Making friends when you get older can be a challenge. While some people have the same friendship group from school, many friendships drift apart as you grow, change, and acquire responsibilities and commitments. This can also be the case if you or your previous friends get partners and have children. This is a common way that friendships grow apart.
It might also be the case that you don’t feel like you fit in, your ex is your only friend, or you just feel like you need new friends because your current friendship group just isn’t working for you. Whatever the reason you are seeking friendship as you get older, it can be difficult to do. To help you on your journey, here are some top tips for making friends as you get older.
Consider your mental blocks
More often than not, people will have a variety of mental blocks that are holding them back from making friends. It can be very important to address these early on so that you can overcome them and remove the barriers to making friends. It will make life a lot easier. Consider why you don’t have friends at the moment. Did you fall out with your friends? Are you scared to get close to people? Do you struggle to find people who are like you? Have attempted to make friends in the past and failed? It can be important to consider what is going on with you and what struggles you are facing, so you can learn how to overcome them and move forward.
Build your confidence
Whether you realize it or not, confidence can play a huge role in making friends as an adult. You might have no confidence at all, or you might think you are a very confident person in other areas. Regardless, making friends means putting yourself out there and risking rejection. This is not something anyone likes to do. It is vital that you first consider what your mental blocks and issues are, and take steps to overcome them. This will start to help you build your confidence. You can also speak to family members and use a free online chat room to help you get talking to people and build your self-esteem.
Reach out to old friends
An easy way to be more social as an adult is to consider if there is anyone that you miss and would like to reach out to. If you had a best friend in school and you drifted apart, consider whether contacting them to meet up and rekindle your friendship is an option for you.
Join clubs or participate in activities
A great way to make new friends is to join a club or pick up a new hobby. This means that you will be put in a group situation where you have to interact with others. It also means that you are connecting with people who like the same things as you. A group setting like this can help take the pressure off you as you can get to know them over time. Do some research and see if there is something you would like to start.
Making friends is hard. Follow these top tips to help you get started.
