Ways to Make Friends as an Adult
It’s easy to make friends in high school and college. But, how do you make friends as an adult? Really, when you’re in school, it’s almost like the situation is purpose-made to find new friends. In high school, you’re in classes with a bunch of peers, so it’s the perfect situation to form bonds. In college, you’re often living on campus, where you meet people, and even if you’re off campus, you’re in classes with students usually around your age and have lots of events around campus where you can meet new people. It’s no wonder why people often meet their best friends in high school and college. But, the good news is that you can certainly make friends as an adult. Socializing is a big part of mental health, so having friends while you’re “adulting” is something you should seek to do. Here are some ways to make friends as an adult.
Make Friends as an Adult
Join an adult sports league. This is how one of my good friends made a lot of new friends as an adult. She joined a local, intermural sports league and made at least 20 new friends from the deal. Even if you aren’t the best athlete, these leagues aren’t really about who’s the best. They’re about people getting together one or two days a week, playing a game and having fun. Some popular sports leagues include softball, basketball, beach volleyball and soccer. Search in your area for a local recreation center that offers organized sports. The YMCA is always a good bet, too.
Get into a gaming or trivia group. Social games are a great way to meet people. Even if you aren’t big on Dungeons & Dragons, there are lots of different social gaming groups out there, both in-person and online. I actually made friends by joining an online gaming group that plays Jackbox games, and I’ve made some nice friends through the group from around the world. If in-person is more your thing, local game stores and bars often have organized gaming or trivia events.
Find friends using friendship apps. You’ve heard of Bumble as a dating app, but did you know that there’s a Bumble BFF app to make friends in a non-romantic way? A few other popular ones are Peanut and Nextdoor. Think of these as dating apps to find friends.
Church. Remember how your mom used to tell you to meet your mate at church? Okay, maybe that was just my mom. But, church and spiritual groups are a great place to make new friends who have common ideals. If you attend a local church, look into their activities, such as Bible studies and other events.
Volunteering. By volunteering, you’re not only helping a great cause, but you could also make some new friends. Some great places to volunteer and meet like-minded people include food banks, political organizations, pet shelters and more.
