Did you know that we often recycle and make new friends at different stages in life. It starts in childhood and adolescence when we gain lots of pals due to time spent in school and extracurricular activities. Then in young adulthood, from ages 18-30, we experience our peek time for forming friendships. This has to do with college, early professional positions, and social interactions.
When we’re in adulthood, ages 30-50, gaining new friends slows down significantly. This is generally because our responsibilities limit our time, and we have less energy to expend on seeking new friendships. When we hit age 50, social circles and friendships become much less frequent for many people. This has a lot to do with retirement and relocation. Many in this age group do make new friends through travel and group activities, though.
No matter what age group we’re in, making new friends adds to our life, but might feel a bit intimidating. Here are some things that you can do that help:
- Join Structured Activities. When people meet together on a regular schedule, they get to know each other better and have more opportunities to bond.
- Be a Regular. Attend the same places and activities on a consistent basis and you will get to know others who do the same and enjoy similar activities.
- Spew Out Some Small Talk. The more that you initiate conversations, the more that you will meet new people, and find those that can potentially become friends.
- Say Yes to Invitations. Even if it doesn’t sound like something that you are particularly interested in, the more that you push yourself into different events and situations, the more likely you are to develop new friendships.
- Join in on Volunteer Activities. Lots of people volunteer to meet others and you can also help support a great cause at the same time.
- Lean Into Your Connections. Sometimes friendships die off because we aren’t putting in the effort. Keep reaching out to friends and continue to grow existing connections. You’ll meet others in their circles as well.
- Become More Curious. When you show genuine curiosity in interest, people are more drawn to you, and you’ll pull new friends in.
- Start a Club or Group. When you demonstrate leadership, others will look up to you. This is also a wonderful way to get to know others who are passionate about the same things you are.
Continuing to make new friends, even as an adult, has many positive benefits for you. For starters, it’s great in terms of your mental health and emotional support. It also aids in your physical fitness and longevity. New friends can also foster your personal growth and guide you through life transitions. Forming new connections leads to a greater sense of belonging and can lead to new opportunities as well. The bottom line is that forming new friendships is important in so many ways. These friends keep you happier, healthier and more resilient. So, go out there and make a new friend today!