I feel stupid but...

I used to have the exact same issue of not meeting new people or making friends and I decided to finally do something about when it when I realised that not only is my current friendship group small but I rarely ever see my friends anymore because they have such busy schedules. I set myself the following goals to meet new people and they really have worked for me and I am happier now than I was a month ago:

1. Join clubs - This is an easy way to meet people with shared interests and makes it easier to talk to them as you instantly have something in common. I joined a book club. We meet once a month and I really love it, although I haven't met any of the other book club members outside work.

2. Accept every invitation that comes your way - I've stopped assuming I won't like something and started going to everything I am invited to even if I won't know anyone other than the person who has invited me. I'll be honest though and admit that I have so far needed a drink to stop feeling so shy. My boyfriend introduced me to his ex-colleague's wife, we hit it off and I met her and some of her friends for a lunch a week later. I am now going to her hen party next wee.

3. Look for online websites/groups designed for meeting new people - I found a website called City Socialising which basically arranges socialising events for people who want to get to know other people in the city. I've made some great friends on the site already even though I only joined a month ago and would highly recommend it. CS organises events around the world so just see if your city is listed.

I am soooo shy so if I can do the above (basically out of desperation!) then you can too!

On that note, any London girls send me a message and we can meet up for a coffee or something

I agree, as an adult I haven't made a new friend since university (and that was almost 20 years ago!). I have people I talk with at work but we don't really do anything outside of work. I've always felt like a bit of an outsider anyways, which I think makes it harder. The poster with the advice about asking them questions has a good idea! People always like to talk abouit themselves!

Im too much of an introvert. If I meet new people, ill just listen rather than say much.

*stands around awkwardly*

Glad to know I'm not the only one!!

I wasn't even good at making friends when I was little, lol.
Best of luck though.

You're right, it is a bit more difficult when people are somewhat set in their ways....but it's getting nicer out there, I'd say go join a mixed league softball team, or a bowling league...those are people that like to be out but want to have fun afterward. It's like anything else, you just have to put yourselves out there \m/

So glad there are so many of us out there..... Kinda. I moved with my ex fiancé to a town where I knew no one, met a few people at my old job, but the ones I was closest to got married and moved :sad:
Since I split with my most recent ex my group of friends has gotten even smaller. Working 7days a week doesn't help the situation. No idea how I will make new friends or find a partner......

More people have this problem than are willing to admit I think

As adults I think we underestimate the degree convenience plays into making friendships. At school, people were always there everyday so we pretty much had to make friends. As adults we don't really have that same expsosure to common ground. I'm going through the same thing right now, so basically I'm trying to nuture the friends I have, and get friendly with their other friends too. Or try joining some community centre activities like arobics classes or playing badmitton, or take a language, craft class. Invite some nice gals out for a coffee or something afterwards. You just have to go for it. It really can be like dating trying to make new friends.

Chin up.

I thought I was the only one until reading this post! My husband and I talk about it all the time, wondering what's different now and why this is so hard! I have tried to focus on nurturing the friendships I have, but over the years many of us have just gone different directions in life. There are some friends I could make more effort with, though. Still, it would be nice to find some like-minded couple friends. It's true that it takes effort and stepping out of your comfort zone, I think. Like dating, you have to be willing to put yourself out there and see what happens. Good luck to the OP and everyone else!

I know how you feel. Thank goodness I have my daughters. I work in a large office where I get on really well with the girls there but they don't really seem to want close friends and none of them really see each other after work anyway. Joining clubs is always recomeneded but my experience is that people either join with a friend anyway and don't want a third playing gooseberry or they just grab their stuff after and leave. Im very friendly and have done the asking questions and the trying to be sure its not actually me but but its incredibly hard.

Some of the best friends I've made in my adult life have been through our church.

We got into a small group, and met people our age, with kids our age, with similar values and interests.. and now we are all very close. Our kids love growing up together!

ugh! I AGREE! My boyfriend and I don't have family where we leave and it'd be nice to have 'couples friends' to hang out on weekends with, holidays, etc!

I know what you mean, it gets so much harder as you get older and it's worse when your single. All the friends I had growing up and now either married or have young kids so we have nothing in common.

It doesn't help that people are so unapproachable. I said hello to a girl next to me in the gym recently and from the look she gave me you would have thought I'd asked for the blood of the 1st born :devil:

i think it is so hard to make friends as an adult. i have friends from work, but outside of work i feel like i have no clue how to make a friend. it was so easy as a kid, you see another kid and boom youre friends. anyone have any ideas?

It's pretty much the same as an adult.

Common interests, etc.

Most of my friends are from work or the internet.
I do have really good, longtime friends from the net though. One I've known 13 years and we even take trips together every couple years.
But I think it's just like meeting people in person... you have to wade through a lot of acquaintances before you meet one person you really can relate to.

So glad it's not just me. Outside of work and my kids it seems like I have no opportunity to make friends. Those movies where there's women who've been lifelong friends always made me wonder what was wrong with me to pretty much be a loner who's little more than a working mom.

This ^^ Outside of one friend from HS ive kept in contact through facebook .....I have my kids and my family. Not quite sure how to go about meeting new ppl. It probably doesnt help that I am quite shy and never have a clue what to talk about IRL. (I feel like small talk makes me sound dumb..."nice weather were having"....and being quite ppl think im a snob....sigh...)