Making new friends as an adult can seem like a difficult prospect, especially if you’re currently going through a transition or major life change. You may be moving to a new city, starting graduate school or changing jobs, or dealing with other major events that make it hard to meet people and maintain existing relationships with friends and family members.
1. Try new things
Life is full of opportunities to try new things! Go somewhere new or try a new activity. Perhaps there’s a coffee shop in town you’ve always wanted to try but didn’t want to go alone. Join a hiking club, take up a class at your local community college, or volunteer with your local animal shelter. You never know what you may discover about yourself and the world around you. Plus, it’s always nice to meet new people that share your interests.
2. Meet people who have similar interests
One way to meet people with similar interests is to join a group. Join a book club, go to a spinning class, or find a local Mom’s club. Just be sure that you are actually interested in the group before you commit to anything. Also make sure that it isn’t something that requires too much time and effort on your part. You want to keep things low maintenance so you can make friends without feeling overwhelmed.
Once you have started to get to know these people, try going out once every few weeks or months. Ask them about their lives and listen carefully to what they say – this will help build trust between you two.
3. Take the initiative
If you are just starting out on this adventure, don’t be shy. Try to work through the discomfort that comes with meeting new people. Approach other members of the group and introduce yourself. In these situations, it’s likely that other people are feeling nervous about making friends too and would appreciate a friendly face initiating a conversation.
This is an opportunity to work through some social discomfort. Walk up to someone who you think might have something in common with you and start a conversation. You’ll be surprised at how easily people open up and start talking when they feel like they have a connection. Your therapist can help you work through social anxiety and give you some tools for managing it if you feel that is holding you back from friendships.
4. Ask Questions
The easiest way to start a conversation with someone is by asking them a question about themselves. Here are some good conversation starters to let you know if you and this person may have things in common.
1) What are your goals and why? This could be something as simple as asking about their goals for that particular activity, or more general, like their academic or career desires. Knowing someone’s aspirations will help you get to know them better.
2) What is the last book you read and what did you think of it? This question will give you a chance to find out if this new friend likes the same types of things that you do. It also gives a good opportunity to recommend a book or two!
3) What is your favorite TV show and why? If they tell you about their favorite TV show, you can let them know if you’ve seen it or not. Sharing preferences in common might make for more bonding time with friends down the line, even when the season ends!
4) How was your day today? Letting a person vent their frustrations and get their worries off their chest is never a bad idea, especially because sometimes they just need to talk through some things with someone who understands.
5. Celebrate wins with your friends
It always feels good when we accomplish something…a promotion, engagement, relocation, sports team winning, etc. It feels even better when we have others to celebrate with. When something good happens, invite some friends over or plan to go out to celebrate. A celebration is a great opportunity to get to know other people better and build long lasting friendships.
Making and keeping friends as an adult can be challenging, but it’s an important part of life. By taking the initiative to try new things, meet people with similar interests, ask questions, and celebrate wins together, you’ll find that forming and maintaining meaningful friendships is possible. With a little bit of effort, you’ll soon have a circle of friends who you can rely on and enjoy spending time with.
Begin Working With A Therapist in New Bern, NC
Making new friends is much easier said than done, and our team of caring therapists would be happy to offer support in cultivating new connections. We offer online support from our New Bern, NC-based practice. You can start your therapy journey with Renewed Wellness by following these simple steps:
1. Complete our consult form.
2. Learn more about our skilled therapists.
3. Start improving your quick thinking abilities!
Other Services Offered with Renewed Wellness
Our team knows you may struggle with a variety of mental health issues at the same time. This is why we are happy to offer support for your mental wellness from our North Carolina based practice. Our therapists specialize specifically in therapy for military families, chronic illness counseling, and addiction counseling. We also offer life transition counseling and trauma therapy. Feel free to visit our blog to learn more helpful information!