5 Ways to Make Friends as an Adult

There are plenty of things to be envious of about kids, from their endless supply of energy, their fast metabolisms, and their ability to bounce back from challenges. But perhaps the greatest thing to envy—and emulate—is their ability to make friends.

How many times have you watched your kid walk on a playground, spot a kid they’re interested in, link their hands with theirs, and then BOOM! An instant friendship forms? It doesn’t matter that their new bond will likely last all of 30 minutes—when it comes to friendship, kids are open to it, letting their emotions be the guide, and lean into enjoying every moment they have.

Something happens when we become adults that makes forming friendships complicated. We tend to overthink, leading us to awkward exchanges or giving up on making new connections altogether. If this feels true for you, you are not alone—there are perhaps thousands of parents who desperately want to form new friendships but find it impossibly hard to do. If that’s your story, here are our tips on how to make friends as an adult:

Go where the like-minded people are. The best place to find someone who shares a common interest is to go to the places you typically frequent. Are you a book lover? Attend an event your favorite bookstore is hosting. A fan of pottery? There’s a pottery wheel just waiting for you to sit down and strike up a conversation with the person right next to you. 

Accept serendipitous invitations. You might default to decline invitations, but imagine the possibilities if you said yes instead. Maybe you’re not into football, but you go to a Super Bowl party anyway and end up having a surprisingly delightful time. Maybe you don’t know a thing about salsa dancing, but you go to that community class anyway—it might end up being a wash, or it might turn out wonderful. And who knows? You might end up doing your new favorite thing with your new favorite people. 

Be an inviter. Sometimes, you have to create the experiences you want, even in friendship. Don’t wait for a gathering to happen—you gather the people. Create a book club and invite others to join, or invite others to do something you’ve always wanted to do. Chances are, people are hoping for an invitation.

Be open to being vulnerable. You may have a smaller quantity of interactions with friends than you did during your earlier days, but there’s an opportunity to make sure those interactions are quality ones. Opt out of small talk, and instead answer questions honestly. Be curious about the person you’re talking to and keep your eyes open for commonalities. 

Don’t forget to follow up. So many times we mean to reach back out to someone after a great time, but don’t, whether from forgetfulness or overthinking. Don’t let that be you. Make sure to follow up, expressing gratitude for the time you spent together and scheduling another time to spend time together again. 

Making friends can be difficult, but there’s often something—or someone—incredible waiting on the other side of your comfort zone. Here’s hoping new friendships are on the horizon for you in 2025 and beyond.