5 Ways to Make a New Friend
Move over dating, the scariest part of adulthood isn’t finding love, it’s making new friends! Meeting new people is tough, but there are plenty of things you can do to put yourself out there. Read on for five easy things you can do to make a new friend today…
1. Sign up for Skip the Small Talk!
Duh! If you’re here, you probably already know that Skip the Small Talk is the coolest way to meet new people and make connections that last. Skip the Small Talk is science-backed, trauma-informed, and led by experienced facilitators. Sign up for an event in your city or join us for Skip the Small Talk Online!
2. ...ok, you can have a little small talk…
It’s not always bad! Say that person sitting next to you at a coffee shop has really cool laptop stickers, or the person next to you at a bookstore is holding a book you really wanted to read. Say hello! Pay a compliment! It might not go anywhere, but at the very least you (1) made an effort, (2) were polite, and (3) might have brightened someone’s day.
3. Ask for the digits
If you’ve successfully completed “a little small talk” and find yourself chit chatting along past the point of “lovely weather we’re having,” you might ask that person if they want to get a coffee sometime and talk more. Or even just say that you visit this [bookstore/cafe/place where you both are] a lot and they should say hi if they see you again. It’s a little like asking someone out: If you’re nice and you roll with it, you never know who you might meet.
4. Make friends with your friends’ friends
This one’s a no-brainer! You’ve already got something in common, by which I mean you already share friends! Chances are if you’re good enough friends with a person, you’ll get along with at least some of their other friends and vice versa. Let’s say you really hit it off with someone at your best friend’s birthday party. Next time you’re making plans, ask your friend to bring that person along. Bam! New friend!
5. Become a Regular
If you spend enough time in one place, you’re going to get to know the people who spend time there, too. It’s fun to try new places, but there are perks to putting down some roots, too. Instead of floating between different third spaces — i.e. any spaces you visit besides home and work — try going to the same coffee shop, bar, once a week or two. Hang out for a bit. You might start to see some familiar faces, or become a familiar face to someone else. Before long you’ll be chit-chatting up a storm with your fellow regulars, and welcoming new ones into the fold.