How to actually make friends as an adult!
I remember when I first graduated college, I thought to myself, “OMG, how do people make friends as an adult?!” 😱
I literally asked all my friends who were moving away from Dallas, TX for their careers (to New York and California), and I asked them all — “Are you worried at all about making friends in a new city?”
They all said, “Nope!” (Which really shocked me 😂 but maybe it’s just introvert problems?)
Thankfully, through meetups around Dallas, I did end up finding new friends post-school without too much problems. I think the scariest part is just putting yourself out there, especially going to events alone. 😭 (I remember being so nervous to go to events solo! But in the end, I’m always grateful that I did! I always have better luck making friends when I go by myself!!)
My passion for connecting with people and connecting people to each other (despite being shy 🙈) is why I started Don’t Be Strangers!
As I write, I just arrived to Porto, Portugal 🇵🇹 after a long and stressful travel day from Berlin, Germany. 🇩🇪 Because I live a semi-nomadic lifestyle, I’ve gotten really good at figuring out when and where to make friends as soon as I settle into a new city/country!
- A few weeks before (or even one week before), search Eventbrite & Meetup for events aligned with your interests! (For me, I look specifically for creative ones such as writing clubs 📝 , reading groups 📖, or art gatherings! 🎨 Shut Up & Write is the writing group I used in Berlin to meet a new friend, but they are international!! 🌎)
- Go to these events alone! Your chances for connecting is so much better when people can easily approach you because you’re not busy chatting (and hiding behind??) the friend you arrived with.
- Ask for people’s contact! If you meet someone cool at an event, don’t be afraid to ask “You seem really cool! Could we maybe keep in touch and grab coffee sometime?” (Of course you can get rejected, but you never know unless you try!)
- Follow up!! Actually go get that coffee! Make that plan as soon as possible so that you keep the momentum from the event going! If the first coffee date goes well, you can choose to keep following up to develop a deeper friendship!
About a year ago, I got an inkling to mix my passion for community with my love of travel. 🤭 That’s right! I want to try my hand at my first retreat! So if you’re a Healing Girl (or know of one!), consider coming to our Soul Refresh Retreat 💦!
We are escaping for a weekend to a lakehouse in Texas. 🤠
😇 we will ground into our bodies with gentle yoga and meditation (guided by angelic singing bowls),
💬 nourish our souls with deep guided conversations,
📝 attend journaling workshops
🎨 have an arts & crafts play date
🌅 rejuvenate our minds with a relaxing hot tub soak and sunset walk by the lake!
Interested…? Learn More!
@dontbestrangers is a podcast + community of wholesome conversations that focuses on fighting adult loneliness 👊🏼 by changing the narrative that “making friends as an adult is hard.”
