How To Make Friends In Your 30s!
How to make friends in your 30s!
If you’re feeling like your circle of friends is waning and you need to make some new ones, then I am here for you. This is especially true if you’re in your 30s.
You might think by the time you reach 30, it’s no longer possible to meet new friends. Either that, or a lot more difficult to do so. While it’s certainly not as easy as when you were in college or university, it’s still definitely possible and I will show you how today!
In this post, I’ll give you 5 ways on how to make friends in your 30s. While things are different when you’re older, there are many people just like you who are looking for new friends. By implementing these techniques, you should have no issues finding new friends in your age group.
Alright, let us begin.
Why you should listen to me
Oh boy, my credentials! Well to start, if you’re in your 30s (which I assume to be if you’re reading this article), I am in the same age group as you! So I definitely know what you’re going through. Secondly, I have experience running a bunch of events with different subcultures (from geeky hobbies to mainstream activities), where I organize socializing and talk to a variety of people. So I know what it’s like to meet new people and connect with them.
What I won’t count
Before we begin, I will exclude some methods to meet people, because these probably won’t apply to you:
- College or university. Going to university and joining extracurricular activities in school is a great way to meet new friends. But if you’re in your 30s, probably not. Even if you are in school, most people there are in their 20s, so it may be hard to connect with people from a younger generation.
- Nightclubs. Eh, maybe in your younger days. But in your 30s, probably not.
- Workplace. This one is controversial. Chances are, you have established yourself where you work in your 30s, and you would think this would be a great place to find new friends. But I would caution trying to make new friends at work. It’s a place where you depend on income and if friendships go bad there, it could affect your workplace. Make friends here with caution.
Okay let’s get started.
1. Meetup of course.
I do mention [Meetup.com](http://Meetup.com) a lot on this website but for good reason! Meetup is one of the best ways to make new friends. It’s a website where you can sign up for groups that cater to your hobbies and interests. And you have various Meetup groups that host events, where you can socialize and meet new people.
While Meetup is meant for all adults, the website works especially well for people in their 30s and beyond. I myself have run Meetup groups and see many people that attended my events who were 30 years old and above. Most people are so friendly and open to chat with you, and you have a variety of groups to choose from (as long as you’re near a city). That is why I have Meetup on the top of this list; it’s the easiest and best way to meet new friends in your 30s.
2. Sporting events.
Whether it’s basketball or hockey or football/soccer, sporting events can be a fun way to meet people in your 30s. While sports bring all sorts of people together, I find there are many people in their 30s at these events. This is because it costs money to go to sporting events, so you’ll find an older crowd that has dispensable income.
Here are some sporting events you can go to:
- Bars/pubs that are known to show local sports games.
- Gatherings for a sports team (I find this happens during the playoffs)
- Going to the actual games and hanging out in the social areas of arenas
For example, I’ve met a couple of wrestling fans my age because I’m into that type of sport. You’d be surprised to find the people into the same interests as you are!
3. Festivals.
Festivals are always fun to attend! Whether it’s the annual cultural street festival, or events taking place indoors, festivals are an interesting way to meet new people. I find when I’m at a festival, a lot of people are more open to talk. This is a great opportunity to meet people your age.
I do want to emphasize to use caution when talking to others at a festival, and don’t come off as weird or make people feel uncomfortable. You have to understand that not everyone is open to talking, so you must respect that. So be sure to use your judgment and have fun at the festival, whether you get to meet new friends or not.
4. Volunteering.
I’ve done my fair share of volunteering over the years and I can tell you it’s a great way to meet new people. Just something about contributing to a valuable cause that puts people in a social mood. That’s been my experience and I’ve met some wonderful people that I’m still friends with to this day.
So if you have some spare time and want to help out with a good cause, consider volunteering. Not only do you get to contribute to society, you’ll get plenty of opportunities to meet new people, especially ones in your 30s.
5. Start your own events.
Last but not least, you can always start and host your own events to meet new people. If you’re finding that there are really no events to attend, no organizations or causes to volunteer for, no Meetup groups or no fun sporting events to do, then the next best thing is to host your own gatherings!
It may seem intimidating but I can tell you that it’s easier than it looks. I myself have hosted many many events by myself and when I first started, I knew nothing about social organization. It’s something that I learned over time. Of course, if you’re not comfortable being an event organizer, then you don’t need to pressure yourself to do this. It’s just an opportunity I wanted to point out.
Summary
To summarize, here are the 5 ways on how to make friends in your 30s:
- Meetup.
- Sporting events.
- Festivals.
- Volunteering.
- Start your own events.
And there you have it; 5 ways on how to make friends in your 30s. I hope you found this post useful and motivating!
If you have any questions or feedback, let me know in the comments below.
