Expanding Social Horizons: 7 Innovative Methods to Forge New Adult Relationships
In these challenging times, maintaining and nurturing friendships has become more important than ever. One individual has found joy and benefit in scheduling "Friend Hours" during the pandemic, a practice they continue to uphold. This approach, along with other strategies, can help adults make and strengthen friendships in the modern world.
Dr. Franco advises readers to show friends affection by expressing how much they mean, being excited about their good news, offering genuine compliments, and communicating openly about hard things. Putting effort into friendships can help reduce feelings of loneliness over time, and it's important to remember that it's possible to make friends and close friends as an adult.
Ellie Hughes suggests weaving friends into the fabric of daily life to get out of the house, improve mental health, and deepen connections. Saying hello to people in various settings can lead to new connections, and joining a hobby group can help meet new friends and make connections. For instance, the individual embarked on "The Friend Tour" last year, traveling to Europe with friends, and goes on day trips with friends as a simple way to connect and strengthen personal relationships.
Adult friends often have commitments such as jobs, partners, kids, aging parents, time constraints, and more. Considering loose connections, such as people in your friend circle or neighborhood, can help find potential friends. Meeting and making friends on the Internet is possible through blogs or apps like Bubble BFF. Talking to people at events, classes, or workshops can help create new connections.
Being a matchmaker and helping friends meet and make new friends can strengthen existing friendships. Friend dates, such as weekly coffee dates, going out to dinner, taking walks or bike rides, or looking for good reads at the library or bookstore, can help make and strengthen friendships. Shanna encouraged readers to create a "friend hour" during the pandemic, where friends gather via video call to discuss how they are managing and share things for which they are grateful.
The individual shares seven creative ways to make new adult friendships. These include taking the initiative to start conversations, joining clubs or classes aligned with your interests, consistently attending events or venues, hosting small gatherings, engaging in shared activities, using friendship or activity apps, and leveraging both in-person and online opportunities.
Making friends during a global pandemic can be particularly difficult, but these methods prioritize smaller, interest-based, and repeat interactions that work well around modern adult commitments and pandemic precautions. Many adults have adapted by participating in virtual hobby communities that transition into local meetups once comfortable.
Friendship in adulthood requires effort and does not happen organically. Following through on offers to help friends is an act of compassion and affection that shows friends that you care about their overall health and well-being. Attending events, classes, or volunteering can also help make new friend connections. Joining walking groups or "City Girls Who Walk" can help meet new friends and make connections. Joining "The Literary League," an in-person and digital book club, can also help make new connections and strengthen existing friendships.
In conclusion, friendship-building today requires proactive friendliness, consistency, shared interests, and leveraging both in-person and online opportunities to overcome time constraints and pandemic-related barriers. Reading books such as "Platonic," "Big Friendship," and "Friendship" can provide valuable resources on making and keeping friendships as adults. With a little effort and initiative, adults can make meaningful connections and strengthen existing friendships in the modern world.
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- Dr. Franco suggests showing friends affection by expressing their importance, celebrating their good news, offering sincere compliments, and communicating openly about tough topics.
- Ellie Hughes recommends integrating friends into daily routines to boost mental health, break the monotony, and deepen connections. Joining a hobby group or taking a "Friend Tour" can facilitate meeting new friends.
- Being a matchmaker and helping friends find new companions can strengthen existing relationships. Friend dates, such as virtual coffee sessions or book club discussions, can help form and strengthen friendships.
- Making friendships during a pandemic can be difficult, but engaging in virtual hobby communities can lead to local meetups and provide support. Consistency, shared interests, and leveraging both online and offline opportunities are key to adult friendship-building. Reading books like "Platonic," "Big Friendship," and "Friendship" can offer valuable insights on forming and maintaining friendships as adults.
