You're excited to be in a new city and you've settled into your new house. You've got all the essentials down except you don't know anyone else outside of the people you've just met at work. Although you can always connect with your old friends on social media, you need friends to make the transition bearable. Below are some smart ways to make new friends in a new city.
1) Join your colleagues at work for extra events or when you just want to grab drinks.
There might be a weekend company event, but don't just attend it - join one of the committees organizing it. Also, see if a group is going to unwind and do Friday night barhops on the next payday and join them too. The workplace is one of the easiest places to find people you have things in common with and being sociable could also help your career, according to Greatist.
2) Explore your neighborhood.
Engage the people living next door and win their favor by being a good and pleasant neighbor. After breaking the ice, ask them for the best restaurants, gyms or hangouts in your area. They might even invite you to join them one time. Also, set yourself with routines so that you will eventually recognize the same people - during your daily gym visits, for instance - according to Huffington Post. You're likely to get invited for coffee one time.
3) Be bolder and say yes to invites.
Instead of enjoying a Netflix marathon on a Saturday evening in the comforts of your bed, go out and attempt to make friends. Don't turn down invites for now, even if it's something you wouldn't consider back home.
4) Join hobby clubs, classes and sports teams, or volunteer at an organization.
If you're passionate about something, find out if there are clubs or groups that meet regularly. These are also good places to meet new people as you already have something in common, according to Life Hack.
5) Use an app.
If you're open to the idea of online matches, some of the more popular ones include JustSayHi, Mingle and Surge, according to Business Insider. Use of dating sites and apps is very common among single people these days - and they are not just for romantic hookups. There are some companies with good vetting processes for its members too, so you don't come across individuals with questionable characters, according to the BBC.
For more on online dating, read: Online Dating: How To Create A Good Profile To Successfully Get A Date Online
