There are all kinds of reasons why someone might find themselves needing to make new friends. Perhaps they moved, or perhaps they just feel like starting fresh. Whatever the case is for wanting to expand or change your social circle, the fact remains the same— making friends isn’t always easy. In fact, it can be downright hard if you don’t know what you’re doing.
To help you navigate the often frustrating process of making new friends, here are some of the best pointers to try out for yourself.
Work
Work is one of the most practical places to look for friendships because it’s somewhere that you spend a lot of time. It’s a place of teamwork, where you come together to build projects, and keep everyone safe on the job.
It can be incredibly practical for making connections since you can propose to your coworkers to simply go out after work. Grabbing a bite to eat during your lunch break is also a good icebreaker. Just make sure that you avoid romantic relationships at work. Usually these almost always end badly.
Join a Sport
Joining a sport is a great way to meet other people and fill up your social calendar. Whether bowling or basketball, get to know some of the different sports leagues in your area and try it out.
If you don’t like it, you can always try out a different sport next time. The best part about meeting friends from sports is that you can kill two birds with one stone. You can get a great workout while also making social connections.
Apps
If you thought that meet up apps were only for romantic connections, then think again. Nowadays, there’s an app for just about anything. If you’re looking to meet other people in your area, then there’s definitely an app for that. There are many different apps out there created with the purpose of meeting up and making friends. You can even filter out people based on their interests, and even astrological star signs.
Volunteer
Volunteering is a great way to get actively involved in your community and meet other like minded people who want to make a difference as well. There are many different volunteer opportunities if you contact your local town hall. They’ll be able to give you a list of potential volunteer opportunities that may spark your interest.
Facebook Groups
Facebook groups are a great way to meet other people in your area and connect with others digitally, with the intention of eventually connecting in the real world. There are many different Facebook groups for all sorts of different interests, whether it’s for animals, books, or even films. Get scrolling and find somewhere you think you could find people just like you!