6 Fun Ways on How to Make Friends As An Adult

Making friends as an adult can sometimes feel like a daunting task. In contrast to childhood or school days, where friendships naturally form through shared environments and daily interactions, adulthood often comes with busy schedules and responsibilities. In turn, there are lesser organic opportunities to meet new people.

However, building meaningful friendships in your adult years is not only possible but also incredibly rewarding for your mental and emotional well-being. Check out our short practical guide about adult friendships over here.

1 Put yourself in social situations.

One of the most known and effective ways to create adult friendships is by joining workshops or communities that entice you. In other words, delving into your hobbies and joining their respective clubs allows you to meet like-minded people. That would naturally bring you closer to them, wherein the conversations flow easily and the bond builds organically.

Another kind of social situation to consider are networking events and social, community events in your neighborhood (if applicable). You’d get to meet more diverse types of people from various backgrounds, who lets you go outside of your comfort zone. Plus, you learn more new things and make your life much more exciting.

2 Be open and approachable.

A key trait to making adult friends is approachability. If you can’t be approached, that means you’re radiating some sort of negative energy that no one likes. But besides the point, it’s important to be conscious and aware of your body language and how you generally act around people. For instance, emitting smiles, maintaining good eye contact, and showing genuine interest are tell-tale signs of a potential friend. They can make a whole difference in just one interaction.

Moreover, it also helps to be a good listener when meeting new people to get to know them better. It makes them feel heard and seen, which in turn fosters trust over time. But of course, don’t forget to share things about yourself too as you build a friendship with someone.

3 Maximize your current social network.

While working on creating new friendships, take this time to reflect on your current friendships and brainstorm ways to enhance them. Yes, you like it now, but you’d want to make it better and strengthen your bond! Plus, spending more time with them overall makes you feel good and comfortable because you know them well. Ways to amplify things can include having a game night on a specific day at a set time, trying a new hobby together monthly, or having Saturday brunches. Feel free to get creative here.

4 Join volunteer programs.

Partaking in volunteer programs that you’re passionate about lets you hit two birds with one stone. One, you’re contributing to the betterment of a certain yet unique cause, aka. making the world a much better place to live. And two, you meet more people with whom you share values. The conversations you can have with these people would be deep and meaningful. And playful even when you get closer.

5 Get into social media apps that are intended to make friends.

Social media has really changed the game by bringing people together. Hence, the term “online friends” and “oomf” was born. There are a few ways this can go about. One, if you have a unique interestK-popg., K-Pop), you can use apps like X, Facebook, TikTok, even to find like-minded individuals like you. It’s also fun to make a separate account from your personal, get creative with your username, and share posts related to your favorite group or bias. While doing that, you may comment on some posts and eventually DM those you’ve connected with more as time passes. But of course, be wary and vigilant by not releasing any personal info when you’re still getting to know each other! Bond over your love for KPOP first.

Another way to create friends through apps is to download those dedicated to this purpose. Apps like Bumble BFF and Time Left can connect you to people who are also looking for adult friendships, whether you’re new to the city or crave new and healthy connections in your social circle and life.  

6 Consistency and patience are key.

Making new friends needs time to build. It’s not an overnight feat, which can feel discouraging and lead to impatience. Hence, consistently showing up and reaching out when you can are what’ll nurture those connections. Even small steps, like sending funny memes or checking in, can improve your bond for the better in the long run. Effort is effort!

Takeaway

Making friends as an adult may require more intention and effort than it did when you were young, but the benefits gained are so worth it. As long as you maximize your resources and consistently put yourself out there, you’ll unlock and create new meaningful bonds.

Remember, everyone is looking for connection—sometimes, all it takes is a little courage to start the conversation.

For more culture and relationship-related guides, head on over to the Lauvblog here.