Rebuilding Your Social Circle After a Move
Moving is tinged with a series of conflicting emotions. There’s dread at the thought of how much you have to do, excitement and exhaustion once you’re in the new place, then a certain amount of grief because you miss the friends you left behind.
We humans are incredibly social animals, and we need each other. After a move, it’s important to grow a new social circle. This can also get harder the older you get. Children, teens, and young adults tend to make new friends in school and meet many different people in their classes. By the time full-on adulthood and middle age roll around, it seems tougher to make meaningful connections. You probably have a history with your old friends, and that leads to strong emotional bonds.
This article may help people of all ages, but is specifically meant for adults in the work force.
At Work
A great way to start is by getting to know people you work with. Be open to talking to your coworkers during lunch or shared breaks. In an office setting, people often talk about various things only tangentially related to work, and this is a good opportunity to discover whom you might like to make friends with.
Some businesses will take employees out to lunch to socialize or have get-togethers after work. These can be a lot of fun and are a great way to get to know your colleagues. Maybe you’ll make a few good friends at work, and maybe not, but by getting to know your coworkers, you’ll help to make your place of employment a happier environment.
If you do really like your those you work with, you can always host a party or propose an event like an office holiday party. Ask those who have been there a while what some of the office traditions happen to be.
At Your Child’s School
Kids make friends at school, and if your kids want to visit their new friends outside of a school setting, you need to get to know their parents. Whether the other parents become your friends or not, you are at least broadening your social circle.
You may also want to get involved with the school in other ways. Perhaps you could volunteer in your child’s class now and then, help on field trips, or join the PTA.
Whom Do Your Old Friends Know?
These days, social media keeps us connected to our loved ones, no matter where they live. Why not write a Facebook post letting your friends know where you moved to? Then, ask if they have any friends in the area.
Online Resources
First, let’s start with dating sites. In general, people on them are looking for a romantic relationship. Even if they say they’re also looking for friends, that is not their primary goal.
Of course, dating is part of being social, so if you’re single, find a good site and start meeting people, but chances are this won’t help you build your social circle back up.
Some sites do host mixers for singles, so consider attending one. If you go in with no expectations and the intention of just getting to know people, you could make some friends.
Second, definitely check out Meetup. This website is where you’ll find groups that share your specific interests. You can find groups related to sports, arts, favorite television shows, and a lot more. You’ll find events like open mic nights, live drawing lessons, and tabletop role playing games.
If you don’t see a Meetup group for a specific passion of yours, create one. Chances are at least a few others will find it and be interested.
When it comes down to it, building back your social circle is a matter of putting in a little effort. Sure, it may take some time, but eventually you’re bound to have a new group of friends, and your new residence will feel more and more like home.
