As a child making friends in our daily lives is easy because of school, extracurricular activities, hanging out with our siblings, etc. However, as an adult, it comes with challenges. Now that everyone has fully developed personalities, we all differ from one another more than ever. Not to mention even finding the time to hang out, check in on each other, etc.
However, it’s not impossible to make friends as an adult. We just have to be open to opportunities within different environments. While it’s important to let it happen naturally, there are ways to encourage more friendships in your life. And we don’t need a large number of them to feel fulfilled either.
First, let’s discuss why friendship is even important at this time of our lives.
No matter what our personality, meaningful connections with others are important. Plus let’s be honest, half the things we would like to talk and vent about don’t need to be discussed with family members no matter how close. Having connections outside of our family help combat feelings of isolation and loneliness and enforce positive emotions as relationships are established and become more meaningful.
It has also been researched that adults with healthy and supportive relationships are more likely to live longer lives. So, you could say that friendships are not only good for our mental health but also our physical health.
But how do we even start making friends? Well, here are my personal 5 ways to create friendships as an adult:
- One before you set off to conquer the world of friendships it is important to recognize that you’ll have to put in the effort. Friendships cannot be cultivated without putting effort to find friends, communicate, and maintain a friendship. Thinking you can go into this passively will already put you behind because no one wants to feel like you only made them your friend out of convenience. There is a level of importance and dedication you will have to put in and make sure those you are interested in befriending are willing to put in the same level of commitment.
- Next, you need to discover your community. Whether you are an avid reader, gamer, hiker, activist, etc. there is a community that you fit into. Discovering what that is will give you a starting ground for what kind of friends you’ll like to make and where you can discover them. Once you figure that out you can go online and discover message boards, events near you, and people who align with your hobbies and habits.
- If you still haven’t found a community you can tap into you can always sign-up for various workshops or classes. These could be writing, cooking, and art classes where people not only attend to gain skills but to also escape the hustle and bustle while also gaining new acquaintances that can also blossom into new friendships. Don’t be shy and try your best to welcome the new experiences, likely the person next to you is there for similar reasons and is open to talk if they are willing to indulge in a public setting that these classes provide. Unless you go to a library, might not be the best spot lol.
- If you are someone who likes to help their community then you can also contribute your time to local nonprofits that fit within your moral compass and personal initiatives. These are great places to find people who are aligned with your beliefs rather the nonprofits are religious or non-religious. Nonprofits are also more consistent with hosting events that will allow you to become familiar with people before divulging into quick friendships if you are someone who appreciates getting to know someone slowly before letting them enter your life.
- Social media is the most modern way people are currently creating friendships. If you don’t mind interacting online with others then downloading apps like Bumble BFF, Tinder, and MeetUp might be for you. These apps let you customize your profile and add your interest so people with similar hobbies can connect with you. You can talk to as many people as you want! However, these apps also have memberships you can purchase in order to get special interactions and tools so keep that in mind.
Now go out there or hope online and go find some new friends. Everyone deserves and needs them to a certain extent. Don’t deprive yourself of social interactions because they can cost you mentally and physically without even realizing it. I wish you and your new connections the best!