6 Easy Ways To Make Mates Outside Of Work And School

Maybe you haven't found like-minded people at work or school. Maybe you're just craving more connections. No matter the reason, where the heck can you find mates?? Literally asking for a friend here. 

Dw, we have you covered with six easy-peasy ways to meet new friends. 

1. Join a sports team ⚽

Why not kill two birds with one stone by meeting people and staying active?!

Whether it's a local footy team, a running club, or a dance group, you'll meet a tonne of people at training and the games. As you cheer for your teammate to get that goal or learn a new dance routine together, the community and camaraderie that a sports team brings will have you making mates quicksmart. 

Oh and, there can be a lot of events (like Ladies Day) and pub sessions with the team as well. 

2. Get involved in hobbies and interests 🎨

If you wanna attract like-minded people, capitilise on ya hobbies and interests! Do a class in yoga, philosophy, Spanish, or art. Join a book club. Do odd jobs at festivals or surf competitions... You'll meet a tonne of people with similar interests aka you'll make mates quicksmart. 😉

3. Attend events 🏟️

Whether it's a gig, a poetry reading, a stand-up comedy night, or an art opening, attending events is a bangin' idea to meet people that align with what you love!

Hop on Facebook events. Search up your fave bands or comedians, and see when they're playing next. Follow funky exhibitions centers/venues/galleries to be notified when they've got something on next.

4. Use social media 📱

Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are fab for connecting with people online. (Just stay vigilant - let's not get catfished people!) 🐈🐟

Search for groups or pages related to your interests and join 'em. Engage in discussions, share opinions, and reach out to cool people. 

There's also no shame in getting on dating apps either. Maybe you'll meet a potential love interest or just a new mate. My roommates are friends that literally met on Hinge. Just sayin'. 

5. Volunteer 🥰

Volunteering is a perf way to give back to your community, dive deeper into something you love, and meet like-minded peeps! Whether you're volunteering at a festival (to nab a free ticket as well), your fave radio station, a nearby animal shelter, or in a soup van, there'll be a tonne of people to meet. 

There are so many organisations in areas such as:

• Human rights and advocacy
• Children and youth
• Animal welfare
• Arts and culture
• Education and literacy
• Crisis support or disaster relief

6. Say yes to everything 👍

Say yes to things you normally wouldn’t. Maybe it's a party where you only know one person, or an event that normally wouldn't interest you like a poetry reading or a pottery class. 

Be open-minded with people. When I first met my best mate, we didn't click immediately as we seemed like polar opposites - but then as we kept seeing each other, we realised we're both nutcases and are now inseparable. 

Be approachable. Listen to people, say hey when you see them on the street, and ask new mates to hang out.

So what are you waiting for? Go forth and meet some funky mates! 🥰