Make new friends for life by using the five methods discussed right here.
As an adult, it can sometimes be difficult to make new friends.
This is backed by research, which currently shows that:
- 45% of adults struggle to make new friends (New York Post)
- 33% of adults experience loneliness(Statista)
There are many reasons for this, including work commitments, family commitments, and even personal problems (such as being unable to trust people). Combining all of this makes it understandable why millions of adults worldwide want to make new friends but can’t seem to do it.
If you can relate to this, then don’t worry: there’s good news. In the age of technology and freedom of movement, it’s now much easier to make friends as an adult. Best of all, you can still do it in an organic way that doesn’t feel forced or unnatural, which is obviously what you want.
With that said, it’s time to run through five easy ways to make friends as an adult. Follow these methods, and it won’t be long before you find your new BFFL.
1. Join a Club Waka Sports League
If you’re looking to make new friends and are also an outdoorsy and active person, then it’s a great idea to join a Club Waka sports league. Some of the sports leagues you can choose from include:
- Soccer
- Dodgeball
- Kickball
- Bowling
- Flag football
After joining one of the leagues, you’ll be provided with a schedule. Your job from there is to show up for games, have a great time meeting new people just like yourself, and then attend the super fun afterparties once the games are done. Yep, it’s that straightforward.
While playing in these sports leagues, many people have made lifelong friendships and even met their soulmates, so you should try it.
2. Download Apps like Bumble
Whether you use an iPhone or Android, there are so many different apps that you can download to your smartphone that are specifically designed for making new friends.
Here are just some of the free-to-download friend-making apps that you might want to try:
- Bumble
- MeetMe
- MeetUp
For example, Bumble allows you to choose from three options when you create an account: ‘date,’ ‘bff,’ and ‘bizz.’ If you’re exclusively focused on making friends, then choose ‘bff.’ From here, you’ll need to add your photos and interests. After doing this, it’s simply a case of swiping right on profiles you find interesting. You’ll then start to match with people who like you back, which will then lead to you forming lots of new friendships!
3. Go to Bars
Going to bars is an old-school yet highly effective way to make new friends as an adult.
The general idea is that you go to popular bars. Here, there are more people, which means more opportunities to make friends. Try to avoid going to deserted bars, as you’ll find it almost impossible to meet other people there!
When you go to bars, make sure to dress nicely, be polite, and smile. It’ll attract positive attention from others and should lead to some great conversations with other people there. Also, when you find people that you like, don’t forget to exchange contact details so that you can stay in touch.
4. Find Facebook Groups That Match Your Interests
On Facebook, there are millions of different groups that you can join.
What you need to do is search for groups in your local area that you have an interest in (e.g., hiking). After joining one of these groups, you can then interact with the people there and attend any in-person events and meet-ups that take place. For example, in the case of hiking, you’d be able to go on group hikes whenever they’re scheduled.
If you don’t have one already, here’s how to make a Facebook account. It only takes a few minutes.
5. Create a Reddit Account
Reddit is also another great social media app for making new friends and talking to like-minded people.
On Reddit, there are ‘subreddits.’ These are niche groups that are focused on one particular subject. Here are some popular subreddits to give you a greater idea of this:
- r/Gaming
- r/Fashion
- r/Painting
After making a Reddit account, search for your interests and see if there are subreddits dedicated to it. You can then join these subreddits, post interesting content, make comments, and so much more. In many cases, subreddits (much like Facebook groups) will also do in-person meet-ups that you can go to, which is great to know.
