7 Tips For Making Friends When You’re Shy

It's difficult to force friendships with people who don't share a common interest. If you're like most shy people, you might not always be 100 percent outgoing, but I bet that when it comes to your favourite hobbies, you can really get talking! Join a meet-up group based on hobbies that you love (and love to talk about), and it'll be easy to meet like-minded people.

We all have that one extroverted friend who seems ready to chat with strangers anytime, anywhere. Ask your friend to introduce you to their other friends when you're out and about together. You never know who you'll meet!

Another place where people commonly make new friends? Work! If you're not feeling any of your current coworkers, consider getting a low-stress side hustle you love where you're likely to meet new people.

If parties aren't your thing (or, conversely, if they are your thing!), then use that information to determine where you'll go looking for your next friend. You're unlikely to make friends in scenarios where you don't feel comfortable.

No matter what social situations you find yourself in, you're unlikely to make lasting connections if you don't reach out to people. I've totally been there! Working on your inner confidence is key to making friends, especially if you're on the shyer end of the personality spectrum. Practicing daily affirmations, like "I am funny, smart, and interesting. Anyone would be lucky to be my friend," or "I am outgoing and make friends easily. It's not difficult for me to talk to new people," can help change your mentality around the introduction process.

Finally, a stumbling block that many adults discover when meeting new people is that no one seems to follow up after they've met each other. If you really enjoyed meeting someone, shoot them a quick text to say it was great to meet them. There's no harm in inviting them out to grab coffee or partake in a mutual interest together either!