Easy Ways to Make Friends as an Adult

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SMILE, it’s FRIDAY!

Raise your hand if you agree adulating is hard! Raise your hand if you think making friends {in a new city} as an adult is hard! I currently have both of my hands in the air. Adult friendships do not come as easy as high school/college friendships did back in the good ole days. You don’t instantly become BFFs with the girl sitting at the table next to you at Chick Fila or Starbucks.

Suddenly, making friends isn’t so easy anymore. As the group of friends you forged as an adult shrinks and spreads out across the country for jobs, romances, and life in general, it’s easy to feel the creeping burden of loneliness set in. We’ve all been there to experience this at least once.

So if you’re in a new city, work from home, or you’re a hardcore introvert, making friends — amazing, loyal, wonderful friends doesn’t have to be difficult or awkward or painful as an adult. Keep reading for a couple of not so weird tips on how to make friends as an adult!

Accept all the invites

We know how good canceling plans can feel, but listen if a coworker, acquaintance, or whoever else invites you to that barbecue or cocktail party, just say yes and go. I know showing up to events alone might feel mortifying, but I promise it seems scarier than it actually is. I also promise it won’t kill you, I often tell myself this! If someone asks you to coffee or brunch, go! Nurture those “acquaintance ships” into real friendships, say yes and go!

Ask for introductions

If you’re moving to a new place, ask people you know to put you in touch with people they know in the city. You’ll be surprised how eager your friends will be to put you in touch with their friends, who can potentially show you around or meet you for a drink in your new city. Remember, if you never ask the answer is always no.

Try new things

Group classes, clubs, and meetups are great places to meet new friends! From spin class to yoga, there are opportunities galore to introduce yourself to people with similar interests. If cold introductions make you break a sweat, try signing up for something where interaction is more of a given: cooking classes, running groups, or anything involving games are good places to start. Think outside the box here!

Make the first move

Sure, asking someone you like but only sort-of-know to make plans might be scary, but the worst thing that will happen is they’ll say no. If there’s a person you had a laugh with during a workout or at a party, ask if they’d like to get together sometime. You don’t have to make it formal or weird; coffee and brunch are basic, sure, but they’re also fun and most people like them. And here’s a tip: If it feels too formal to ask them to meet you at a later time, see what they’re up to right after the class or meetup — or before the next one. They’re going to be there anyway, right?

Be social on social media

We all have those people we follow on Instagram and would like to be friends with. Well, hey, why not be? If you’ve been following each other on social media and you live in the same area, send a quick message to ask if they want to meet up. Even if you don’t live in the same city, there’s nothing wrong with a few more online friends to chat with online. Who knows, perhaps one day you will live in the same city!

As fun as moving to a new city to experience new places, new life and new things are… we all miss our friends. As the hubs puts it, finding great friends in a new place is like dating but with your significant other! We haven’t been “dating” many new friends here in Austin, but love trying new things and places to find new friends.

TGIF! I hope everyone has a great and safe weekend!

Photography: Dakota & Co.