You’ve probably noticed that the older you get, the more trouble you seem to have in making new friends. Well, you may be relieved to know that there are a few studies proving that it’s more difficult to make friends as we get older. But you don’t have to be one of those people that fall into this trap! You can still find people that have similar interests as you and have fun. Here are a few ways you can make new friends despite what science says about camaraderie in old age:
Use Helpful Apps
Technology has grown to be an extremely helpful tool for those who want to meet new people in this day and age. The largest tools people can use to find new people are social media platforms (like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) and dating-like apps specifically made for making friends (like Bumble for Friends).
But the internet is vaster than social media sites and dating apps; you can find totally free people search sites that allow you to find new friends with similar interests without dropping a dime. On these sites, you can prioritize certain kinds of people who have similar backgrounds and interests as you; and through your people search, you can find yourself or new friends with whom you can spend quality time.
Meet New People through Your Other Friends
Another way you can make new friends is by meeting new people through the friends you’ve already made in your life. Who knows you better than the friends you currently have? And, if successful, you can create a network of friends that all know and like each other. As a friend group, you can go out and do activities that everyone can enjoy.
Spend Quality Time with Like-Minded People
Now that you’ve found your new friends, it’s imperative that you spend quality time with them. One of the biggest reasons we have difficulty making friends as we get older is simply because it takes so much time to make friends. According to an article from TODAY, it takes approximately 40 to 60 hours spent together for two people to become friends. For some, that can be pretty difficult. If you have a busy, time-consuming job, this may be an obstacle for you in terms of making friends. You might not have the time to commit to hanging out with people like you used to. Right now, you have to specifically carve out an hour or two to visit with the friends you already have, so how are you supposed to make new friends?
One of the easiest ways for you to make new friends who share your interests is to attend events, meetings, or groups that relate to that specific interest. You can often find out about upcoming events on social media, the local paper, or even by conducting a quick online search with a few helpful keywords. And you can share this information with new friends you’ve met online who have similar interests to you. So, if you and a new friend enjoy DIY wall decorations, you can go to classes together on DIY projects or have DIY friend dates at one or the other’s home.
Ultimately, having any friends, whether new or old, is important. Loneliness can be an inevitability in life, as people grow up, change, and move apart. However, having friends is linked to a happier, higher quality of life overall. Making new friends with similar interests can be hard, but not impossible. And the result of making and having friends can far outweigh the cons that come with putting yourself out there.
