How to make friends as an adult

1. 01Choose repetition over eventsOne-off parties rarely produce friends. Anything weekly — a class, a team, a volunteer shift, the same café — does most of the work for you.
2. 02Move past the weatherAsk one question a level deeper than expected: what's been taking up your head lately? Most people are relieved someone finally went first.
3. 03Confess something ordinary and unflatteringCharm creates admiration; small confessed weaknesses create intimacy. Say the boring true thing about being tired, lost, or unsure.
4. 04Do the unglamorous follow-upSuggest the specific date. Send the article. Being the organiser feels needy and is, in fact, how nearly every adult friendship survives.
5. 05Accept the awkward middleThere's a stretch of four or five meet-ups where it isn't yet a friendship and no longer a stranger. Most attempts die there out of embarrassment, not incompatibility.
6. 06Let some friendships end kindlySome friends belong to a chapter. Letting a connection fade without a verdict on either person is a skill worth having.

General educational information, not legal, tax, medical, or financial advice. Rules vary by country and change over time — verify with a qualified professional before acting.