When was the last time you made a new friend?

When we’re children, our circle of friends is pretty wide. We play with everyone from kids in our class, to the kid next door, to kids at the playground — but as adults all these opportunities for meeting people narrow and reveal themselves to be the more difficult task we weren’t fully aware of when we were kids. In adulthood, we aren’t courted by people trying to make friends with us. Instead, it’s on us to reach out and put ourselves out there. If you want to make friends and want some practical tips for your journey, then this post is for you.

If you’re looking to make friends as an adult, here are some tips:

• Be friendly. If you want to be friends with someone, it’s important to smile and look them in the eye when speaking. Smile even if they don’t. You’ll notice that this is something children do naturally—but adults often forget about it!
• Ask questions. One of the best ways to get someone talking about themselves is by asking tons of questions about their interests and experiences. People love talking about themselves, so asking lots of relevant questions can help you get closer quickly!
• Be open-minded. When trying new things or meeting people who may have different beliefs than yours be open-minded! This skill will help keep relationships fresh and exciting over time because each person brings something different into their lives (even if they’re not aware).

As an adult, you have to be proactive about forming friendships. You can’t simply wait for the right person to come along; instead, you need to put yourself out there. This may mean taking on activities outside your comfort zone at first, but it’s worth it in the long run because it will help you build self-confidence and expand your circle of friends.

In addition to being open and confident, consider these tips:

• Be friendly with people who aren’t necessarily in your age group. Being around younger people can help refresh your perspective!
• If you’re shy or introverted by nature (as many adults are), try joining a club or taking up a hobby where there’ll be plenty of opportunity for socializing—and don’t worry if at first, some conversations don’t go so well; practice makes perfect!

How to make friends as an adult:

• Make friends with people who are into the same things you are. If you’re a fan of traveling, look for other people who like to travel. You can also join a wellness retreat like Paradise + Vibe and meet  new friends that way.
• Get out of your comfort zone and try new things. Maybe there’s something you’ve always wanted to try but were too afraid or shy to do it alone: try it now.
• Open yourself up to making new friends if they come along—and don’t be afraid if they don’t. Some people naturally make friends easily, while others find it difficult; either way, give yourself some time and space before deciding that something isn’t working out so well after all as opposed to some failure on your part (it’s not).

How Paradise + Vibe aids in forming lifelong connections:

At Paradise + Vibe, we believe that the key to forming lifelong connections is providing a safe and welcoming space. We want you to feel at home and accepted by every member of our tribe. If you’re looking for new friends, it’s a great place to start! If you’re interested in meeting new people, Paradise + Vibe has wellness retreats with fun excursions and workshops so everyone can get acquainted with one another. The vibe here is always pleasant and relaxed; no one will give you weird looks for being yourself or being quiet if that’s what your mood calls for today!

There is much pressure for adults to make friends, but how does one go about making friends when you are older? There are several ways to do this from joining groups to finding other people with similar interests to social networking sites on the internet. Since age brings a different set of circumstances, sometimes the goal of making friends involves having new experiences. The best way to complete these tasks is by trying new places and doing something you love to build lasting friendships.