expect are equally as keen to form new connections. Below, we've shared our tried-and-tested tips for building new friendships as an adult.

Spend Time Working on Yourself First

Before you can even begin to seek out new friendships, it's essential to spend some time focusing on yourself first. It can take confidence to put yourself out there, so it's worth putting your energy into developing your self-esteem and resilience. Moreover, we don't always know what it is that we're looking for from a friendship until we understand our own needs and wants. In short, it's important to be a friend to yourself before investing your time and efforts into others.

Join a Club or Class

A shared interest is the catalyst for so many friendships, and what better way to find like-minded people than while partaking in an activity you enjoy? These days, there's a club or class for pretty much anything, even if you're not necessarily interested in the classic sport or craft-centered get-togethers. The next time you attend a cooking class, book club meet-up, or any other gathering, initiate a conversation with someone new or suggest linking up outside these scheduled events. In many cases, other people will be glad that someone else has reached out to them first!

Take up a New Hobby

If you're keen to find friends outside your usual social circle, try out a hobby or activity you've never tried before but have always been curious about. Not only will it encourage you to break out of your shell a little, but it will also introduce you to people you may never have met otherwise. We often find ourselves surrounded by those with similar attitudes and outlooks, so it can be refreshing to meet individuals with different perspectives.

Have an Open-Minded Approach

Many of us are guilty of making preemptive judgments about others, assuming we won't get along with them for various reasons. Yet, sometimes, we can strike up friendships with the people we least expect.  With this in mind, it's safe to say that having an open and inclusive mindset is central to finding new friends. On top of that, having a diverse mix of friends allows us to broaden our horizons, grow as a person, and become more accepting of others. 

Develop Your Work-Based Friendships

When you spend upwards of eight hours a day with people, the rate at which your relationship develops can be much faster than in traditional situations. Nonetheless, it can be difficult to know when to explore that friendship outside of the workplace. It might feel daunting at the time, but reaching out to a work colleague to hang out when you're off the clock is a great way to cultivate a new friendship. Best of all, you likely already know whether or not you two will hit off or not!

Reconnect With Old Friends

As time goes by, it's easy to lose touch with old friends. Thanks to social media, though, we have more opportunities to rekindle the friendships that may have fizzled out over the years. After long periods of little to no contact, it might be quite unnerving to get back in touch with a friend from the past. That being said, there's a good chance they're eager to catch up, too, especially if you two were once close and there's no bad feeling between you both. 

Say 'Yes' More Often

They say there's a much greater chance we'll regret what we don't do rather than what we actually do. This is certainly true when it comes to social situations, as friendships can arise in the most unlikely of circumstances. That doesn't mean we must agree to attend every outing we're invited to. However, taking a leap of faith every now and again can open you up to so many opportunities and connections you would have otherwise missed out on. If you tend to be more introverted, you might be more comfortable starting small by saying 'yes' to a low-key gathering rather than a crowded party.

Download Meet-up Apps

Modern technology has curbed our ability to socialize in some ways, but in other ways, it's made it easier to find people with whom we share interests and similarities.

Different countries have specific apps and online groups that are more popular than others, but some of the best-loved options include Bumble BFF, Nextdoor, and Friender. Some apps are about bringing together people from all walks of life, while others focus on helping people make connections based on more specific criteria like sports or life experiences.

Put Effort Into Your Friendships

In a perfect world, all of our friendships would happen organically, but in a lot of cases, it takes some work to create and sustain our relationships with others. Unless you're willing to nurture the bonds that you have, it's difficult for them to grow into lasting connections. On the other hand, if you feel like you're consistently the only person in the friendship who makes an effort, it might be time to look at whether it's the type of relationship worth pursuing. While you have to be open to pushing your boundaries sometimes when cultivating new friendships, it doesn't mean you should be the only one doing so.

Open Yourself Up to New Friendships Later in Life

It's never too late to make new friends, and many people establish some of the most enduring and meaningful connections in their lives as adults. With an open mind and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone, you can forge new friendships just as solid as those that began in childhood.