Ways to Make Friends as an Adult

It's easy to make friends in high school and college. But, how do you make friends as an adult? Really, when you're in school, it's almost like the situation is purpose-made to find new friends. In high school, you're in classes with a bunch of peers, so it's the perfect situation to form bonds. In college, you're often living on campus, where you meet people, and even if you're off campus, you're in classes with students usually around your age and have lots of events around campus where you can meet new people. It's no wonder why people often meet their best friends in high school and college. But, the good news is that you can certainly make friends as an adult. Socializing is a big part of mental health, so having friends while you're "adulting" is something you should seek to do. Here are some ways to make friends as an adult.

Join an adult sports league. This is how one of my good friends made a lot of new friends as an adult. She joined a local, intermural sports league and made at least 20 new friends from the deal. Even if you aren't the best athlete, these leagues aren't really about who's the best. They're about people getting together one or two days a week, playing a game and having fun. Some popular sports leagues include softball, basketball, beach volleyball and soccer. Search in your area for a local recreation center that offers organized sports. The YMCA is always a good bet, too.

Get into a gaming or trivia group. Social games are a great way to meet people. Even if you aren't big on Dungeons & Dragons, there are lots of different social gaming groups out there, both in-person and online. I actually made friends by joining an online gaming group that plays Jackbox games, and I've made some nice friends through the group from around the world. If in-person is more your thing, local game stores and bars often have organized gaming or trivia events.

Find friends using friendship apps. You've heard of Bumble as a dating app, but did you know that there's a Bumble BFF app to make friends in a non-romantic way? A few other popular ones are Peanut and Nextdoor. Think of these as dating apps to find friends.

Church. Remember how your mom used to tell you to meet your mate at church? Okay, maybe that was just my mom. But, church and spiritual groups are a great place to make new friends who have common ideals. If you attend a local church, look into their activities, such as Bible studies and other events.

Volunteering. By volunteering, you're not only helping a great cause, but you could also make some new friends. Some great places to volunteer and meet like-minded people include food banks, political organizations, pet shelters and more.

Dating is nothing like it was a few decades ago. Heck, dating isn't anything like it was even just a few years ago, with all the different dating apps and online ways to find love. But, one thing hasn't changed: People still want to be appealing. They want to put their best foot forward in the dating world. So, what are some ways to be more attractive and appealing when you're on a date?

Actually, this list works even if you're not looking to date or are already are in a long-term relationship. Why not be as attractive as possible just for yourself? I'm not just talking about the physical, either. There's so much more to being an appealing person than looks alone. Dictionary.com has some definitions of attractive that show the broadness of this term. They say the word means "providing pleasure or delight, especially in appearance or manner" and add that words such as "pleasing, charming and alluring" all apply. They also use the word in the context of having "an attractive personality" or "arousing interest or engaging one's thought" and "consideration."

Of course, not all definitions are so broad. Some do come down to appearance and vanity. Vocabulary.com defines it as, "Anybody or anything that's attractive is visually pleasing or draws you in." They add that it also has to deal with attracting others, of course, and that, "for people, being attractive usually means you're beautiful or handsome enough to pull in the attention of others."

That said, in this list, I'm really focusing on ways to be an all-around attractive person. This is largely not a list about how to be physically prettier or more handsome. Sure, some of these tips are physical. But, for the most part, these are ways to be instantly attractive in the dating game and a more appealing person overall.

This one might seem odd. If you're trying to attract someone, why would you try to focus on them? But, it works. People like to feeling like the person their with is actually interested in them. It helps you actually be an attractive person if it isn't always about you and if you focus on your partner, date or friend.

Sure, you want to look good on your date. But, if you're wearing heels that are too high or pants that look cool but just don't fit, you might be uncomfortable, and that will make the other person uncomfortable. "The most important thing is that you feel comfortable in what you are wearing. If you are not comfortable, it will show in your body language and your date will be able to tell," says Houseofcoco.net.

Everyone always talks about confidence being attractive, and they're not wrong. Being confident in yourself is a very attractive quality. You don't need to be an egomaniac or anything, though. No bragging fests on a first date. Just, be confident in who you are and in the spectacular, rock star of a person that God created you to be.

This goes along with confidence. Just be you, because nobody else can be you. "As cheesy as it sounds, the most important thing you can do on a date is to look and act like your authentic self," notes Southerntide.com.

This is a tricky one. I'm not a big fan of perfume. But, it's good to smell nice on a date. That said, do not - I repeat, to not - overdue it. There's really no bigger turnoff than someone who smells like they just took a dive into a pool of really strong perfume or cologne. Less is more.

Show off those pearly whites! Something as simple as smiling can make you instantly appear attractive, because it implies that you're happy on both the outside and inside. No RBF, please. Smiling is contiguous, too, in the best possible way.

Your mom was right when she told you to sit up straight. "Slouching makes you look unconfident and bored, neither of which are attractive qualities," notes Houseofcoco.net. "Sit up straight and make sure your shoulders are back. It will make you look more confident and alert, two qualities that are sure to impress your date."

Dating and socializing is supposed to be fun. Humans were meant to be together in a community, and that's a good thing. So, just have fun on your date. Be playful. Laugh. Flirt. Wink. Okay, maybe don't wink. That's creepy. But, you can send a wink emoji. Simply have fun.