Making Friends Hard? Here Are 4 Strategies to Ponder
In today's digital age, making new friends can be as simple as downloading an app. Bumble BFF, Friender, Patook, and many others offer platforms tailored to help you find friends, expand your professional network, or even discover new romantic connections.
A recent study of 323,000 individuals revealed that prioritizing friendships worldwide leads to higher health and well-being. Life satisfaction can improve when an individual spends time with friends and perceives the quality of their company as satisfying. This is not surprising, as having friendships can improve overall well-being.
But how can one go about making new friends? Meeting new people and trying new activities can be a great way to learn a skill and possibly form new connections. Trying a dance class, cooking class, or joining a sports team are some ideas for activities to explore.
Meetup, an app that connects people based on shared interests, can help you find local activities that align with your hobbies or passions. From hiking and photography to business networking, Meetup offers a wide range of opportunities to connect with others who share similar interests.
If you're looking for connections based on specific hobbies or interests, Friender and Patook are worth considering. These apps match people based on shared hobbies or values, making it easier to find like-minded individuals.
However, maintaining healthy friendships involves more than just having common interests. Scheduling quality time together, asking for advice, respecting boundaries, sharing intimate details, being a trustworthy friend, planning fun events, accepting your friend for who they are, and providing mutual support are all crucial elements of a strong friendship.
Volunteering is another way to meet new people and improve social well-being. Volunteering is positively correlated with mental and physical health, life satisfaction, and social well-being. Volunteermatch.org is a great resource for finding volunteering opportunities in your local community.
In conclusion, fostering friendships can greatly contribute to a happier and healthier life. Whether it's through social apps, volunteering, or trying new activities, there are plenty of ways to expand your social circle and improve your overall well-being.