It’s always a good time to meet new people and make new friends. Here’s some of our top tips to get you started!

1. Join a group

The idea of meeting and making friends can feel daunting, but once you get started there’ll be no looking back! Why not think about joining a group? Make a list of the things you enjoy or use this opportunity to try out a hobby you’ve been thinking of. You will get to know people whilst you’re doing things. There are lots of activity-based groups and classes you could try. Here are a few ideas to consider:

• Sports clubs (cycling, athletics, football, tennis, yoga, rugby etc.)
• Drama or dance classes
• Book clubs
• Youth clubs (Duke of Edinburgh Awards etc.)
• Walking/trekking groups
• Cookery classes

2. Volunteer

Another great way of meeting new friends is to volunteer. Research shows that people’s happiness levels actually go up when they help other people or communities. Check out TheSprout’s Volunteering Info page for more info and help getting started.

3. Get out of your comfort zone

Getting to know people and making friends can sometimes mean stepping outside of your comfort zone. It might feel overwhelming to begin with but try to strike up conversations with people you meet, both in your daily routine and in any of settings we mentioned earlier. You could practice smiling and introducing yourself in your mirror at home (people are more likely to be drawn to you if you smile and make eye contact). You can work out what you want to say beforehand.

Taking part in activities together will help, as you will automatically have something to talk about. You can then move on to finding out what you have in common, like what kind of music you like. Showing an interest in the other person can help to build friendships. The more you try it, the more confident you’ll feel. Practice makes progress!

Related Information

This article was originally posted on Meic. If you you’re struggling to make friends, talk to Meic confidentially and anonymously for FREE.