A shoulder to cry on after a hard day, a jogging partner, someone to get your Sunday morning mimosas with – we’re all looking for friends. So, what do you do when your social circle isn’t as full as you like? As an adult, it’s so much harder to make new friends, simply because it’s difficult to meet new people. With work and other commitments, our time is already spread thin.

Whether you’ve moved to a new city, have a new job in a new part of town, or are just looking for a fresh face, how can you meet new friends as an adult? From meeting new people to maintaining relationships after you’ve gotten them off the ground, we’ve got you covered when it comes to making friends as an adult. Finding new friends is often the hardest part of making friends as an adult. Simply put, we’re just not in as many social situations as we used to be. We’ve broken down our best tips for finding friends as an adult below…

Try an App or Website

It’s 2020, so naturally, there’s an app for making friends. Bumble BFF and Hey! Vina is both general interest apps if you’re looking for new girlfriends, but don’t let that deter you if you’re on the hunt for someone who really understands. Peanut is a great app for new moms to connect, and ATLETO is great if you’re looking for a running or spinning partner. Cosmopolitan has a great list of suggestions.

It doesn’t have to be all one-on-one, though. MeetUp is a fantastic resource if you’re looking for a book club, yoga group, or anything else you could imagine and if apps and websites aren’t for you, don’t worry – there are still plenty of ways to meet people in the wild. Take a look at our suggestions below.

Join a Book Club

Book clubs are a fantastic way to meet new people as an adult. The best part about them? No matter what you’re interested in, there’s a book club out there for you. Wine and French literature? Done. Science fiction? Absolutely. Meetup is one of the best places to start looking for a new group.

Join a Sports Team

As Glamour puts it, “It could be a low-key, local team that appeals the most, or maybe a thriving, competitive environment that you’re after, but being part of a team comes
with feeling solidarity with others, forming bonds and friendships with people that already have a common interest in the sport.” It’s especially great if you were part of a sports team in high school and college – you know how strong the bonds of friendship are, whether you’re playing hockey, netball, or soccer.

Try learning from other Tipsters

You might not have heard of him before, but relationship expert Paul Sanders has loads of tips for not only meeting new friends but also maintaining that friendship. He recommends seeing very close friends at least twice a month, while acquaintances can be contacted less frequently. He even recommends taking half an hour every week to do your ‘catch-ups’, just to make sure you don’t forget anyone.

Try a Poker Night

A poker night is a perfect way to bring together people from different groups – and the activity takes the pressure off everyone in terms of small talk. For the game night experts at Global Poker, success is all about consistency: “The more predictable and regular it is, the more people will commit to it, put it on their calendars, and show up. The most successful home games I know run like clockwork.” Whether you’re hosting trivia, poker night, or a Scrabble tournament, make sure that you keep things regular, so people continue to show up.

Be Yourself

If you be yourself and come across as authentic to others you are sure to meet at least one person who enjoys the things you do and wants to be your friend. Don’t try to mould yourself into the friend you think they want, be yourself and you will end up with much closer and better friends.

Facebook Groups

They say social media makes us all less social, but you can use it to make friends by joining the pages and groups about things you like and enjoy doing. This is especially true with local groups and even if there isn’t a group that suits you try making a new one and see who turns up!

Volunteer

Volunteering for something you enjoy is best here, but doing just about any form of Volunteering will introduce you to new people. This is a doubly good method of making friends as it gives you a nice talking point with the people you already know and shows you are a warm, caring person who is willing to give your time to others.

Don’t Sit and Wait

If you just sit there waiting for new friends to come along it is never going to happen, You need to be as proactive as you can and get yourself out there. Yes, it can be scary, but the more you do it the more you will start to relax about it. Meeting new people is never easy, but the more you try to do it (even if you fail a few times) the easier it will get.

Be That Yes Person

If someone at work or maybe someone you live with asks you to come along to an event, or a BBQ, or even just a funeral with them, say yes! You never know who you will meet in just about any social situation, so don’t tell them no because you can’t be bothered or it doesn’t sound like your thing. Unless you get out there you will never know if it is your thing or not.