Making New Friends as an Adult
When you were at school making friends was easy. When you started university, activities were designed purely for that purpose. But when you hit adulthood, you get busy. You work, A LOT. Your priorities change. Your friends partner up and start to have kids. And that endless supply of new friends dries up rather quickly.
Even more importantly than having a close group of friends to rant to, or to accompany you on a rowdy Friday night, maintaining close interpersonal relationships has extremely positive effects on your physical and emotional health. In fact, according to a study in the Journal of Health and Social Behaviour, having solid social relationships can boost your immune system and help you live a more fulfilling life. On top of that, the study found that cultivating friendships can reduce the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure – crazy hey!
Whether you are sick of your existing friendship group, have moved to a new location or are just looking to branch out, making new friends as an adult is an interesting concept. However, with a little bit of effort, you can fairly easily expand your friendship circle.
These are some simple, practical ideas that can help you make and sustain beautiful friendships:
Say YES
It sounds like a no-brainer but when you are in a new place or looking to extend your inner circle, it is IMPERATIVE to say yes. YES when you’re exhausted and would rather stay in; YES when you’re feeling intimidated by rocking up alone; YES when you’re not sure if you even like the person who invited you. Life is a series of little but important moments (it’s the butterfly effect) and you never know when you may meet someone who sets major events in motion!
Invest in a hobby
Hobbies are an incredibly good way to meet likeminded people. If you’re into fitness, join your local chapter of Midnight Runners or the November Project; if you’re into books there are always book clubs operating in each city; if you’re into music then maybe Sofar Sounds is more your style. If you’re looking for an easy way to discover hobby groups, try Meetup, an online platform where local groups advertise their presence.
Get online – there’s an app for that!
We have Bumble for dating, but did you know that there is also Bumble BFF, designed specifically for making friends? It works in exactly the same way as the dating app, and matches you with people within a close circumference of where you are located. My sister just moved home after 2 years in Hong Kong, and this was the method she found best for making friends when she first arrived overseas.
Networking Groups
There are also a bunch of more formal networking groups that are international – they have chapters in hundreds of cities all over the world. 2 popular ones are Internations, a group for young professionals, and Girls Gone International, an all-female group that host a variety of different events.
Host a gathering
Another great way to meet new people (with high chances of having things in common) is to host a lunch or dinner party (or even a picnic if the weather allows) and get your friends to bring along someone you haven’t met before.
As our lives evolve, so does our need for new and inspiring friendships. Whilst nothing can beat an old friend, it’s amazing to create new and authentic relationships around you.
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