Even if you've lost hope, it's never too late to make new friends! Here are 17 tips on how to make friends in your 20s.
Did you know?
According to a recent CDC survey, 63% of young people aged 18-25 suffer from high rates of both loneliness and anxiety and depression.
Being a young adult can be tough when it comes to making new friends, but there's no need to worry.
If you don't have many friends in your life, there are a few tips that can help you make it happen. A life full of friends awaits you!
How to make friends in your 20s?
Throughout your life you've had friends here and there, but you've either had to end toxic friendships or you don't see your friends as often as you'd like to, so you've grown apart and have to accept that the friendship is over.
In your 20s, it feels like everyone is in such a different place in life and it's hard to find friends who understand what you're going through. It seems like making new friends is very unlikely but believe it or not, not all hope is lost!
Making friends isn't just a matter of going out and finding them — it takes an active approach to forming friendships.
Here are 17 tips that will help you make friends in your 20s:
1. Be yourself.
Making friends starts with you! You need to be yourself because you want to attract friends that have the same values as you do; you want friendships that will last a lifetime.
2. Be open-minded.
Be open-minded and accepting of others! Why? People are more likely to be friends with someone who isn't judgmental of their lifestyle and beliefs.
If you come from a conservative background, it might take a little bit of work on your part to get past it, but it'll be worth it.
3. Leave your comfort zone.
Try new things! Get involved in different activities at school or go exploring in your town, you'll see that there's a whole world out there that you may have been missing.
4. Put yourself out there.
If you're shy around people we totally get it! But, if you want to make friends, you need to make an effort and put yourself out there.
5. Introduce yourself.
Introducing yourself makes your presence known to others and establishes a connection with the other party which is what's needed when making new friends.
6. Make an effort to talk to people you meet.
You'll be surprised how easy it is to start a conversation with someone when you're brave enough to do so.
If you see a pretty blonde at the supermarket, don't be afraid to walk up and compliment her on her hair.
If you're at a bookstore, asking someone what they think of the book they're reading (and if they like it) can be a great way to start a conversation.
You will find that people are often complimented by strangers and if you want to make friends in your 20s, this is one of the best ways to go about it.
7. Go to places where people your age hang out.
This includes bars, cafes, parks and public transport, by going to a place that you know young people visit, you could easily meet some like-minded people whom you can befriend.
8. Move to a new city.
If you've always found it hard to make friends, moving to a new city and starting over might not sound like a good idea, but as it turns out, it is!
If you've never felt like you've fitted in, especially back home, moving to a new city means opening yourself up to meeting new people, which means you might finally find the friends you've always been looking for; but it can be challenging, especially if you're an introvert which is why these 10 tips on how to meet people when traveling solo will be helpful.
The more places you live in, the more people you will meet, and the easier it becomes to make friends with all sorts of different individuals.
9. Invite people over to your house.
Consider hosting an event at your place, you could invite your old high school friends, your current classmates and co-workers to get to know them more and forge stronger friendships.
10. Join a club or sports team.
Clubs and sports teams are a great way to meet people who have similar interests as you.
11. Make sure all of your social media profiles are up-to-date with recent pictures.
This isn't exactly about making friends directly, but it's definitely an important part of the process.
Having a social media page that portrays who you are, will attract like-minded people who will want to become friends and eventually hang out with you.
12. Get on the same social media platform as your potential new friend(s).
If you make friends via social media, it helps if you're on the same platform as potential new friends.
Having mutual friends can help, too! If you make an effort to send someone a friend request or message them something will definitely come out of it.
13. Get a job.
Getting a job is one of the easiest ways to make new friends because you're required to interact with others
14. Get a hobby.
If your social skills are rusting then getting a hobby, that you enjoy doing in your free time, is a great way to practice your skills all while making new friends.
15. Talk about your interests with others.
Don't be afraid to chat about what you love! If you're really passionate about something just bring it up in conversation.
You never know, the other person might feel the same way, and you could end up becoming friends because of common interests.
16. Make new friends the old-fashioned way.
Yes, that's right, through mutual acquaintances, ask the people you know if they can introduce you to new people.
This is probably one of the oldest tricks in the book and perhaps the one that works best.
17. Sometimes you just need to stop trying so hard.
Friendships just happen sometimes, at the end of the day, life is unpredictable! You never know when it's going to be the right time to make friends with someone.
Just keep your head up, put yourself out there, and be good to other people, the rest will follow.
Your 20s are the time of your life, it's all about freedom, friendships and fun! Of course meeting girls/guys can be hard, but it will get easier over time. After all everyone was new to socializing once!
Did we miss any tips? What advice do you have for people trying to make friends? Let us know in the comments!