In my own experience, and in the experiences of many others I have spoken to, it can be difficult to find new friends or even socialize in general. The Covid-19 pandemic forced many of us into isolation and we are still dealing with it in many ways nearly three years later. At the same time, many of us are getting older and our friend, or ourselves, might feel distanced from long-time and childhood friends as we navigate conflicting work schedules and developing families of our own. Many of us may be moving hundreds or even thousands of miles away from our homes and friends or many of our friends might be doing the same. We may no longer be in school where socializing is convenient and encouraged and we may not be spending time wandering around our neighborhoods, meeting new people. Having a support network of friends, and socializing, is an important aspect to our mental health and well-being. So, what are some ways we can fulfill our need to socialize and maybe make some new friends?
The Internet- Although there are many reasons to avoid social media and the internet, one significant benefit is the ability to meet and interact with new people. We often tend to look for friends who share similar interests as we do and luckily, with the internet, we can quickly find others who share those interests. It can be on Google, Reddit, Facebook or many other forms of social media. Interested in sports, games, cats, movies, fishing, art, music or pretty much anything else? There’s a group specifically dedicated to talking about those things online and, more often than not, there’s a local group if you want to meet others in person! There are also now many apps and websites that you can also use to find friends in your area and often with specific parameters, including age, gender, race/ethnicity and even interests.
Work- Depending on where we work, this option may be more or less viable than other options. It is important to maintain appropriate boundaries with our coworkers, but there is also nothing inherently wrong with being friends with people that we are already typically spending a third of our days with.
Neighborhoods- We may not wander our neighborhoods in the same way we did as children, but that also does not mean we can’t make friends or socialize in them. We can introduce ourselves to neighbors or meet others while going for an afternoon stroll. For parents, talking to and engaging with other parents, whether it be through established groups or playdates, can be an excellent way to meet others who already have at least one thing in common!
Local Social/Support Groups, Gyms and other populated establishments- Outside of the internet, many towns or counties may already have established places to meet new people and socialize. Some may be targeted towards specific interests or populations while others may be a more general place to conveniently and safely socialize with new people. Similarly, if we are experiencing a specific issue or problem, there are often many local groups set up to meet others who may currently be experiencing or have experienced something similar. In general, other local areas where others may frequent, including gyms, parks or other hotspots, may be a good way to meet new people.
There are several options that we can use to find new friends and increase our socialization, but as always, be careful and safe when meeting new people! For further support around developing and maintaining friendships that work for you, click here.