We all remember those forced elementary school friends and that college crew that we hung with out of convenience. But what happens to your friendships when you enter the workforce and start living in the real world?
The reality is that the older you get, the harder it is to make friends.
As we grow up, those childhood connections fizzle out, but even as adults, we all still need to prioritize friendships and human interaction. Although friendship requires conversational skills and regular interactions with people, it’s important — and I think many of us have lost sight of how much we need friends as adults.
If you’re ready to make new friends as an adult but feel unsure where to start, here are six places you can look for personal connections:
1. Neighbours
When you move out of your parents’ house, you’ll probably notice other young adults in your area. Try introducing yourself to a few of your neighbours and get the 411 on your ‘hood pretty quickly. You may soon find that it’s easy to connect with your neighbours, and since they live so close by, it’ll be easy to hang out with them.
2. Coworkers
Work is another great place to meet people. Since you already spend so much time with your coworkers, it’s easy to quickly connect with them. Even if you don’t see your coworkers after work, spending lunch breaks with them is still a great social outlet.
3. People At Your Favorite Places
Personally, I find it easiest to make friends with people who share common interests. So try talking to the staff at your local gym, the barista at your favorite coffee shop, or other customers at the local bookstore. Who knows, maybe your hairdresser could be your next close friend!
4. Internet Communities
Online communities are also a severely underrated way to meet people! Joining interest groups on Facebook or even following people on Twitter or Instagram can help you spark conversations that develop into real-life friendships. Additionally, there are even some apps strictly just for finding friends! It’s so easy to connect with people online that – you can start with the click of a button!
5. Classes or Groups
Want to learn a new skill or join a group of like-minded people? These can also be great ways to meet new friends! Over the course of a few weeks, you’ll start talking to people you’ve seen before in the class or group, and next thing you know, you’ll have plans to grab coffee with your new friends. You already have similar interests (Hello, you’re in the same class!), so your shared interests make starting conversations simple.
6. Mutual Friends
If you already have one friend, they might introduce you to other friends at parties or casual hangouts. Current friends are a great source of more potential friends, and you could eventually find a connection with someone new after a few short meetings.
At the end of the day, we all crave social interaction and a real connection. The impact of new connections is key, but more often than not, we don’t appreciate friendship enough. So enjoy the friendships you’ve made and put forth an effort to develop new ones.
Featured Photo by Dave Goudreau on Unsplash.
