We’ve all been at a point in our lives where we feel like we just don’t do anything social anymore. All our friends have grown up, gotten married, had five kids and are nowhere to be seen. You haven’t kept up with any hobbies other than ones that keep you at home and you don’t do anything outside of work. But now you want to do something social- you want to improve your social life, meet new people and try new things.
So what are some good ways for improving your social life?
Meet Other Parents
This one is only useful if you have children of your own. One great way of meeting new people is introducing yourself to your children’s friends parents. This might sound harder than it is, but really all you have to do is attend some after-school activity with your child and be friendly. Go to a football game, take a stadium blanket and a flask of hot chocolate, and say hello. Not only is taking part in your children’s social life good for you, but it helps you socialize with other parents who may feel a little lonely too. Kids take up a lot of our time, so don’t be frightened to use some of that time to also help you with your social life!
Join a group activity like Yoga
Yoga is a great way to meet people. It is a relaxing exercise activity that brings peace and removes stress from people’s lives. These kinds of groups often have people who are looking to do something extra in their lives and are probably more open to meeting new people and trying new things. You can often find there are coffee talks after the session which can help you socialize and get to know others.
Don’t forget, it’s not just Yoga, you can try joining a pottery class, learning to cook or even a new language.
Take small steps if nervous
If you’re the type to feel too nervous to meet people or are shy, you don’t have to jump in at the deep end. Try taking things slow, like striking up a conversation with a shop keeper or commenting to the mailman about the weather. The idea is to improve your ability to talk to strangers and get you used to talk to someone you’ve never met before. It can be a great way to improve your social skills and understanding different personalities.
Take up a sport
Sport is great exercise and can improve your health greatly, even if you do it once a week. Playing sports is a great way to meet people in a setting that is fun and not too serious. In the UK, football is very popular and there has been a spurt in five-a-side games picking up all over the country. These are great opportunities to get involved and meet new people- you don’t even have to be particularly good!
Be kind to others
One reason why you might find yourself on your own is because of your personality. It’s a hard fact to accept, but sometimes we need to take a look at ourselves before we can understand why we got in a situation. If you’re the type to often fall out with friends, you may want to dial back your attitude and try to be a bit more understanding to people. Empathy is a very attractive trait in a person and can often lead to people wanting to be around you. If you can be more self-aware around other people, it’s a great way to read the situation and learn from others.