Making New Friends the Easy Way in Any Situation

Making new friends seems like it would be an easy thing to do, but it’s actually really hard. I’ve noticed that as I get older, making new friends is an art. It’s like dating. You try people on, you get nervous inviting them to spend time together (what if they say no? what if they say yes? what if they say no but that they’d love a rain check and you’re not sure that means they really want one or they just wanted to be nice?). We’re all adults, so you’d think that we’d be pretty good at this by now, but I think our kids far outdo us in this situation. However, there are a few ways you can make friends wherever you go.

Introduce Yourself

Um…that sounds like pretty simple advice, right? Well, you’d be surprised how many people simply do not introduce themselves to new people. They ignore, pretend they don’t exist, wait for someone else to introduce them, and then at the end of the day, they’re all gone and no one knows anyone. However, everyone thinks everyone else is rude. Geeez. What a disaster. Make a new friend; introduce yourself.

Ask Open-Ended Questions

If you can answer it with a yes or a no, don’t ask. The best way to strike up a good conversation is to be genuinely interested in the other person and to ask questions that require at least a few words. Good topics always include religion and politics – KIDDING! Good questions can include anything about travel, something that the other person is wearing, jobs, sports, kids…you get the idea.

Be Yourself

If you are a snarky you-know-what in real life, don’t pretend to be super nice and well-behaved. If this person is going to be your new friend, they should know you for who you are and not who you want them to think you are.