How to make friends as an adult
Do you find the idea of walking into a room full of strangers really daunting and makes you nervous? Here I have a guest post for you from Gemma who blogs all about making friends as an adult.
She shares her tips with you and how you can get through them and make friends. I can assure you that groups aren’t as scary as you think but with these tips hopefully, you will feel more confident.
How to walk into a room full of strangers and make friends
Stepping out of your comfort zone and going to events alone can be really difficult which is why Jen has kindly allowed me to put together this guest post for you to give you the confidence to get out there and make new friends as an adult.
The thought of attending an event alone is scary. Whether it’s a colleague’s birthday party, your friend’s hen-do or a networking event for work, sometimes you will find yourself in a position where you need to walk into a room full of strangers.
Here are 5 top tips: how to walk into a room full of strangers and make friends so that you can overcome the fear of going alone and say yes to fantastic opportunities.
Top 5 tips: How to walk into a room full of strangers and make friends as an adult
Pull yourself together first
Being late will cause you a lot of unnecessary stress. Arrive early so that you have time to check yourself in the mirror, give yourself a motivational ‘you’ve got this’ and take some deep breaths before the event.
Approach the event itself promptly at the time it starts so you won’t be the first one there but won’t be overwhelmed by a room full of people either.
Be confident – or at least fake it until you are!
Confidence in this situation is everything. It will make you feel good and give off a vibe that will naturally attract others to want to talk to you.
A really good way of doing this is to imagine someone whose confidence you admire. Pretend you are that person entering the room. How would they act, what would they do and what would they say?
Be them for the evening if you have to. As you build up your confidence in this way, soon enough you won’t have to fake it anymore and it will come naturally to you.
Hold your head high, smile and make eye contact
By smiling and making eye contact with people on your way into the room you are giving the impression that you are approachable and willing to talk.
Do not be tempted to get your phone out as a comfort. Be fully present in the room and if you look friendly, it’s more than likely people will approach you.
Approach people that are alone or in small groups
When scouting the room for people to talk to it’s a great idea to approach other people alone or in smaller groups. It is easier to start a conversation, there are fewer people to feel like you have to impress and you can have more meaningful conversations too.
Remember, other people alone are in exactly the same boat as you and will actively be looking for people to talk to.
Get yourself involved
Being alone at an event can be overwhelming but the only way to enjoy it is to actively get yourself involved. You can’t rely on someone else to do it for you.
When you’ve found someone to approach make eye contact, smile and start a conversation. Start the conversation simply by asking their name (make sure you remember it) and then speak about the event.
If in doubt or nervous about silences in conversation ask them a question. People love to talk about themselves. Be present in the conversation, listen intently and show a genuine interest.
I really hope these 5 top tips have inspired you to attend an event alone. It’s honestly never as bad as you think it’s going to be and it can be a fantastic opportunity to meet new people and ultimately make friends. Step out of your comfort zone and just go for it.