6 Tips for Making Friends as an Adult

<p><b>6 Tips for Making Friends as an Adult</b></p> <p><b>Who are your friends?</b></p> <p>A recent survey has determined you might not have a lot of close relationships in your life. In fact, the number of people who claim to have more than three solid friendships in their lives is only 37% or one-third of the population. Even more discouraging is the idea that fully 27% of adults say they have no close relationships at all.</p> <p>Making friends as an adult is a daunting idea. For one thing, we’re swamped. We get caught up on our personal responsibilities and business goals that frequently we don’t make time for a social life outside of loose connections with our children’s friends’ parents and professional networking. Who has the time?</p> <p>Thankfully, you do. It actually takes less time than you think to discover the joy of adult friendships. You can start with these simple tips:</p> <p><b>Start with the Old</b></p> <p>Why reinvent the wheel? Instead, ask yourself who your friends used to be. Is it possible you can rekindle some old friendships? In this era of social media, tracking down your best friend from high school is easier than ever. Why not shoot someone a quick message or text to open up the conversation all over again?</p> <p><b>Become a Listener</b></p> <p>When in groups of new people, rather than working hard to be the life of the party, why not take a step back? Making a point to actively listen to people makes you more attractive to those around you (everyone loves a listener) and puts you in the position of discovering the things which intrigue you most about others. It’s a simple way to learn about shared interests, so you can strike up a friendship.</p> <p><b>Take it to the Next Level</b></p> <p>Have acquaintances, but aren’t quite ready to call them friends yet? Try opening up a little. Being vulnerable forges intimacy with others and deepens the friendship, taking it to the next level. </p> <p><b>Stay in Touch</b></p> <p>Worried about how to hang onto the friends you hav