Making new friends after 40 can feel harder than it did when you were younger. Work, family, relationships and everyday responsibilities can take up much of your time, and your old friendship group may have changed over the years.
Perhaps friends have moved away, your children have grown up, you’ve gone through a relationship breakdown, or you simply feel that your social life has become a little quieter than you’d like.
The good news is that it is never too late to make new friends.
In fact, your 40s, 50s and beyond can be a great time to meet new people. You often have a much better idea of what you enjoy, what matters to you and the sort of people you genuinely get along with.
Here are 10 ways to make new friends after 40.
1. Say yes to more social opportunities
One of the simplest ways to meet new people is to put yourself in situations where meeting people can happen naturally.
That might mean accepting an invitation you would normally turn down, going along to a local event or trying an activity you’ve never done before.
You don’t have to completely change your lifestyle. Sometimes saying yes to one new thing each month can make a surprising difference.
2. Try activities rather than simply looking for friendship
It can be much easier to meet people when you have something to do together.
Walking groups, quizzes, theatre trips, meals, live music, sports and day trips all give you something to talk about.
Rather than walking into a room thinking, “I need to make friends tonight”, you’re simply there to enjoy yourself. Conversations tend to happen naturally.
3. Join a social club
Joining an established social club can take some of the uncertainty out of meeting new people.
Everyone is there because they want to socialise, try new things or expand their circle, so you already have something in common.
Spice Social is a UK-wide social and activity club for adults, with events ranging from meals and social nights to walks, theatre trips, weekends away and holidays. Members can also attend events outside their local area.
4. Don’t worry about going on your own
One of the biggest barriers to making new friends after 40 is the thought of turning up somewhere alone.
It can feel much easier to stay at home than walk into a room full of people you don’t know.
But remember that you only have to be brave for the first few minutes.
Once you’ve introduced yourself and started chatting, the difficult bit is usually over.
At Spice Social, events are hosted, giving new members someone to talk to and helping make that first visit a little easier.
5. Reconnect with people from your past
Making new friends doesn’t always mean finding completely new people.
Is there someone you used to work with? An old school friend you’ve lost touch with? Someone you used to enjoy spending time with?
A simple message saying, “It would be lovely to catch up sometime” could be the beginning of a friendship that picks up where it left off.
6. Explore your local area
You don’t necessarily have to travel far to meet people.
Look for local activities, community events, walking groups, talks, classes and social events.
Your local area may have far more going on than you realise.
7. Try something you’ve always wanted to do
Learning or experiencing something new is another excellent way to meet people.
Perhaps you’ve always fancied trying a walking weekend, visiting the theatre more often, joining a quiz team or going away with a group.
Shared experiences are often where friendships begin.
8. Give friendships time
Don’t expect to meet someone once and instantly become best friends.
Friendships usually develop gradually.
You might meet someone at one event, see them again at another and eventually discover that you have plenty in common.
That’s why regular social activities can be so useful. You’re not relying on one conversation to create a friendship.
9. Be open to different types of people
As adults, we can sometimes become very fixed in the sort of people we think we will get along with.
But some of the best friendships come from unexpected places.
Be curious about people. Ask questions. Listen to their stories. You may discover common interests where you didn’t expect them.
10. Make your social life a priority
Perhaps the most important thing is to stop thinking of your social life as something you will get around to when everything else is done.
Life rarely becomes completely free.
If you want to meet new people and make new friends after 40, give yourself permission to make time for it.
You deserve to have things in your diary that you are looking forward to.
Ready to meet new people?
Making new friends after 40 doesn’t have to mean starting again completely from scratch.
Sometimes all you need is an opportunity to get out, try something different and meet people who are looking for the same thing.
Spice Social brings adults together through hundreds of events and activities across the UK, from social nights and meals to walking, theatre, weekends away and holidays.
If you’d like to see what is happening in your area, find your local Spice Social group and start discovering what’s on near you.
