Feature image via Canva
Recently, I saw several questions posted on my social media newsfeeds asking how you make friends when you are in your late 20s and beyond. When I read those questions and their answers, it made me realize something. That something is that, as I am in my late 20s now, it is harder to find friends at my age.
What will become of me when I’ve reached my 50s? Will I have 0 friends? Or if I am lucky, maybe I may have 2 or 3 close trusted friends. Who knows?
Reading through some of the comments, some made sense. Some others, not really. I have put together some tips I think may help some of you. Finding friends as you grow older is hard. But it does not have to be super hard.
1. Join a sports
When I say join a sport, I also mean pick up a sport that you like. Then go from there. You may be able to find a few new friends when you start your new sports.
If you live in a neighbourhood where basketball or football is a thing, then it’s even better. You may find kids who play sports during the late afternoon or early in the morning. You may hit it off from there and make new friends.
2. Take up a new training class
You are bound to meet someone who hits off really well with you when you take up a new training class. If you are lucky, you may meet someone who is from another country and become lifelong friends with them. When they go back home, maintain that friendship and contact.
Though it is easier said than done, it’s totally worth it. Who knows? In the near future when the borders open up, you may visit your friends in their home countries. You will also get to taste a culture that is not yours.
3. Church
I know some people may not agree with the church and its teachings. Some Christians and ex-Christians have left the religion and its community due to their own bad personal experiences. Although I do empathize with what they have experienced, it does not mean it’s the same for everyone. I, too, have my fair share of encountering bad Christian behaviours but that is for another time.
Church often has social groups for various ages. They have social groups for all age groups all the way from toddlers to elderly people. You may not click right away with the social groups but eventually, you may. To this day, I still have church friends with whom I am still in contact since meeting them when I was a toddler. It sounds odd, but it’s possible.
4. Social media networks
Around 15 years to 20 years ago, making friends on social media was looked upon as weird and dangerous. Even today, some people still have that thinking where if you make friends online, you’re a weird person.
I get where these people are coming from. They may think that you are being catfished online (which is also possible). There are many reasons why making friends online may not be seen as the best way to socialize, but this option is still on the table.
From my own past experience, if you have met someone unsavoury online, then you will know what to do as an adult. Report and block them on social media. If they continue to make new accounts to harass you, again, block them and move on.
It’s not to say people you meet online are all disgusting people. There are a handful of online friends who are good people too. Just be careful when you are navigating through each and every online community. There’s bound to be one or two who make really good friends.
5. Gaming
If you have time to play online games (or offline games), then this is also a possible area to make new friends. It’s good because it’s similar to meeting new friends when you take a new class or new hobby. You and these fellow gamers all have similar interests and like the same game. How is it impossible to not hit off with each other immediately?
Sure enough, different people have different personalities. However, it does not mean you’re not able to find even at least 1 person who would love to be your friend. There’s always someone for some people.
6. Colleagues and ex-colleagues
Some people don’t like making friends with colleagues and that is entirely reasonable. I get the idea that people want to separate work life and personal/social life. At times, I do have that clear-cut boundary too.
It’s not entirely impossible to have colleagues as friends. It’s just trickier to navigate but it works. You will just have to know what to say and do around your colleagues’ friends, that’s all.
When you leave a job, it’s good to keep in contact with the better colleagues or the ones you really like. Perhaps one day they may even help you look for a new job too.
7. Dating apps
Dating apps aren’t exactly the first place for people to look for friends. For some people, it does work for them. When they look for people on dating apps, they usually have in mind to look for f*ck buddies, people who don’t mind ONS or even a significant other.
At times they may not want to have physical relationships with these people. Rather, they are looking for friends (perhaps?). Give it a try. Who knows what you may find on there. If your search for friends on dating apps is a fail, at least you get a good laugh out of it.
Bottom Line
There are plenty of places to look for new friends. If you really want some, you’d go out of your own way to look for some. Try not to sound and look desperate though. It may scare people off.
Lydia is a content writer under Headliner by Newswav, a programme where content creators get to tell their unique stories through articles and at the same time monetize their content within the Newswav app.
Register at headliner.newswav.com to become one of our content writers now!
Newswav is solely an aggregation platform and hosts the content. The views expressed and content above including media (pictures, videos, etc) were provided by the author. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact Newswav.
