How to Make Friends as an Adult with Motivational Tips & Podcasts

Friendships.

It’s something we take for granted until one day, we blink, and suddenly that circle of friends that might’ve felt so accessible to us disintegrates into thin air — at least that’s probably what it feels like.

Whether you’ve just moved to a new area or you’ve found yourself outgrowing old friendships, I’ve pulled together the best tips and top podcast episodes geared towards helping you meet new people that may just result in new friendships.

But before I share the exact podcasts and tips on meeting great friends, let me quickly highlight why you may be on this search for finding new social connections in the first place. Because, if you think you’re the only one in this, know that you’re absolutely not the only one that has felt a little bit clueless in this area.

Letting Go of Old Friends

Now, this is worth mentioning. Letting go of old friendships that no longer serve you will absolutely be a part of the friendship-making process. This will also be crucial to help you be a more reliable and true friend in your new relationships. In order to meet good friends, you’ll need to carve out space and time to actually spend with those new people.

So, if you’ve been trying to maintain conversations with old friends that may be busy with their own lives, or that may not be serving you positively anymore, it may be time to take a step back and redirect some of that effort and time to finding new friends.

Also if you’re moving to a new city or area for whatever reason, it’s time to gradually start to adopt an open mindset to acquaint yourself in your new social setting. And while you and your old close friends may prioritize regular check-ins and calls, creating that mental space to meet new people will be crucial.

Another reason that’s probably not the most fun to face is that sometimes, some friendships can simply be outgrown. And don’t get me wrong, I’m well aware that the process of “simply” outgrowing a long-time friend isn’t as simple as it sounds. BUT, if you are in fact committed to growing as a person and aren’t aligning anymore with an older friend’s values anymore, or you’re feeling like that someone is bringing as much value as they once did, know that outgrowing friendships is imperative when growing into the quality human being you’re aspiring to be.

And if you haven’t heard it from anyone else yet, let me be the first to say that letting go of friends is HARD. Whether you’re actively letting them go for personal reasons, or simply realizing that their current chapter in life no longer prioritizes you and your time, just know that letting go of friends is, and will be, an inevitable part of life.

New Chapter, New Friends

Now that you’ve created space for meaningful relationships, it’s now time to take the first step towards a new chapter in your life — making adult friendships. Daunting? Yes. But will it be worth it? Absolutely.

Did you recently relocate to a new city where you don’t know many people? Congrats! You’ve made the brave decision to go out of your comfort zone and pursue your life goals. Or, have you noticed that your previous friend circle isn’t bringing you the same joy they once did and you’d like to meet new, best friends that more align with your present-day values? Bravo. Just know that even though you’re starting to lean away from those older friends, it’s not to say you aren’t still appreciative of how much they meant to you in the past.

Whatever your reasoning may be, it’s now time to meet new, (and hopefully) lasting friends that’ll nourish the best version of yourself in this new chapter.

But okay, so how DO you even make meaningful friendships in a new town where you know absolutely NO ONE? More specifically, how do you make potential new friends outside of work?

Here are the best ways to make meaningful connections and grow your own social circle of like-minded people that I’ve gathered while on my own search. Plus, I’ve gathered all of my favorite podcast episodes that, not only inspired me to try these tips out, but have also helped me not to feel so alone throughout this new experience.

In addition to all these tips, I’ll be adding my two cents on each one to give you some context on why they may work for you. And while it’s easier to stick to just one of these tips, know that trying a few of them (or all) will TRIPLE your chances at finding better, more aligned friends with you.

Top Ways on How to Make New Friends

Bumbe Bff (just hear me out)
Sliding into people social media DM’s
Brand pop-ups
Group fitness classes
Community Facebook groups

Making Friends with Bumble Bff

While it started as a dating application, the platform has since added its Bumble BFF mode which now allows users to match with friends with common interests. And as someone who’s used it themselves when moving to a different city, I’m happy to report that it does in fact work and is a great way to meet new, potential friends. Just like its “date mode,” you’ll be offered an endless chain of people in your area. Throughout that chain, each person’s profile will typically display images and answers to the application’s prompts which will let you decipher whether or not you have similar interests or not.

Profiles can be quite descriptive, which will make it easier for you to meet people that align with your interests as well as help you meet people your own age.

I’d even go as far as to say that it’s even the easiest way to meet new friends. And if you’re even feeling a bit embarrassed to even try it, just remember that everyone on Bumble BFF is on it for the same reason — to also meet new friends, just like you.

Making Friends by Sliding into Social Media DM’s

Too direct? Maybe. But does it work? Absolutely, and I have the testimonials to prove it.

DM’s, aka, direct messages, are typically used to react or have a conversation with someone through a social media application like Instagtram, BUT, it may be an unlikely tool you haven’t tried yet leveraged to make friends with.

“I DM’d so many random people that I found on TikTok that said they lived in LA, or mutual friends of someone. I just DM’d them and said like, ‘hey let’s be friends, I just moved to LA.’ And some of them didn’t reply, some of them DID reply, and now I’m friends with the people that did reply.”

– Natalie Joy

On the Podcast, ‘Thoughts May Vary’ titled, Natalie Joy’s Thoughts On Romanticizing The Present While Chasing Your Dream, hosts Gabriela Ulloa and Meadlowark Monaghan interviewed friend, Natalie Joy that spoke of how she made the first move to build her social circle she first moved to Los Angeles without knowing many people. As they all chatted through her personal experience, the hosts shared that they’d also met friends through social media. So while it may not feel like the most common trick in the book, the option has absolutely proved successful and will continue to prove successful as social media continues to grow.

And if you’re even working on growing your social network, this is a great way to do just that all while making new connections.

Brand Pop-Ups

Like social media, now more than ever, brands are leveraging the power of community. So on social media, if you follow certain public figures or brands you like, you may have noticed that once in a blue moon they’ll announce “pop-ups,” to encourage their shoppers and/or fans to interact with their products and talent behind the brand. And because those brands attract such similar interests, pop-ups offer great opportunities to meet people and even, potential friends with those similar interests.

Group Fitness Classes

Want to find a workout buddy to work on your fitness goals together? Looking up social groups offered at your local yoga studio or gym offers a great way to meet up with people organically for the potential of meeting new acquaintances. However if you’re not yet feeling bold enough to introduce yourself directly yet, group workout classes can still allow you to gradually form relationships with regular members, like yourself, a part of those workout classes.

In addition to that, you can also try a sports league or an intramural team for a sport you’d like to improve upon. Not only will these options work on your social skills, but you’ll also get to improve your physical health too which will feel like a win-win.

Online Community Groups

While some of us don’t use Facebook as regularly to stay connected with our existing friendships, it still offers a variety of resources, like Facebook groups and communities, to interact with. And just like you, those groups are filled with people that are also trying to find people that align with their interests. From being as specific as you’d like or simply searching up, “social meetups,” in your chosen city will bring up a variety of choices.

Another easy way to meet a new acquaintance is signing up for the free social platforms like Meetup. On it, you can either join an existing community or create your own social group with the main intention of meeting up in person. It’s also a good way to discover local events that may lead to meeting real friends. These meetup groups are also well-known internationally, so if you’re traveling and feel like meeting new people, you can absolutely do so and use it temporarily in a different area.

Getting in the Friendship-Making Mindset

Now I know, that while researching these ideas for meeting people may feel like the easiest part, it’s actually executing these ideas that’ll feel the most daunting. So until you’re ready to pluck up the courage to try them yourself, here are some podcast episodes to get you in the headspace. Also, it helps to know that you’re not the only one on the search for new friends (even though it may feel that way throughout your journey).

And as you gradually try these ideas for yourself, don’t forget to be patient in your search. The beginning stages will never feel like the best part of creating a fresh start, however, that mindset of going at your own pace will be so helpful so you don’t feel so overwhelmed. After all, our friendships make up such a valuable portion of our lives so taking it slow and steady will ensure the best matches in the long run.

With all that said, I hope you give these tips and resources a shot and I wish you the best of luck in your search!