5 Easy Ways To Make Friends As An Adult

During college, and even high school, it’s fairly simple to make new friends compared to when you’re an adult outside of school.

This is for a variety of reasons, but mostly because when you’re in school… You’re meeting new people on a regular basis and you tend to try more new things.

Once you’re out in the real world, it’s easy to get into a routine and sometimes that means that you’re not expanding your list of connections.

But rest assured, there are great ways to make friends as an adult. And I want to share 5 of those ways with you today.

First though, let’s cover some common questions that people ask about adult friendships.

How Many Friends Do Adults Normally Have?

Typically, adults average about three to five close friends at any given time. But of course, there’s nothing wrong with you if you don’t have that many friends.

For instance, some introverts may be happy with one close friend. Whereas an extravert may have many more.

Overall though, research does suggest that it’s healthiest to have at least three close friends whom you can count on.

How Long Does It Take for Adults to Make Friends?

Technically speaking, according to this article by the University of Kansas, a study has found that it could take up to 200 hours to form a close connection with someone.

But every relationship is different, so it’s hard to answer this question definitively. Some people may feel close to a new person right away and vice versa. But some may not.

It also depends on your definition of a “friend”, and how close you need to be with someone to term them that.

How To Make Friends As an Adult

So now that we’ve established that it takes some time to form connections as an adult, let’s talk about how to make friends as an adult.

1. Connect With Co-Workers

Think about a place where you spend a lot of time as an adult. For better or worse, that’s typically at work.

And at work, you’re usually surrounded by coworkers. So why not try and befriend them if you feel that there could be a valuable connection there?

For instance, you could try to strike up more conversations with them if it’s appropriate to do so. Try to see if there are some common interests you could build on.

And once you feel comfortable doing so, you could even invite them to an activity outside of work if the situation allows.

2. Try New Things

The second way you can go about making friends as an adult is by putting yourself in new situations, where you’ll meet new people.

Specifically, it can be a great way to meet people with common interests if you choose the right activity to try out.

If you’re interested in cooking, perhaps you could try out a local cooking class to sharpen your skills and meet others with that hobby.

Or if you enjoy working out, consider a membership at your local gym.

These are just a few examples, but the point is to find something that you genuinely want to try and see if you find some like-minded people to connect with while doing it.

3. Say “Yes” To More Invitations

This tip won’t apply to everyone, or every situation, but for some people, it could be a game changer.

Because many adults are guilty of politely turning down an offer to go to a get-together hosted by their coworkers.

Or saying no when that person you struck up a conversation with at the grocery store wants to connect on Facebook.

I’m sure you get the point! If it’s safe and suitable to do it, try to be receptive to friendly invitations and see where it leads.

That get-together may just result in a new pal at work or more.

4. Consider Trying A Friendship App

Most of us are familiar with the concept of dating apps, but what many people don’t know is that there are friendship apps as well.

All you have to do is search for them online, choose one that you like, and try it out for yourself.

Of course there are no guarantees that you’ll find friends and these apps won’t suit everyone.

But it can be a great way to put yourself out there and since it’s online, at least at first, it can be a great option for people who are a bit on the shy side.

5. Be Patient With Yourself And Others

A positive attitude and mindset is everything! And having that will automatically raise your chances of making friends, because people are attracted to that energy.

So try to keep your head held high, even if you’re not forming friendships as quickly as you’d like.

Remember that it takes time to turn someone from an acquaintance to a friend, and you shouldn’t try to rush the process.

Plus, it can take time to find the perfect people to be friends with! And it’s better to find people you genuinely connect with, than to try to force a friendship with someone. So if you’re patient, then it’ll pay off!

Can You Form Friendships as an Adult?

The short answer is yes. You can absolutely form friendships as an adult.

I hope this article has proven to you that it’s definitely possible to make new friends in your adult life!

There are so many unique ways to go about it, and there are potential friends everywhere.

Above all, remember that making new connections with people doesn’t end in college.

And friendships can be formed at any point in someone’s life.

Over To You

Have you made any new friends lately? Or maybe you’re planning to? In any case, I’d love to hear your thoughts about the topic in the comments at @netwerkmovement.

And if you know of someone who’s struggling to form friendships as an adult, send them this article and share the tips with them!