1. Join a trivia team
If you're looking for an easy way to make new friends try joining a trivia team at your favorite bar. This is a great idea because the groups are made up of people who are laughing and having fun. Furthermore, trivia teams are often scheduled in advance and on a specific day of the week. This will help you plan better when social gatherings are held on a consistent day. Just be sure that you can commit. When you join a team of any kind, they depend on you, so be sure to take this on only if you can truly commit.
3. Join local groups on social media
65% of American adults use social media, with older adults nearly tripling their numbers on social media in the last decade. Therefore, with so many people turning to social media it has become easier to make friends with just the click of a button. One of the easiest ways to do so is by joining local Facebook groups. This will give you the opportunity to not only get to know people in your immediate area, but it will give you a good idea of what kind of fun stuff is happening nearby.
If your preference is cycling, cardio, hip-hop dance or yoga, a fitness class is a great place to meet new people. All you need to do is strike up a conversation with a fellow participant. Bonus! You already know you share at least one interest with them.
5. Make friends with people who you see in non-social contexts
Contrary to what you may think, you can befriend your barber or hang out with your kid's teachers. In fact, there is no good reason that you can't ask people you know from their workplaces to meet up socially too. Think about how much your manicurist or personal trainer probably already knows about you, you've got a great place to start from.
The friends you currently do have are a great resource when it comes to making new ones. If you are looking for some new people to hang out with, don't be shy. Ask your friends to set you up on friend dates with people you have met through them.
7. Show up at local events
Your local community is a great resource for making new friends. All that is required is that you show up to enough regional fairs, concerts and other local gatherings. With that, you are bound to see some of the same faces, making it easy to connect.
Going to a bar need not be a joint mission. If you want to meet new people try heading to your local bar solo. You may have to endure some awkward pick-up lines or offers, but you'll likely meet some other solo fliers. At the very worst you'll get a free drink or two out of it.
9. Attend your local city council meetings
Getting politically active on a local level is an easy way to meet people who share the same values that you do. Attending local city council meetings will help you get in touch with a community of people who care about the same issues.
