Even an introvert gets tired of spending the night at home watching Netflix. Going weeks or months without hanging out with friends takes a toll on you after a while. Having an active social life can improve your mood, and also make you feel much happier.
While there’s nothing wrong with having a little me-time, you should make an effort to get together with friends. Follow these steps to improve your social life.
1. Focus on Relationship Quality
Remember the old saying: “quality over quantity?” Well, the same goes for your friendships. Having two good friends is better than having 20 acquaintances—it’s nearly impossible to maintain close friendships with so many different people. Rather than focusing on adding more people to your list of connections, build on your existing friendships.
2. Say “Yes” More Often
How many times have you skipped out on a party or social outing recently? Say “no” often enough, and you’ll start to receive fewer invitations. Relaxing after a long week of work might seem enticing, but getting together with a group of friends often proves to be much more fun and rewarding. Remember that your friends invited you for a reason—they look forward to seeing you!
3. Start Hosting
It’s easy to wait around for your friends to invite you to a party, but what’s stopping you from hosting your own? You don’t have to throw a huge party—have a game night or try hosting a simple gathering. While it might seem intimidating to have a group of people at your home, it will only strengthen your friendships.
4. Join a Club
If you’re looking for unique ways to meet more people, try joining a club. A cooking class, book club, trivia group, or sports team are worth checking out. Search Facebook or Meetup for groups in your area—with so many unique clubs out there, you’re bound to find likeminded people and make new friends.
5. Hang Out With Coworkers
You see your coworkers almost every day, and you still might not even consider them friends. Not only can you instantly relate to your coworkers, but you probably even have the same complaints about your workplace. Gather some coworkers you trust, and invite them for a bite to eat after work or even during your lunch break.
6. Reconnect With Old Friends
You don’t always have to look for new friends. Sometimes, the best friends are the ones from your past. Although you might’ve lost touch with friends from high school or college, try reconnecting with them. Reminiscing about your teenage years is always a hilarious experience.
7. Be More Positive
Not only does positivity attract friends, but it also helps you keep them. Boost your mood before leaving your house, and start the day with a good attitude. You become much more approachable when you greet someone with a smile.
It’s also important to stay positive when chatting with friends. No one wants a friend who’s always expressing negative thoughts and complaining.
8. Stay Open-Minded
In the past, you might’ve been picky about your friends. Maybe you thought certain people were “too cool” for you, or you judged them based upon their interests. When you become an adult, none of this should matter. Some of the most interesting people are ones who are very different from you.
Bettering Your Social Life
It’s hard to keep up a social life as an adult, but that’s no excuse not to have one. Remember that you don’t have to have plans every single night—that’s way too draining. Making plans with friends every once in a while is still better than having no plans at all.
Once you improve the quality of your social life, keep going with our tips on how to maintain friends as an adult.
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