As we get older, making new friends can prove to be challenging. Friendships also have benefits that go beyond camaraderie, notes Greif, who comments that studies show in general, men with more friendships lead healthier lives. The Mayo Clinic says friendships can boost happiness, reduce stress, help you cope with traumas such as divorce, illness, job loss or the death of a loved one and encourage you to change or avoid unhealthy lifestyle habits such as lack of exercise.
In addition, those with a circle of friends show a reduced risk of depression, high blood pressure and an unhealthy body mass index BMI. And as we get older, friends take on an even greater importance, with both depression and anxiety linked to isolation. So, how do you make friends as an adult? Greif says men like to hang out with those who share similar interests as well as their perceived level of masculinity. He breaks male friendships down into four categories: rust friends, must friends, trust friends and just friends.
Despite their differences, Greif says all categories of friends can add something to your life and that finding local activities with like-minded people can be as easy as joining a business networking group, a sports league or hobby group. Meetup groups are free to join and drop-ins are welcome. There are also social groups on Meetup for different cultures, races, ages and those who are part of the LGBTQ community. To participate in upcoming races, visit runnersedgeboca.
Have you heard about the growing sport of pickleball that combines tennis, ping pong and badminton? Learn where you can take lessons, join events and find pickleball partners near you through The Global Pickleball Network. Through volunteermatch. Now much of that socializing is done online through sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and other social media sites.
Instead, utilize sites to bolster real-life connections. In addition, the popular dating site bumble. Meet other dog owners nearby, attend dog friendly events and more. But while apps can be useful, Poswolsky says spending too much time online can be counterintuitive to making friends. Only when we use it as a facilitator, can it enable us to create or nurture friendships. Just like in dating, Poswolsky says when you meet a new friend who piques your interest, make plans to ensure you get together again.
