Love really does make the world go round, although this isn't restricted to romantic love. Here at Closer we'd argue that platonic love is as important, if not more important, than romantic love. Whilst break-ups are a fact of life, your friends will always stick by your side and love you unconditionally. They ground you, and even when life's not going great they help you to keep going.
The beauty of friends, unlike romantic partners, is that you can have as many as you want at once and they won't get jealous (most of the time). Making friends is an important and necessary part of life but sadly it's easier said than done.
If you see someone you fancy in a bar you can approach them and ask them out on a date but doing that to a potential friend? Not sure how that would go down.
Regardless, if you've moved to a new place or you just want to broaden your social sphere and meet a greater diversity of different people, then you're going to want to meet new people.
So, if you want to make new friends but don't quite know how to, we've got you sorted with this list of the best ways to meet new people.
Check out: the best ways to make new friends
The best ways to make new friends
1 of 12Download Bumble
Now Bumble's a little different from other dating apps as it also has the option to find friends. It can either be set to dating mode or BFF mode, carrying over the same premise but applying it purely to making friends. It's a great option for anyone who is struggling to make new friends, as those you meet on the app will also be looking to make pals.
2 of 12Join a club for one of your existing hobbies...
One of the main ways people make friends is through finding people who share similar interests to them. Consequently a great way to make new friends is by joining a club or society for one of your existing hobbies. The groundwork is already there, so why not build on a skill of a hobby you already enjoy, whilst making new friends along the way? It really is a win win if you ask us.
3 of 12... or take up a new hobby
Taking up a new hobby can be a great way to make new friends, whilst also learning something new. One option could be rock climbing as this requires another person and the trust required can create strong bonds from the get go.
4 of 12Go friend speed dating
As with Bumble BFF some methods of finding a romantic partner can work just as well with making friends, such as speed dating. Friend speed dating can be a great way to break the ice, as well as getting the chance to meet multiple people at once, all of whom are also looking to make new friends.
5 of 12Look to TikTok
TikTok as a platform exposes us to creators from all walks of life. The platform's scarily effective algorithm ensures you find like minded creators. Some have even used TikTok to organise meet ups for certain groups. One example we've seen are LGBTQ+ creators asking other members of the community in their area to drop them a message so they can organise meet ups for that group.
6 of 12Follow Florence Given on Instagram
Author and illustrator Florence Given creates posts on her Instagram where people can comment where they are from and organise group meet ups with people in their local areas. This can be a great opportunity to make friends with people who live in or around the same area as you.
7 of 12Go to a gig by yourself
Is there an artist you really want to see but can't find anyone to go with? Why not go solo? A gig can be enjoyed just as much by yourself and it can be a great way to meet people who have a similar music taste to you. Once you make friends who like the same music as you it's easy to keep in touch because you can regularly meet for gigs. You'll also never have the problem of not having someone to go to a gig with again. There are even Facebook pages dedicated to finding people to go to gigs with.
8 of 12Enrol in an evening course
If you're finding it hard to meet people why not enrol in an evening class? This is a great way to meet people whilst learning a new skill or earning a qualification. We'd definitely recommend taking a language course because they facilitate socialising - as talking with others is crucial to learning how to speak a new language.
9 of 12Join Facebook groups
Honestly, there are Facebook groups for everything these days. This can be a great way to meet people in a similar position to yourself, with similar interests and it can be a good way to facilitate some of the earlier options on this list.
10 of 12Join a yoga class
Whilst yoga is a largely meditative experience that allows you to learn a lot about yourself, attending classes can be a great opportunity to meet people. It is also the perfect opportunity to find people with a similar energy to yourself. But if yoga isn't for you, why not enrol in another exercise class, such as Zumba.
11 of 12Join a book club
Joining a book club is a great way to meet new people whilst also encouraging yourself to read more. Reading is an incredibly rewarding pastime on an individual level, but as we get older, and life gets busier, it can increasingly be seen as a bit of a chore (especially after leaving school). So why not rediscover the joy of reading whilst also making friends at the same time?
12 of 12Volunteer for a charity
Volunteering for a charity is a great way to make new friends whilst also giving back to the community. This is also a perfect option if you have just moved to a new place, as these schemes are often focused largely around community engagement. So why not make new friends, all while giving back to the community and getting to know your local area? It really is a win, win, win.
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