Peter How To Make Friends As An Adult: The Ultimate Guide
It’s hard to make friends as an adult. As you age, you become more responsible, and your social life is reduced as you prioritize your career and family goals. Even if you have a strong group of friends, there are less opportunities to interact with them. Meeting new people is a challenge, but forming bonds with them and meeting new people is even more difficult.
The state of adult friendship was this way long before the pandemic posed another obstacle to connection. The United States Surgeon-General, in response to the social effects of long-term isolation, has gone so far as to call the “epidemic loneliness” a serious health crisis by May 2023.
David Siegel, , CEO of Meetup, , responded to the Surgeon-General’s warning , by recognizing that ordinary people can work together to support the mission of ending lonely.
It’s important to find a solution despite the many factors that make adult friendship difficult. You can make 2023 the most social year of your life if you’re more introverted. You can use to make friends no matter your social orientation.
This guide will help you prepare for the International Day of Friendship, which is Sunday, July 30.
Make friends with people around you
Take advantage of existing friendships in your environment to form new ones. You could, for example, read How to Make Friends at Work. Some of the key points are:
- Participating actively in team communication channels
- Saying yes to optional activities organized by the workplace
Engage with people in your neighborhood or city. See this interview with Madison Moose Barrington, Common about how to make new friends in a new city. The best advice comes from simply getting out there, participating and exchanging information.
Try Member+. This new subscription from Meetup offers exclusive features such as a suite of tools for friendship, priority support and a completely ad-free environment. The official launch of Member + (web and mobile platforms) will take place on the International Day of Friendship, July 30.
You can see who will be attending events when you register with Member+. This allows you to identify attendees’ common interests and what they hope to gain from their experience. These options include “Practice hobbies”, “Make friends” and “Professionally Network”. Innovations such as these increase your chances of attending events with people that you would like to meet.
Get Social to Make Friends
A shared hobby or interest is the best way to bring people together. One of the best things introverts can do to make socializing a genuine experience is to engage in activities they would normally enjoy alone. It will also allow the friendship to grow more naturally. You can explore a wide range of options.
- Sport and fitness —If your up for some friendly competitions, then check out a sports group like NYC Outdoor Badminton which makes organizing games easy. Short Hiking Trails, a community in Charleston, offers a low-key way to get some exercise.
- Art and culture —If you are looking for a way to express yourself creatively, groups such as San Diego Figure Drawing & Painting can help. You can meet people who enjoy the finer things of life in a community such as ChicagoLand Art Gallery Museum & Music Events…Plus!
- Careers and Causes —There’s a plethora of professional organizations, including niche groups like New to Nashville Music Industry Networking. You can make new contacts if you volunteer your time for a cause.
Spend Time Making Friends
Sometimes, a new friendship can blossom overnight. It’s usually a slow process that takes a bit of effort and patience. According to research, an average of 50 hours is needed for to turn a stranger into a friend.
You can read some of the best books about how to become a better friend if you are having trouble getting past the “getting-to-know you” stage. Listen to the Stay Connected Podcast, which features many relationship experts and success stories of introverts.
Filling out your profile in the Meetup app is another way to make sure you are putting forward your best foot.
It is worth the effort to make friends as an adult
Even though it requires a lot of effort, maintaining adult friendships will be worth the effort. Harvard’s decades-long study of wellbeing found a link between the strength and longevity of a person’s social network and their physical and mental health. Find an event to attend and make more adult friends today.
