5 Places to Make Friends

The world is massive, and the estimated population of the world is now over 8 billion, according to the Worldometer. With this population size, it may seem like it is easy to make friends, right? Not quite! There are many reasons for struggling to make friends. 

If you are one of those individuals struggling, know that you are not alone. Recent studies have found that over 40% of adults struggle to make and maintain friends. On the plus side, there are actions that you can take to find friends. 

Where Can I Find Friends?

The definition of friendship means different things to different people. Sometimes people prefer to find friends online, whereas other times they prefer to make friends in person. Whatever way you make friends, know that your way is valid. Here are some ways you can go about making friends, with a sprinkle of GTA hotspots added. 

At Your Favorite Food Hangout

Do you have a restaurant that you hang out at all the time?

Oftentimes, people form friendships at these places because they can spend time with each other in the future if they share common dining places.

Here are some in the GTA you may enjoy: Snakes and Lattes (board game lovers paradise) and the Rec Room (the Playdium dining experience).

Parks

Parks are well known as the place to be when someone is running an event.

They are also the places people go to relax with friends. They have something for extroverts, introverts, and those in between.

Use Eventbrite and look up your local park(s) to browse events being held.

You can go to any event that piques your interest and look to make friends with those who share common interests and hobbies with you. 

Volunteer for an Organization You Love

Volunteering has numerous benefits, including making friends.

You can serve the community and lend a helping hand, which will improve your mental health.

When you volunteer for an organization you like, you are more likely to find people with similar interests and hobbies as you.

You can also spend time with people who can become friends. 

Bookstores

Are you a book lover or guru? You are not the only one.

Bookstores are a way to find individuals who like to read as much as you do.

You can even turn your book reading into a book club to explore the book with others reading it. 

The Friendly Company loves books as well, and we are looking into starting a book club in the future.

Some bookstores in the GTA to explore include Bookcity, Caversham Booksellers (support mental health), the Book Wardrobe, and the Nooks.

Online Communities

For those of you who may have disabilities or may have other reasons why in-person meet-ups may not be the most suitable for you, online communities and meet-ups can work just as well.

The Friend Company even has one of our own. You can join these groups to find people with similar interests. Other communities you can take part in are Discord, Instagram, and Reddit.