aking friends can be a difficult task at any age, but as you get older, it seems to become more and more difficult. As an adult, you have less time, you work more often, and your hobbies seem to be pushed to the wayside– one way that many kids and teens make friends. So, how do you make friends as an adult and where do you find them in the first place?
Where to find friends outside of college
As an adult, it is overwhelming to try and make friends because there isn’t a place like school to find like minded people at. But, you may just be looking in the wrong places. When you are in college, you tend to drift towards others with similar interests, whether that means your major, your extra curricular activities, or your hobbies. But, even after college, you can still lean on those things to find friends! There are tons of opportunities to get involved in your community, clubs and organizations that towns put on, groups on Facebook or Geneva for your general area and finding friends at work is always a safe bet.
Using groups to meet people
Utilizing groups can be a great way to meet people with very specific and similar interests. For example, people who like traveling may join travel Facebook groups particular to the places they enjoy traveling. Apps like Geneva can help recently graduated college student age people to do the same thing. The groups in Geneva are generally based upon the city you are located in, as well, which can be helpful.
If you have a particular hobby that you are interested in and want to meet people to do that with, or if you just moved to a major city and you are looking for friends who have recently done the same, these group chats are a great place to start.
Join a club
Many cities have recreational activities such as city club sports teams and organizations that you can join to get to know people. This may seem awkward at first, but it is also a great way to meet your neighbors of all ages, and to get more involved in your community. Usually, the city council or the local recreation center will create or plan these clubs and sports.
Put yourself out there
Outside of college, you have the opportunity to make friends with people of all ages, which can be great. You just have to be willing to put yourself out there and be open to going to places like bars, restaurants, clubs, and other places around your town to get to know people. You also have to get comfortable with going places alone at first so that you can meet people. This is important when you are first starting out looking for new friends, especially if you just moved to a new city.
How to make friends in college
Making friends in college can be just as daunting as making friends after you leave college, especially if you are going to a school that is far away from home or that there are no familiar faces. There are many ways to get involved in college and to make friends, you just have to be open to looking for them.
Join a sorority
Although there is often a big stigma around Greek Life, sororities are great ways to get involved at your respective school and to get to know people. There are also many opportunities to get involved philanthropically though sororities as well, which is great if you are interested in volunteering and raising money for good causes. This is also a way to meet people who you may not have met otherwise because everyone has different majors and interests. Sororities are not everyone’s cup of tea, but there is a sorority for everyone.
Go to school sponsored events
If your school offers them, going to sports events are a great way to meet new people and to have fun. Basketball and football games are a great place to put yourself out there and meet people who have similar interests as you. It is also a great way to embrace school spirit and get more involved in your university.
Go out– even if you don’t drink
Going out is definitely not the only way to meet people, but it is an easy way to meet many people at once. Even if you don’t drink, going out and meeting new people can be really fun depending on what the bar scene looks like at your respective school. This is a good option if you are not easily overwhelmed by large crowds. If you are, this may not be the scene for you– but, if you aren’t, this is a great time to make friends with many people all at once.
Join some clubs
There are so many clubs offered at universities these days that there is quite literally something for everyone. Even if you are not sure what you are interested in, you can join multiple groups and organizations to figure out what you want to do and meet new people doing it. If you end up not enjoying an organization that you join, you can still be friends with those people, which is a great part about college clubs. These can include, but are not limited to:
- Major or academic interest related clubs
- Club sports teams
- Campus publications
- Clubs related to hobbies
- Clubs related to school spirit
Get outside
So many people love getting outside and enjoying nature. Because of this, it makes a great space to find new friends and get involved in your community. Finding friends to go on hikes with, bird watching, running, swimming, or even just going on hot girl walks can be much easier than looking for friends to do other activities with.
What to do if you start to get nervous
Nervousness is a big part of meeting new people. It is difficult, but it is a necessary experience. So, what do you do if you start psyching yourself out of talking to new people? Here are some tips on how to do it.
They are nervous too
Just remind yourself that these people are just as nervous as you are. Making friends can be really difficult sometimes, so going into conversations with the realization that it is very likely the other person is nervous to talk to you as well is a great way to ease your mind. It also helps to remind yourself that everyone is thinking of themselves– it is more likely that they are more worried about what they are doing, wearing, or how they are feeling rather than what you are doing.
Everyone wants to make friends
Everyone wants to be treated with respect and to make friends with others– that is just human nature. Treat people the way you want to be treated, and you will likely get that same respect right back at you. If not, do not take it too personally. Stay true to yourself and move on with the situation, because you do not want friends like that in your life anyway!
Meeting new people is not as overwhelming as it may seem. It may feel like making friends gets harder as you get older, but really, being older makes it easier because you know exactly what you are looking for in a friend. You can be more picky with who you spend your time around as you mature. Be yourself and you will easily find great people that are a lot like you.
