How to Make New Friends (and Keep the Old) as a Young Adult

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If James Taylor ruled the world, all we�d have to do is call and a BFF would appear
on our doorstep. In reality friendships are among the trickiest relationships out
there. As hard as it may be to find romantic love, it�s arguably even more
difficult to pick a new pal who we really connect with and to keep in touch with
buddies from the past. But that�s no reason to resign ourselves to a lifetime of
solitude, especially since having friends is tremendously important for our health
and happiness.

What�s the Deal?

Twenty-somethings are among the �friendliest� people out there. Nearly everyone in
this age group uses some form of social media, meaning they have the constant
opportunity to share the minutia of their daily life with hundreds, or even
thousands, of connections. At the same time, there�s good reason to believe
American adults are getting lonelier. Surveys have found we have fewer friends than
we did in the 1980s, and that all those virtual relationships aren�t nearly as
satisfying as the in-the-flesh kind. Many people in their 20s and 30s complain they
don�t know how to make new friends, or feel abandoned by old ones.

This trend is troubling, given that friendships are important�if not crucial�for
our well-being. Some scientists argue that humans are inherently social creatures,
wired to benefit from close relationships with family, romantic partners, and of
course, friends. Other research suggests a network of close friends can reduce
stress and promote good health and longevity. While it�s perfectly reasonable to
desire some alone time (c�mon, does anyone really need to know we watched an entire
season of House of Cards in one weekend?), nothing can replace the value of a close
friendship.

Unfortunately making and retaining friends isn�t always easy. But it can be done.
For anyone confused about how exactly to go about forging new friendships or
strengthening old ones, here are some tips that are more creative and practical
than the old �just put yourself out there.�