How To Make New Friends In A City

Find new friends in your neighbourhood with these tips

It’s almost impossible to take your best friends with you when you move across the country or the globe.

Nextdoor makes it easier than ever to make friends in a city you’ve never been before. You can meet new people and start your social life by bringing those connections into the real world. You’re sure to find new friends in your new city. You only need to introduce yourself to the people around you.

Take five simple steps today to meet new people.

1. Join a group to enjoy a hobby

One of the best ways to meet new people in a new place is by finding others who share your interests. You can meet people who share your passions through group activities.

There are many ways to branch out and explore your new neighborhood. You can find local groups and activities in your neighborhood by asking your friends or neighbors, looking up Nextdoor Groups on the Internet, talking to your neighbors, or even visiting your local community center. You can continue your favorite activities, or you can try something completely new.

• Team Sports If you like physical activities, then team sports can be a great way to meet new people and get some exercise. You should be able find a competitive or recreational sport league wherever you are. You might like to join a local Dodgeball team or an Ultimate Frisbee squad if you are not a typical athlete.
• Performance arts If you enjoy singing, dancing, playing music, or acting, your new city might have a group for that. Try out for a community musical, join an improv group, attend the local jam session, or sign up for ballet classes. You’ll meet locals who are also interested in the arts.
• Language classes — Have you ever thought of learning a language? The language courses and clubs are great places to meet people, as learning a new language requires social interaction. It’s especially important if you have recently moved to a new country.
• Book Clubs — Book clubs provide a relaxed environment where avid readers can meet regularly. A book club has a pre-determined topic of discussion. This is a great way to meet new people and get acquainted without having to deal with awkward silences or smalltalk.

2. Participate in local events

Many organizations host singles events and meet-ups in cities of every size to welcome newcomers and encourage them to mingle. You can meet people who are looking to make new friends and discover an activity that you will enjoy. You might discover:

• Hiking
• Paint Nights
• Neighborhood block parties
• Cleanups in the Community
• Stargazing
• Tree Planting
• BBQs
• Local movie nights or TV screenings

Attending a neighborhood event can be a great way to meet new people. Everyone is there with the same goal in mind: making friends. Try using Nextdoor for a weekly list of events in your neighborhood.

3. Find friends of friends

Your friends from other towns will still be a part of your network, even if you move to a different city. Why not ask them to introduce you someone new?

There’s a good chance that a person from your family, friends, or social circle knows someone in your new city. You can ask around to see if you have a close friend, cousin, former roommate or social media contact in your new city.

Even if the mutual friend you share with your friend does not become your BFF, having a local by your side will help you to navigate your new neighbourhood. You can learn about the best places to eat, hikes and views, and where to meet new people.

4. Connect with your coworkers

You have the opportunity to make new friends at work if you’ve moved to a new city because of your job. You’ll see your coworkers every day for many hours, whether it is through virtual meetings or face-to-face at work.

It may not seem that the office is the ideal place to make new friends or socialize, but it’s a great way to start a social network. If you all finish your workday at the same location, it’s a good idea to suggest going out for dinner or to the theater.

Try these tips to spark new friendships at work:

• Eat your lunch in the breakroom
• Participating in work events
• Posting fun events and ideas on your company’s social media channels
• Invite colleagues to join for lunch, dinner or happy hour. You can also invite them to a group activity or social event.
• Small talk with people you meet on company outings, or while you are making your morning coffee in the pantry.

5. You can host your own housewarming celebration

It’s a good idea to start in your new neighborhood. There are already people in your new neighborhood who share a common interest with you, and perhaps even some friends. Why not invite your neighbor next door over for coffee or throw a moving in party? You could make a new friend in no time.

You can introduce yourself and invite your neighbors by going door-to-door. Tell your neighbors that you have just moved into the neighborhood and will be hosting a gathering at your home or nearby park.

You can invite your neighbors to a large gathering by posting on the neighborhood online network. Let your neighbors know that you have just moved into town and want to make new friends in the community. You can also give your event a theme. Choose a game night or ice cream party, or create your own.

Reaching out into your community can go a long way

Cathy is a neighbor from Longview, WA who moved there during the pandemic. She posted on Nextdoor about California irises she was willing to give to any of her neighbors. Yenni was one of the neighbors who responded to her post. She met Cathy in her home to collect the flowers. The two immediately connected and decided to go for a walk later that week. Since then, the two have become inseparable and walk every week. Cathy says that having a friend to walk with during the pandemic made a huge difference in her life. She credits her post on Nextdoor for this.

Nextdoor is the best way to find new friends.

Making new friends can be intimidating for introverts or those who suffer from social anxiety. If you are willing to step outside your comfort zone, and take on new challenges and experiences that may come your way you will be rewarded by new friends and new adventures. With easy-to-use tools like Nextdoor you’re never far from making new friends.

Nextdoor allows you to:

• Meetups at local restaurants and businesses
• Find out about upcoming community events and yard sales
• Find people who want to connect with you

Nextdoor is already a great way to meet your new neighbors. Join the growing network and make new friends. Your future best friend may be right around the corner.

Sources:

Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.