How to Make Friends as an Adult

It feels like almost every day therapists hear the following:

“It’s so hard to make friends as an adult.”

And this is understandable! As children, teens, and young adults, we find ourselves forcibly put into new situations every year as we advance to a new grade or put in a new class. Beyond a job environment, there isn’t really an equivalent version of this as an adult. And in that situation the only thing universally in common is your employer, rather than your current place in life.

Thankfully, there are so many adults out there that would be interested in being friends. It’s just about finding them. There are many resources and options today that can be of assistance in doing so. Here are just a few of them.

Joining a Club

There are many club options available for adults of all ages. Local bulletin boards could provide options, but here in Rhode Island we have things like the Super Fun Activities Club. The SFAC offers a range of sports leagues that pride themselves to be more based on fun than athletic ability.

Meetup

Meetup is a social media platform that strives to help people “find and build local communities”. There are both virtual and local in-person options to connect with people over shared interests and a desire to build closer connections. There are many age-specific options should you feel as though you are having difficulty finding people close to your age.

Be consistent in something

Simply being consistent in a particular activity can lead to making connections with those who are engaging in a similar activity. Examples are activities like doing yoga regularly, visiting the gym at the same time multiple days a week, getting a monthly membership to a pottery studio, or even just visiting a bookstore at the same time each week. Taking any kind of class would also fall into this category.

If and when you choose to engage in any of the above, remember that building connections is another important step in the process. It can feel very scary and uncomfortable to experience the vulnerability that comes with asking a person to spend more time together, but if you have read this post thus far, it is probably worth it.

If you are interested in learning about other options or building up your confidence in navigating social situations, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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