If you are 50 or over and lately you have started to realize that your group of friends has shrunk over the years, you are not alone. Everyone gets so busy managing their work, home, and children that their social presence becomes negligent.
It’s only when you are older, and you have some free time for yourself that you start realizing that you have no friends to talk to or to spend time with. This is quite common, especially among women, because they start feeling lonely after the kids move out and they have no one around, but this is something you can easily change.
It’s never too late to make new friends because friendships are never formed based on age. But if you are nervous about how to approach new people, where to find them, or where to start, here are 18 tips on how to make friends in your 50s.
1. Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
The first thing you need to do to make new friends is to get out of your comfort zone. If you are too comfortable staying at home all day and even calling someone to catch up seems like a task, then you need to change that. Start going out and be enthusiastic about meeting new people. Spending some alone time with yourself is amazing, but we all need a set of people to laugh and share our stories with. So loosen up a bit and start adding new things to your routine to get out of your comfort bubble.
2. Reach Out to Your Old Friends
It is so much easier to rekindle your old bonds than to find new people to befriend. If you have some good old friends you have lost touch with, take a step to reconnect with them. Old friendships are like hidden treasures. Call or text them to let them know you were missing them. You can also organize a reunion of your school or college buddies to catch up on everyone’s lives, and you will be surprised by how much fun you have around them. You can make it a monthly or weekly thing for interested people.
3. Take Up A Hobby
You know the thing you always wanted to learn more of but never got time to? Well, now is the best time to take up that hobby. Not only will it give you the happiness of learning something new, but you will also get to meet people there who share the same passion as yours. You already have a common interest to talk about. Take up any classes that interest you: a painting class, a soap-making class, or an amateur theatre. It can also be something that you used to love doing in your adulthood but have discontinued.
4. Join a Book Club
If you are fond of reading books, wouldn’t it be great to share endlessly about them with equally interested people? Joining a book club will also introduce you to some amazing books, and you can also share your favorites with others. It is a great way to connect with people personally and find friends. The best part is you can talk about them as much as you like, and no one will stop you. You can visit the library or a local bookstore to find book clubs, or you can also look for them online.
5. Take a Gym Membership
If you like working out regularly, you can take a membership at a gym nearby, or you can join a yoga studio if that is your thing. When you are new to the gym, find a staff person who can guide and help you around. You can ask if there is a particular timing allocated or a group formed for people of your age. If there is, you can join them. It can be a good place to start making friends where everyone is mutually enthusiastic to be physically fit.
6. Volunteer
If you have some free time on your hands and you would like to give back to your community, volunteering is the thing for you. This is the best way to meet new people, and you instantly connect with others because you know that the rest of the volunteers also share similar thoughts. Here is how to start: pick a cause that you would like to work for and find different organizations or nonprofits in your area that are working for the same cause. Call them up or walk in to ask them for upcoming volunteering opportunities that you can be part of.
7. Explore with a Traveler Group
If you loved traveling in your younger years and dreamed of traveling the world, this is the time to rekindle that passion. There are traveler groups where people come together and go on short trips regularly. You can join in and explore the world while you can. I think we all would agree that we make the best kind of friends while traveling. They usually organize a one-day trip or a weekend trip every month so that everyone can join in. You may have been stuck in responsibilities in the past, but now, if you have time, give this a shot.
8. Join a Spiritual Group
If you are a spiritual person, join a group that gets together to explore their spiritual side. See where your beliefs lie; it can be a bible reading group, a small study group, or any similar group. You can visit a church near you to learn about it. These groups are usually small and tight; they form a strong connection between themselves. These groups usually consist of older people, so it is easier for you to make friends there. Many lifelong friendships begin in such groups.
9. Find a Walking Group
Walking groups are fun; you can enjoy nature, stay fit, and meet new people. Every area usually has some morning and evening walking groups; you can join one and see how it works for you. If the group has all ages members and you think the people of your age should have a separate walking group because they have different walking speeds, start your group. Having walking friends is amazing; you can talk about anything you like or be there in each other’s company while exploring nature together.
10. Attend Local Events that Interest You
There can be several things happening around you that you may or may not know of. Use online apps to find the upcoming events happening in your area, and you will be amazed by the number of results you will get. A comedy festival, a slow marathon, or a musical, you will get so many options to pick from. There are apps like meetup.com where the events of local communities are listed. These events are the best places to make new friends; you can even find a local dinner club to join.
11. Get to Know People in Your Neighborhood
We often get so engrossed in our personal lives that we do not even know about the people and families that live in our neighborhood. People who stay close by can see each other often, and they organically develop friendships over time. A neighborhood buddy is so much fun; you can walk together, go grocery shopping, or attend local community events together. Next time you see your neighbors on their porch, be approachable and ask them how they are doing; it is as easy as that. You can even organize an event on your front porch for your neighbors to get to know them.
12. Take Classes at a Community College
Many colleges and institutions offer courses where you can continue your education in artistic classes like painting, photography, pottery, or writing. There are different types of courses each university offers, so walk in and check what interests you. This is a great way to develop new skills, meet new people, and even get a degree out of it. There may be a lot of youngsters around you, but be cool and open about it because when you share the same interests with them in classes, you will start enjoying their company.
13. Meet Your Virtual Friends
You might be a member of several Facebook groups where like-minded people connect to share their joys and sorrows; if you are not, start joining a few groups and being active in them. Many of these groups are from local areas and cities. They organize regular get-togethers to connect with virtual people, and you can join them. If you are uncomfortable meeting everyone, you can create a meetup with a few members you are comfortable with. There can also be friends you talk regularly to online but never meet in person; plan to meet them up to spend some face-to-face time.
14. Open Your Club
If you have explored all your local options for meetups, social activities, or groups and nothing interests you, open up your club. There is no point in waiting around for someone who will get an idea and start it, take matters into your own hands, and do it yourself; trust us, there will be many who would be waiting to join in. You may start small, but that is fine; a huge group is not your purpose, so stay consistent. This is an amazing way to build up a personal set of friends who share the same interests as yours.
15. Find a Support Group
Many times, it is easier to build connections with people whom you can relate to. If you are trying to cope with a situation or rebuilding a new life after a life incident, join a support group. For example, if you have lost a loved one or had a recent divorce and you are still trying to overcome it, a support group can really help. Not only will this group help you get stronger emotionally and mentally, but you can also foster some real connections there.
16. Join Couples Activity
If your partner is interested in being part of your social groups, it is a great idea to make some couple friends. This way, you will get to know and meet new people while spending some quality time with your partner. You can sign yourselves together for some couple workshops or activities where you can meet other couples too, like a ballroom class or a cooking class. The point is to look up events that are designed especially for couples. You can even start up a couples club where couples sign up to hang out once a month.
17. Take up a Fun Part Time Job
Take a part-time fun job you always thought of doing but could not. If you love crafting and you have an artistic side, you can start working at a craft store. Or, if you love brewing coffee, you can start working some hours at a coffee shop, which is also a great place to meet new people. A lot of retired people spend their time working part-time at local shops to stay active and to keep meeting new people. Who knows, you may find your new best friend in your coworker!
18. Organize a Few Events
Volunteer to help organize or host some event for your workplace, community center, or your church. It can be of any organization you are part of. When you are actively working on planning and arranging an event, you will become familiar with other people involved, especially when you are doing it in a group. You get a chance to know and meet so many people who may or may not be part of these organizations. This is a great way to add some excitement to your life and also become acquaintances with interesting people
Conclusion
Making friends is easier than you think; you must put yourself out there. It is important to have friends regardless of your age. Various studies have shown that friendships play an important role in the emotional and physical health of a person when they are growing older.
Feeling isolated can lead to depression and promote chronic illness. Consider this free time as an opportunity to explore your interests, do what you love, and make new friends on the way.
Use these tips on how to make friends in your 50s. You may feel a little awkward at first, but chances are other people are looking for a friend and are more than happy to connect!
