Your current friend group isn't off-limits. For example, you can tell your existing friends that you want to leave your comfort zone and connect with others. Their outside connections within work, hobbies, and family will allow you to meet new people.
"Lacking encouragement from family or friends, those who are lonely may slide into unhealthy habits," Valtorta says. "In addition, loneliness has been found to raise levels of stress, impede sleep and, in turn, harm the body. Loneliness can also augment depression or anxiety."
According to psychologists, people don't change much beyond their 30s. This could mean that, if you've spent a significant portion of your adult life alone or without friends, it may be tougher to make friends at this age. But don't let that hold you back, because you can reinvent yourself in any way that you want.
Find a new hobby. You don't get to choose your office colleagues, but the beauty of exploring a new hobby or a long-held passion is that you can hang out with like-minded people. ...
According to “The Friendship Report,” a global study commissioned by Snapchat in 2019, the average age at which we meet our best friends is 21—a stage when we're not only bonding over formative new experiences such as first love and first heartbreak, but also growing more discerning about whom we befriend.
At every stage, we're trying to figure out how to navigate friendship,” she says. Research tells us that, for both men and women, the age of 25 is when most of us start losing friends. “Suddenly, your friends disappear, or you all start taking new life directions as you graduate from college,” Jackson says.
People change: Sometimes people find that their friends are not as interesting — or as interested — as they used to be. Perhaps your pal has become quite depressed. Or maybe they're stuck in the past while you are pursuing new interests. Perhaps they've developed eccentricities.
It can be difficult to start dating when you're in your 40s or older. You may be thinking, "I am way too old to be dating at this point in my life." However, with some speed dating advice and a positive attitude, you might just find yourself enjoying the company of new people and discovering new relationships.
Since 2002, members have used Meetup to make new friends, meet like-minded people, spend time on hobbies, and connect with locals over shared interests.
Research indicates that close friendships are associated with greater happiness, self-esteem, and sense of purpose. These bonds are even associated with physical outcomes, such as lower blood pressure and a longer lifespan. What are the emotional benefits of friendship?
The effects of not having friends may depend on your perspective. If you are happy and still have social support, you are likely fine with your social situation. If you feel lonely or isolated, however, it may be time to think about expanding your social circle.
In the United States, for example, the share of people saying they have no close friends at all went up from 3 per cent in 1990 to 12 per cent in 2021, according to surveys by Gallup and the Survey Center on American Life.
