This post is all about 22 Easy Places to Make Friends As An Adult.
So you want to make friends as an adult? Did you know that the average American adult hasn’t made a new friend in 5 years? Yep, really!
If you’re like me, and so many other people out there, you might find it a little tough to make new, close friends as you get older.
Our social network tends to shrink as we make changes and take on new responsibilities.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t make great friends simultaneously — you just need to know where to look for these new relationships!
That’s why we’ve put together this list of 22 easy places to make friends as an adult.
22 Easy Places to Make Friends As An Adult
Here are the 22 easiest places to make friends as an adult.
1. Book Clubs
If you like to read, finding a book club can be a great way to make good friends over a shared love of books.
To find a book club that’s local to you, try searching for hashtags like #[insert your city here]bookclub on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. For example: #RaleighBookClub.
If you can’t find a local book club through social media, try asking around at your local library or book store. If neither of these places have any book club options for you, you can always create your own!
Meeting people over common interests, like books, is one of the best ways to make new friends.
2. SkillPop Classes
If you haven’t heard of SkillPop, you’re in for a treat. SkillPop is a website where you can find live, expert-led classes and workshops on just about any topic you can imagine.
A few examples of classes they host are: How to Start a Business, Basic Watercolor Techniques, How to Buy a House, and Intro to Beekeeping. They really have it all!
These classes are held online so you can attend them from the comfort of your home.
Connecting with classmates over similar interests and making potential new friends is absolutely possible with SkillPop. Not to mention, it’s super fun, too!
3. Local Sports Leagues
Many cities have local sports teams that you can join to play sports such as kickball, softball, basketball, soccer, or even cornhole!
Find a sport that you like, sign up with a friend (or by yourself!), and you’ll be surrounded by a whole team of potential friends in no time.
Many local leagues also encourage teams to hang out at bars or restaurants after your games so you can get to know each other even better.
Team sports are a good way to make adult friendships.
4. Chat with your neighbors
This one can be a little bit intimidating at first, but if you think you could be friends with your neighbor, try inviting them to hang out.
You could ask them to grab a drink, go to the dog park, or go out to dinner. Simply strike up a conversation with them – small talk goes a long way in making new social relationships!
5. Hang Out with Friends of Friends
It’s tough to meet new people and build friendships from scratch, but if you have a friend who knows a few people that you don’t know just yet, you should see if you can hang out with them, too!
Getting to know people is a lot easier when you have a friend that already knows them : )
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6. Head to the Dog Park
If you have a dog, a dog park is a great place to meet new people. Over time, you’ll start seeing the same people and dogs over and over, and naturally you’ll start striking up conversation with other dog owners.
Even if all you talk about at first is how weird or funny your dogs are, that’s a great way to start talking to new people and making real friendships.
7. Meet Up with Someone From Social Media
What about your online social life? Is there someone online that you’ve developed a relationship with over time, but you’ve never actually met in person?
If they live near you, you should try asking them to hang out! Of course you’ll want to be safe – so use your best judgment here – but social media friendships can become so much more if you can get to know each other outside of the app.
8. Bumble BFF
Have you ever tried using an app to meet potential friends? With Bumble BFF, you can create a profile, upload a few pictures of yourself, and ultimately match with people that you think you could become friends with.
Once you match with someone, you can make a plan to meet each other!
If you’re not sure about meeting up with someone from an app, try inviting someone you know to come along with you.
Having an extra person there that you know will likely make you more comfortable, lessen any social anxiety, and help keep the convo going.
I know so many people who have made best friends using Bumble BFF – it’s definitely worth a shot!
9. Join a “Meetup” Group
Another great way to expand your social connections is by using the website Meetup.com.
If you have a hobby, interest, or you’re making a big life change like moving to a new city, you can likely find a group of like-minded people to hang out with via Meetup.
Examples of groups that you can join on Meetup.com include Real Estate Investing, Public Speaking, Sci-Fi/Fantasty Meetup groups, and so much more!
Meetup.com also lists a ton of events around all the same topics that you can attend as well.
If you don’t see a group that interests you, you can also create your own group to bring people together!
10. Hang Out with a Coworker
Work friends can be friends in real life, too! Is there someone at work that you get along really well with? If yes, invite them to do something on the weekend, or after work one day.
After all, you already have a lot in common given the fact that you both work for the same company. There’s got to be a lot that you two can talk about!
Plus, it’s always nice to have friends in the workplace. Many of us spend most of our time with our coworkers, so if we can be friends with them, it’ll make the job that much easier.
If you’d rather hang out with them in a group, see if a few of your coworkers want to go out for happy hour! This way you can chat with a group of people instead of 1 on 1.
11. Attend a Party or Family Event
Have you been invited to a get-together recently? Maybe a celebration, or a wedding?
Sometimes it can be a little daunting to show up to an event where you know that you’re going to have to be social, but this can be a great way to meet a lot of new people, too.
12. Volunteer in Your Community
People at a volunteering event are likely very similar to you, as you’re both donating your time to help the greater good.
This can be a wonderful opportunity to support your community while also meeting a potential friend.
13. Start a Hobby
Is there a sport you’ve been wanting to try? How about an art project?
Whatever you’ve been thinking about trying, you can bet there is a community of people out there, somewhere, who are super excited about the same thing as you.
Whether you find this community in close proximity to you or on the internet in places like YouTube or Facebook, there will always be a community of people who are passionate and excited about the same hobbies as you.
Reach out to them and you may be pleasantly surprised at the friendship(s) you are able to build.
14. Work at a Co-Working Space
If you often find yourself working in a very isolated manner, it’s going to be pretty hard to meet people! Instead, why not try working at a co-working space?
Co-working spaces are usually big, open rooms with desks or tables that many people can work in simultaneously.
This means that a lot of people with varying backgrounds and career paths come together in one spot to get work done. Co-working spaces can be a great place to meet people, especially as you see the same people come in and out over time.
You just never know where you could meet your new best friend!
15. Grab a Drink at Your Local Bar or Brewery
Is there a local bar or brewery that you love to go to? Do they offer game nights or trivia nights?
If yes, you should head to your local bar or brewery in your free time for an opportunity to meet new people.
16. Grab Some Coffee at a Local Coffee Shop
Is there a coffee shop you love to go to? If yes, the next time you go, try striking up a conversation with the barista, or the people that hang out there.
Oftentimes in local establishments, the customers are chatting it up with the staff or other customers.
This is one of the easiest ways to make a new acquaintance. Speak up and say hello the next time you’re in a situation like this!
17. Visit a Museum
No plans on a weekend afternoon? Head on over to your local art or history museum.
There will likely be many people there also visiting. This can be a great way to meet people who are also interested in whatever your local museum has to offer.
18. Attend a Craft Fair / Farmer’s Market
Not only is buying products from a local craft fair or farmer’s market a great way to support small business, but it can also be a great way to meet people in your community.
The sellers and other customer’s are often very personable and chatty, making fairs and farmer’s markets a great place to meet someone new.
19. Use EventBrite
Have you checked out EventBrite lately? EventBrite is a website that lists TONS of events either online or in-person. If you’re looking for a free or paid event, concert, class, whatever – then EventBrite is your source!
Attending an EventBrite event that you are interested in is a sure-fire way to have some fun while also being surrounded by others that are interested in the same type of fun as you.
20. At a Tailgate
Do you have a favorite sports team? If yes, you should try attending a tailgate on game day.
Tailgates bring so many people together who enjoy cheering for the same team, so you automatically have something in common with a ton of other people there.
It’ll be easy to strike up a convo about a shared love for your team!
21. Attend a Workout Class
Do you belong to a group fitness program like Orangetheory? Or, do you belong to a gym that offers free workout classes? If so, showing up to these workout classes can be a great way to make friends!
Oftentimes in workout classes, people like to stick to a consistent schedule. This means that if you, too, can stick to a schedule, you will likely see the same faces time and time again.
If you start to notice the same people, try striking up a conversation with them about the class.
After all, you’ve been working out in the same classes for a while now, so you must be able to relate about something!
Another option is to bring a friend with you to a workout class. If you are getting to know someone and they share an interest of fitness with you, try inviting them to a class, and then going out for a meal afterward.
Doing a class together will give you both endorphins, an appetite, and some great talking points for your convo.
22. Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
Perhaps the biggest tip of all is that to make friends, you really do have to get out of your comfort zone.
This is rarely easy, and can be quite the challenge for most people, but at the end of the day, if you aren’t getting out of your comfort zone, you’ll have a hard time making new friends.
If you want to enrich your life with new friendships and experiences, you’ll have to put yourself out there, speak up, and get to know new people.
Who knows, these “new people” could turn out to be lifelong friends. A little discomfort is worth it for friendship!
This post was all about 22 Easy Places to Make Friends As An Adult.
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