There are many things about being an adult that suck. And, one of those things is making new friends.
We often don’t realize how easy it is to make friends as you grow up. You spend your school days surrounded by people your age who are also in the market for friends. Then, you leave your hometown, and head off to college where you’re surrounded by more people who are actively looking for friends. You make new lifelong friends, but then graduation happens and everyone scatters to random places like Ohio and Minnesota for jobs.
And, all of a sudden, you also find yourself moving to a new place. (Or, maybe you didn’t move, but your friends did, and now you need to find a new group of people to grab drinks with after work on Friday nights.)
While it can seem like a scary task, you shouldn’t hold yourself back from moving to a new city because you don’t know anyone or meeting new people in your current city. If you happen to be new to this whole “adult” thing, have no fear. I’ve got you covered.
Here are seven tips for making new friends as an adult – in your new or current city.
1. Join a rec team.
If sports are your thing, you can’t go wrong with joining a local rec team, like a softball league, or perhaps ultimate Frisbee. Joining a team is a great way to get paired up with people who have similar interests. Chances are the team will get together for some beers after the game, which provides the perfect opportunity to get to know your teammates!
2. Volunteer
Not only will volunteering win you some epic karma points, it’s also an easy way to get involved in your community and meet new people. Pick a project or organization you’re passionate about and ask if they need help.
3. Take a class.
You’re never too old to learn. If there are any community colleges in your new city, take some time to browse through the course list. Or, check out local community centers and take a fun class, like pottery. You never know who you could meet and it’s a good way to learn something new. (Check out these other resources to help you continue your education!)
4. Join a gym.
Another two-for-one option: Not only is going to the gym a healthy choice, but it also provides opportunities to meet other people who care about fitness. Bonus points if you can find a gym that offers group classes like yoga or spin!
5. Reach out to alumni.
If you went to college, reaching out to alumni is an option for meeting new people you could have things in common with. Log on to LinkedIn and search for alumni groups in your area. Better yet, reach out to your alma mater and see if there’s a local alumni group close to you.
6. Download an app.
Need new friends? There’s an app for that. No, really, there is. If you’re open to trying new things, check out the app Meetup. You can browse through local events that interest you, sign up, and then meet others who like to do the same things you do.
7. Join an organization or club.
Of course I saved the best advice for last – join an organization! Joining a professional organization is a fantastic way to meet people your age who are interested in the same things. For example, Ad 2 Madison is a group of young marketing and advertising professionals in the Madison area who get together once a month to do fun things like drink beer at a Mallard’s game, or learn about cool things, like content marketing. (Want to check us out? Learn more about our next event on – you guessed it, content marketing – here!)
It may seem hard at first, but making new friends as an adult can be easy; you just have to put yourself out there. Do you have any suggestions to add to the list? Let us know in the comments!
