How to make friends as an adult
Find Your Grouphow to make friends as an adult
Find Your GroupMaking friends after college is hard.
Here are 3 ways to make friends around you.
Do you wish you could go up and ask someone, “Do you want to be my friend?” like you used to on the playground?
In school, our friends are in class with us. In college, they live in the same dorm. Suddenly, we’re adults, and most of us find ourselves asking, “How do I make friends?” It’s harder than it used to be, right?
But we know we want it. We want to feel known, and we want to know others. But COVID, burnout, or stress have made most of us pretty lonely. And we know community is good for us, but it can be hard to find.
Whether you’re trying to make friends after graduating college, moving somewhere new, or recovering from a divorce, here are four ways to make new friends.
Invite someone from work to hang out
In all reality, the people most likely to be our friends are those we are in regular contact with. If you work at an in-person location, ask a peer if they want to grab lunch next week or food after work.
Most people want friends as much as we do but are as nervous as we are. Have the courage to ask, and the people already around you may be more open than you realize.
There’s a group for you.
If you’re looking for a community, there’s a group of people ready for you. Check out our groups online.
Join a community-centric gym
Gyms are one of the easiest places to meet people, especially gyms that offer group activities. Many people go to gym classes on a regular schedule, making it easy to have repeated interactions and slowly develop friendships.
3 Ideas
- Go to group fitness gyms like Crossfit, Orange Theory, or Barre.
- Need a cheaper option? Gyms like Chuze or Vasa offer group classes like Zumba, Yoga, or Body Pump for affordable rates.
- Gyms that cater to certain hobbies, especially those that require partners, like rock climbing or pickleball, can give you a new activity and offer more opportunities to meet people in your area (who like doing the same things as you!)
Try Meetup Groups
Go on Facebook or Google and search for groups in your area relating to your demographic or interests. Other people are looking for the same thing as you. Meet them at local meetup events.
Watch Encouraging Messages Online
At Ru Tampa, we have encouraging sermons on all kinds of topics. Watch a message online at any time or join us this weekend in Tampa.