Adult friendships are some of the best things in life. People come in and out of our lives as we go through different seasons, and sometimes, it can be intimidating and challenging to go through the effort of cultivating new friendships. Whether you’re in a new city, starting a new chapter in life, or just wanting to expand your current social circle, this blog post is for you! We’ll explore the mindset that will help you be open to new experiences as well as some ideas and strategies to start meeting new people. Building strong, supporting relationships can enrich your life in countless ways.

A little bit of my story- I moved from Texas to Tennessee when I was 18 for college, and since then I’ve moved to multiple different cities in my adult life. As a freshman, I was the person who would go up to random people and say, “I’m Brigid, what’s your name?” to start conversations. It is definitely not easy to have the social energy to interact with people but I’m so thankful for all the experiences I otherwise would have never had. I lived in Nashville as a college student and young professional for nine years. I met my husband in Nashville and after a few years of dating and getting engaged, we moved to Madison, Wisconsin where we knew no one! We lived there for a couple months before Covid hit and then everything changed. Despite the circumstances, I connected with amazing people during that period of my life. Last year, we moved from Madison to Raleigh, NC and earlier this year we moved to Tampa. I am writing this post as I’m starting a new chapter in Florida. Keep reading for my advice for you as well as myself in this new adventure.

Having an open mindset is the first step to embarking on this journey! There are few ways you can start to make this shift for yourself, for starters: let go of expectations. You may meet people that are really cool (and some that are really weird!) but let yourself be okay with all of it. Be curious in your interactions and ask questions that show genuine interest in other people. You may find common ground or learn something new. As you interact with more people, embrace diversity. Talk to people from all walks of life that open you up to different cultures, backgrounds and perspectives. Finally, my last mindset advice is to practice patience. Making new friends takes time so stay encouraged even if things don’t happen right away. With your open mindset and willingness to step outside your comfort zone, you are in a great place to start making new friends!

Now that we have talked about the mindset you will want, here is a list of ideas for how to meet new people.

• Join clubs aligned with your interests, like book clubs or hiking clubs
• Take classes or workshops like cooking or writing
• Attend networking events or social gatherings in your industry or profession
• Use social media – Find Facebook or Meetup groups
• Join a gym or fitness class
• Attend local farmers markets or food events
• Sign up for a recreational sports league
• Attend music events like festivals and concerts
• Follow local social media accounts to find out about upcoming events
• Attend arts shows or galleries
• Play outside and explore parks, trails, and natural areas
• Start conversations with someone new in places like a coffee shop or restaurant bar
• Leverage your current network, if you are in a new city, ask your friends and family for connections in your area. Friends of friends can help you connect with people more quickly because you already have something in common
• Volunteer for a cause you love or charity events

After you have met new people, be intentional about fostering the budding friendship. Be vulnerable, and be the first to initiate hanging out. If someone invites you to do something, say ‘yes’ even if it is something that you wouldn’t normally do. Make time for your friends in your schedule by planning things to do together and having availability when they plan things. When you do spend time with new people, be a good listener. In your interactions, be honest and open. Be your genuine self rather than trying to be what you think other people are expecting of you. Lastly, be reliable and show up when you commit to plans.

Once you start meeting people, you will need to put in the work to help the friendship grow. I love connecting over food and drinks: Brunch, happy hour, coffee, and cool rooftops are my go-to types of places. You could plan these as one-on-one or group interactions. My favorite thing to do is get an anchor friend to join me in doing something fun and invite other people as well. Worst case scenario is you and your anchor friend hang out- which is totally fine! You can make a reservation for 4-6 people at a restaurant you want to try and invite people until you fill it up. This is also a fun way for you to connect people that might otherwise not have met each other.

I like to use the Notes app on my phone when I meet people to jot down things I want to remember. This could include things like their pet’s name, where we met, recommendations they gave me, or something that they told me about themselves. When I exchange phone numbers with someone, I’ll add an emoji to their contact in context to how we met. In Wisconsin, everyone I met got a cheese emoji in their name, that way anytime I wanted to do something in Wisconsin, I could search for the cheese emoji in my contacts for potential people to ask.

Remember, meeting new people takes effort and you have to put yourself out there, but it can be a rewarding experience that leads to new friendships, connections, experiences, and memories. Good luck friends!