How to Make Friends in Your 20s
It goes without saying – your twenties are the weirdest times of your life.
Are we supposed to be married with 2.5 kids, a white picket fence, and a corgi named Taco? Or are we supposed to be getting pages marked off in our passports because we’re backpacking through Europe.
More times than not, most of us are sitting in our living room deciding whether or not to buy dinner or buy a rug.
And during all of this, where are our friends? It’s usually our mothers who we call every day wondering where we went wrong or our fur babies that have to deal with our bizarre behaviors towards them.
Needless to say, we need to learn how to make friends in our 20s. But how?!
Luckily, our masters of research have found 4 stellar ways of ensuring friendships in this awkward stage of life. Try them this weekend when you’re out and see how many new besties will be added to your imaginary wedding guest list overnight!
Why Making Friends in Your 20s is Hard
Sometimes making friends just isn’t the easiest thing to do.
You’d rather give a public speech about your past mistakes in front of your family. Okay – maybe making friends isn’t that dramatic, but it can be difficult.
Your 20s are a time of being in the middle of something. Whether it be a career, relationship, or a big move. Everyone’s finances are in the air and you never know who can go out for a few drinks or who is about to buy the whole club shots.
We never know where anyone is at in their journey, and frankly, we usually don’t know where we’re at either! Trying to find that middle ground can be rough, but we all truly want someone there with us through our trials and successes.
How to Make Friends in Your 20s:
1. Befriend Coworkers
Your coworkers are not the same people in the office area as they are at home. Look at you for example – do you always have on your perfume and customer service voice on at home? No!
They’re humans just like you – flaws and all. Give them the benefit of the doubt and ask a couple of them out for drinks after work one day.
With a little liquid courage, they are bound to open up and you can really get to see their personalities.
2. Take A Class or A Group Activity
Where have nearly all of us made our current friends? School! When you take a class that sparks your interest – like cooking, tap dancing, or even a painting class – you will find others with similar interests as you.
Bam! Already one thing in common, so now you’re bound to be besties.
Once you get closer to your new friend, the two (or three!) of you could find new interests like a biking riding club or a group hiking adventure. You both will be creating experiences together while also enjoying the company each of you bring!
3. Go To The Dog Park
By far, more and more young people have a dog rather than children. And sometimes they have both! But when you have a dog, you might have considered going to a dog park soon. There are tons of special dog-only parks where you can meet so many new people.
With young adults taking the fur baby route than actual babies, you’re bound to find a person or two that you can get along with to bring your pup on a playdate with outside of the park!
Then soon it’ll be just you guys enjoying brunch and bottomless mimosas! Then there’s that whole concept if they love dogs, then how could they be a bad person ordeal. To each their own!
4. Attend Networking events
Networking events are a really easy way to meet new people.
The best part is that you can find a networking event in your area for almost anything.
Check on apps like Eventbrite or Instagram to see what’s going on in your area and sign up!
You just might make some amazing friends and connections at one of these events!
5. Do Things Alone
Start doing things that you would do with others, but by yourself.
Go to the movies, sit down at a restaurant for dinner, and take yourself to a sports game. Practice being alone and observing all of the people and activities around you.
Start to get comfortable with being with just you – it’s going to build up your confidence.
This new strength will give you the ability to approach others who seem to be alone or even those that are in a group of people. You’ll be able to start striking up a conversation and join in on the fun with ease.
The confidence you create while doing activities alone will make you feel less pressured to latch onto a friendship and you will naturally start to play it off cool and relaxed when talking to new people!
Making friends in life is hard, let’s not go through our 20s alone. New friendships can be created overnight by bonding over a glass of wine and a shared experience. Have fun, don’t think too hard, and just let the good times roll!
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