Making friends is easy when you’re growing up…not so much when we get older.

Psychology Today share some tips on how to make it happen:

Realize it’s going to require deliberate effort.  If you want more friends and don’t have them yet, you might need to pound some pavement to get it done by putting yourself out there and engaging people.

Be proactive about it.  Don’t assume the person you want to be friends with will invite you to stuff…you might need to invite them to something.  If it’s someone you just met, you might just need to be the one to say, “Hey, let’s exchange numbers!” then YOU may need to reach out…don’t wait for them to call.

Branch out.  Look for friends of different ages and backgrounds…as you get older, a 10 or 15-year age gap matters less and less.

Promote or upgrade people to “friends.”  You may already have people in your orbit that would make great friends…think neighbors, former co-workers or even old friends you’ve lost touch with…and think about friends-of-friends, too.

Join a Group.  Volunteer groups, church groups, a golf club, whatever you want and in-person groups are best. We tend to like people more and more when we see them regularly so choose groups that meet in-person on a regular basis.

Don’t take it personally if your attempts don’t pan out.  Don’t hold it against the person either.  Everyone’s busy and overwhelmed, so maybe another time…just move on to someone else.

Good luck!