Finding an environment where adults can truly connect is rare. As we get older, finding new friends and expanding your social circle can feel daunting. If you recently moved to a new city or find that everyone already seems paired off—whether married with kids or sticking to childhood friends—where can you meet new people? At Third Space Improv, we provide a positive environment for like-minded individuals to mingle, grow, and master the art of making friends as an adult.
The Science Behind Building Adult Friendships
According to any sociology Ph.D. or psychology professor who studies human connection, making friends doesn’t just happen organically anymore. It requires intentional effort to make new connections.
It Takes Time to Form a Bond
Research by a leading sociologist suggests that it takes roughly 50 hours of shared time to move someone from a weak tie or acquaintance to a casual new friend, and up to 200 hours to become besties or form close friendships. You have to keep showing up and seeing people regularly. Building a real friend requires more than just a passing “hi” or “hey” at the office; it requires reciprocity and a willingness to get to know people.
Finding Your People Through Shared Interests
Whether you join a book club, a running club, sports leagues, dance classes, or commit to a volunteer shift, shared interests help friendships happen. While you can use apps like Bumble BFF or browse local Facebook groups to meet people, in-person leisure and play accelerate the process. When you share a playful environment, guards drop. Two strangers open to new experiences can quickly build rapport, deepening weak ties into stronger ties and, eventually, a solid social foundation.
How to Cultivate Lasting New Friendships
Take the Initiative
Many of us feel our social skills are rusty. Whether you are an extrovert, navigating a new chapter after you got divorced, or just realizing work life dominates your schedule, you must take the initiative to talk to people. Identify potential friends who seem like good friend material and initiate contact. Extend an invitation to hang out sometime, host a potluck, or plan a dinner party.
Invite Your Inner Magic to Play
The real magic to befriend someone is not found on a stage—it is inside all of us. As we mix, mingle, and engage in new ways to build adult friendships, that internal magic comes out to play. By consistently stepping out to find your people, even if you just make friends easily at the studio rather than going to the gym, you foster meaningful friendships beyond the classroom.
Ready to make new friends as an adult? Life gets busy, but creating a new friendship is worth the effort. Register for a Meetup or an upcoming class at Third Space Improv to expand your community today.
