Introduction
The older one becomes, the harder it seems to meet new people and form new meaningful connections. Everyone recalls the childhood moments of going to a playground, meeting someone, and instantly becoming best friends. After a certain age, this method of making friends becomes somewhat inappropriate. However, the human need to connect to others remains the same, so many want to understand what they can do to widen their circle of friends and acquaintances. This process requires several steps, which will be discussed further.
How to Meet New People and Make New Friends
Identifying Interests
The first and most crucial step is to identify one’s interests. The issue with finding friends later in life is that people spend most of their time working, when like-minded people are found through hobbies and shared interests (Headlee). Suppose one does not have any interests or hobbies and does not do anything outside of work. In that case, connecting to someone new on a deep level will be virtually impossible.
Thus, it is essential to list the enjoyable activities that are possible to do in the company of other people. Thinking about the desired places and starting to visit them more often also helps. The key is understanding personal identity first, and bonding with others will become easier.
Developing Social Skills
The second crucial step is to work on social skills. Some people do not know how to communicate with others effectively and how to be approachable, which is vital when meeting and building friendly relations. Besides the obvious things, such as smiling, making eye contact, and being open to conversation, this also includes less obvious skills, such as the ability to listen, not just hear, and to understand and manage one’s own emotions.
It is also crucial to know how to have a good conversation. Small talk is essential, but conversations must become deeper to build friendships. The key to having a good discussion is being genuinely interested in the information provided by the interlocutor (Headlee). Being attentive to others and empathetic is a must if one wants to build deep and solid friendships.
Working on Relationships
After defining interests and finally meeting someone like-minded, the next important step is to follow up and maintain the friendship. Many people struggle with friendships, not just because they do not meet anyone new, but rather because they fail to make enough effort to continue developing this connection. This is a skill that many people lack, and being constantly busy with work and family duties does not help.
To maintain friendships, it is essential to have both good time management skills and communication skills. Being interested in others and inviting them to communicate is vital (Headlee). One must find time to meet new friends and generate ideas of what they can do together; checking up regularly on other people is essential, too. In other words, initiating friendship is not enough; keeping it alive is what is more critical and requires more effort.
Conclusion
As an adult, making new friends is not the easiest task. Like many other spheres where one wants to succeed, this one also requires a series of steps and several skills to develop. Suppose these steps, however, are completed. In that case, the result will be more than satisfying, and making at least one new friend, with a connection on a deeper level, will be possible. Adult life will become less lonely and more enjoyable with the presence of like-minded people.
Work Cited
Headlee, Celeste. “10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation.” TED, Web.