7 tips for meeting new people

Expanding your social circle is an incredibly complicated process. Often, it can be hard to tell if someone is genuinely looking for a long and true friendship. It can also be difficult to find the time to invest in your existing relationships. However, it is vital that you put the work in, as this is the best way for you to enrich your life and to make the most of every moment. If you are determined to establish meaningful connections, you will need to read on. Below are seven tips that will help you to meet new people.

Use technology

If you are eager to meet like-minded individuals, you should use technology to your advantage. This will help you to widen your search and to find people who are also interested in building connections. There are an impressive number of apps that you can download to help you on your way. Don’t worry, these don’t have to be dating apps. Instead, they can be friendship apps that help you to connect with people on a deeper level. They can also help you to focus your search on people in your local area. This will come in handy if you don’t have the time to go out of your way. You should also sign up to social media and remember to invest in your platforms. Creating a strong online profile will help to draw people towards your page. You should also be honest about your interests and the kind of people that you like to spend time with.

Have a sense of humour

In order to be approachable, you will need to have a good sense of humor. This is a really important step, as taking yourself too seriously could prevent you from making new friends. If you are wondering how you can do this, why not enjoy a daily joke? This is a fail-safe approach to ensuring that you always have a way to break the ice. If you are able to brighten someone’s day by bringing a smile to their face, it will be much more likely that you can build a connection with them. Just make sure that you search for clean jokes, as you don’t want to take too many risks when you are meeting someone for the first time.

Take up a new hobby

You should also consider taking up a new hobby. This is a very organic way for you to meet new people. Just make sure that you choose a hobby that you are genuinely excited about. This will ensure that you don’t have to feign enthusiasm when you are talking to your new acquaintances. You should also keep your options open. Why not take up more than one activity? You could do something sporty, something arty, and something intellectual. This will help you to meet a wide range of people and will increase your chances of meeting someone that you truly have a connection with.

Look at your existing social circle

Another option is to get to know friends of a friend. If you really get on with someone, it is likely that you will also get on with their loved ones. That is why you should hold a large event such as a dinner party or a big night out. Instead of just inviting your own friends, make sure that everybody has a plus one. That way you will get to meet new people and will have someone there to introduce you to them. This is an especially good idea for people who struggle in social situations. Instead of worrying about making a new acquaintance, you can take comfort in the fact that you are only meeting people that are trusted by your friends.

Sign up for a class

You could also try signing up for a class. That way, even if you don’t meet new people, you will have at least learnt something new. Perhaps there is a topic that you have always been interested in. Maybe you are desperate to learn a new language. Whatever the case, don’t hold back! Instead of worrying about making new friends, just try to focus on the lesson that you are learning. This will help to take some of the pressure off and will prevent you from appearing desperate. Once you have been to the class for a few weeks, why not suggest to some of your peers that you set up a study group? This is a fantastic way for you to add a social element to your studies.

Show an interest in others

When you do begin to widen your social circle, make sure that you ask plenty of questions. Most people relish the opportunity to talk about themselves and are comforted when someone seems genuinely interested in them. Not only this, but if you are nervous around strangers, this is a great way for you to take the pressure off yourself. Instead of worrying about what you are going to say next, you can simply pay attention to the other person. You should also make sure to remember all of the answers that you receive. Even if you just hold onto a few facts, this should be more than enough to impress your new acquaintance.

Take public transport

You should also embrace the opportunity to take public transport whenever possible. Not only will this save you money and help the environment, it will also provide you with the perfect opportunity to meet new people. The first step is making plenty of eye contact and wearing a broad smile. You should also try to avoid listening to music, as it is unlikely that people will talk to you if you have your headphones in. Once you have found someone who is happy to meet your eye and return your smile, you could make a brief comment about the weather. If this person seems eager to respond to you, then you should try to start a full conversation. Ideally, you should look out for people that you see on a regular basis. This will make it much easier for you to establish a strong rapport.