How To Make Friends As An Adult |

We’ve all experienced it, that awkward feeling when you walk into a room and you know no one. You have no clue who to make eye contact with. Will you look odd if you go up to someone and just start a conversation, Will people wonder why you’re standing alone, Will your opening line seem forced, There are lots of reasons one can experience the completely undeniably complicated feelings of being new and feeling alone in a room full of people. Starting a new job, moving to a new city, graduating with a new degree, starting a new life phase…all of these can cause your world to seem so much bigger and you to feel so lonely. Don’t worry. You’re really not alone. Many adults have experienced or are experiencing these exact same feelings!

There are ways you can work to thrive during change. There are ways to make friends. 1. Smile at people. Smiles are such a welcoming way to face people, and they help put people at ease. 2. Remember people’s names. This one is tough for me. But, people like hearing their names. And, it can help them feel connected because you know them (by name) so they may feel they should know you. 3. Be appropriately inquisitive. People love talking about what they’re passionate about. So, if you can figure out what a person loves, he’ll talk for days. Then, when you see him later, you can ask how that passion is coming. 4. Get involved. I know.

It feels awkward. But, just force yourself to do it. Go to events. Join adult kickball leagues. Attend a workout class. Got to a meetup. VOLUNTEER (this is a big one that seems to build connections in a special way.) Get out there and do something. 5. Use the internet. A perfect example of this is using the dating app BUMBLE, which has a section for making friends. So do it. Reach out. Find a friend. Hang out. I’m in now way endorsing Bumble. It was just an appropriate example of using the internet. As usual, use wisdom when meeting new people.

6. Invite people to hang out. Normally it helps if you have a fun activity in mind. Dinner might be awkward if you’re just meeting, but seeing a movie, getting pedicures, playing basketball, shooting a round of pool, or playing tennis might be easy ways to chat with someone without feeling pressure to have an intimate conversation. 7. Expand yourself. Don’t get stuck in only doing things you like. That limits your options. 8. Join leagues/groups/classes. Join the local adult kickball league, attend that meetup event, take that salsa dancing class. Find groups where people naturally come together and laugh or connect. Some are more welcoming of solo attendees and it might even be more expected for a person to come solo.