How To Make Friends In Your Twenties

Making friends in your twenties is hard, let’s be real. It’s hard for everyone, even Gals on the Go discussed this in their episode, “Elevator Panic, Premonitions, & Wondering If We Have Enough Friends…” So if you’ve been overthinking your social circle lately, you’re definitely not alone.

Growing up, making friends felt easy thanks to the built-in proximity. School, sports, clubs, random group projects—these all led to an abundance of opportunities for friendships. And for telling your life story to someone you met 20 minutes ago. (Been there.) But in your 20s? It’s a completely different ballgame. You’re navigating new cities (read “How to Make Friends in a New City“), shifting careers, demanding work schedules, and, for some, even starting a family.

Ultimately, your time isn’t as flexible and your energy isn’t unlimited. But here’s the thing: while it may not feel as effortless as it once was, building meaningful friendships in your twenties is far from impossible. And we’re here to prove it! In this post, we’re telling you exactly how to make friends in your twenties. We’ll also provide a handful of podcasts about friendship because, let’s be honest, we could all use a little courage—and understanding.

How To Make Friends In Your Twenties 

Work on yourself first. 

First up, you’ve gotta spend some time working on yourself before you build your tribe. At this point, you probably really want to be liked to prove to yourself that you’re still as cool and fun as you were in high school. But honestly? Skip that step. You gotta love yourself! 

If you don’t have a strong sense of self, you could become super co-dependent on your friends. This is a major turn-off for friends in your 20s. Your friends are NOT your therapists, as Nicole Walters puts it. Do some real heart work, fall in love with yourself, and listen to “the episode of “ASK P: On Love, Friendship, and Over-Analyzing vs. Self-Trust” from Note to Self.

Practice confidence.

Before you meet people, you need to be confident. Step one should help with that! Confidence is the number one thing people are going to be attracted to, after all. And, without confidence, how are you going to step out of your comfort zone o connect with new people?

To help you generate some confidence, listen to some confidence-boosting podcasts! Each episode serves as a gentle reminder that you’re not alone. And, don’t forget, like The Bad Broadcast said, the key to confidence is being a little delusional.

Consider the type of people you want to meet. 

Next, ask yourself what you want in your potential friends. This really depends on your life stage! Want that fun, wild mid-twenties spirit? Cool, you’ll probably find your people at the club. Want someone who will sit and drink coffee with you while your children scream in the background? Then, we should probably find a nice playground. 

Figure out what kind of social circle you want to cultivate in your 20s. It may involve getting out of your usual safe spaces, so this is an important step.

Manifest that sh*t.

Now let’s manifest this sh*t! Manifest your confidence, your new besties, and the whole new community you’re going to find. If you’re doubting the power of manifestation, do we have the resources for you! First, listen to “The 4 Law of Attraction Practices I Can’t Live Without” from Dear Gabby.

Next up, read our post: “How Do You Manifest Something? A Step-by-Step Guide (That Works!).” If you truly use this as a tool, you’ll realize just how powerful it is. Before long, you’ll be surrounded by people you can’t believe you didn’t meet sooner.

Get out of the house.

Okay, you’re probably not going to find friends in your living room—this is especially true if you’ve moved cities! It’s time to explore and get way out of your comfort zone. You need to not only find new places to hang out, but you’ll need to approach and engage with your future friends. We know this can be anxiety-inducing, but we believe in you!!!

Find a club or community.

One of the best places to find friends is by joining a club or group. In these communities, you’ll find like-minded people with common interests. This will give you lots of conversation starters and plenty in common. 

Think about yoga clubs, book clubs, painting clubs, and more to join! And if you need a helpful head start, listen to “Grandma Hobbies 101! Why You Need Them & How to Start” from House Guest.

Volunteer somewhere.

Volunteering is a great way to meet people who have the same values and viewpoints as you. Pick a mission, volunteer, and probably meet some of the most amazing people ever!!! 

Feed the homeless, visit the elderly, clean up a beach—anything to make a difference, and meet potential friends. 

Travel the world. 

Travel creates connections with people like nothing else. There is something about exploring new places that charges you with confidence and boldness. You’ll meet so many people! 

Pick a destination and just go. Even if that means you go solo! If this is out of your comfort zone, good! But also, Lauryn and Micahel Bosstick have helpful travel hacks on their podcast that will change how you view travel altogether. You can also listen to our roundup of the best travel podcasts for a little encouragement!

Actually, talk to your co-workers or classmates. 

Do you work? Do you go to school? Those are people with similar interests, skills, and lifestyles as you. Why not actually talk to them and get to know who they are and what they’re all about? After that, go out for drinks, work out together, or even start carpooling! 

Here are some tips on making friends at work, because you can never have enough!

Use an app. 

Social media used to be a great place to meet people, but then Nev and Max came along and showed us what Catfishing is. Since then, we’ve all been a little skeptical. Luckily, there are other digital ways of finding your circle! 

You can find apps for hooking up and finding love, but there are also apps to make friends! Here are some of our faves:

6 Apps to Make Friends in Your 20s

After you read over our top tips, check out our post, “Best Friendship Apps” for more advice! There are SO many helpful platforms out there to meet people on and foster meaningful, life-long relationships.

Bumble BFF

Bumble has a dating feature that most people know about, but there’s also a way to meet new friends through Bumble BFF. It works the same as regular Bumble, except it’s only for people looking for friends and it’s not gendered. Anyone can make the first move! 

Wanna hear from the Bumble founder herself? Listen to “Whitney Wolfe Herd on How to Build a Billion Dollar Business, the Future of Relationships & AI, Entrepreneurial Burnout, & Balancing Motherhood” from The Bossticks!

Wink

This is one of the most popular friendship apps out there. It’s just like Tinder where you swipe left or right on each compatible person. It’s just a great system, so why not use it to find your future bestie?

Meetup

If you plan on finding your people through clubs and community, Meetup will help you do that. It’s an app that organizes local meetups for specific hobbies and lifestyles.  

Hey! VINA

This one’s just for the ladies!! VINA is an app all about women finding women friends based on interests, hobbies, and stage of life. And, guys, establishing strong female friendships is sooo important!

Peanut

VINA is for women and Peanut is for moms! This app acts as its own social media platform in addition to a meet-up resource. We love this for moms everywhere who struggle to prioritize their social lives. 

Atleto

If your passion is fitness, your next bestie could be on Atleto! It’s an app that connects people to workout together. Pretty rad, right?

Where to Meet People in Your 20s

Finding places to meet people in your twenties can feel overwhelming. This is especially true if you’re no longer surrounded by built-in social environments like school or extracurriculars! However, don’t let that limit you. The trust is, opportunities are everywhere. Here are a few examples:

Fitness Classes and Workout Spaces

There’s something about fighting for your life in a workout class that just naturally unites people. All jokes aside, when you meet friends in yoga studios or workout classes, you already have a common ground. You both enjoy (or power through) work outs, and it’s super easy to bond with the people around you. And for all of our workout gurus out there, listen to “The Doing, Not the Getting | Kris Gethin on True Motivation” from The Gabby Reece Show.

Work (or Work-Adjacent Spaces)

Your workplace can be an obvious starting place for making friends in your twenties. You’re surrounded by the same people everyday, bonding over similar tasks, and powering through the same schedules. Cue: “What Is an Emotional Support Coworker?” That said, don’t overlook work-related events! Think: industry events and networking meetups. Even if you’re remote, starting occasional in-person events can open the door to meaningful connections.

Social Media and Online Communities

Don’t underestimate the power of social media. This can be SUCH a good tool for making friends, meeting new people, and starting up conversations. After all, you’re already using socials to scroll anyways, right? Use it to your advantage! Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and even niche Facebook groups have become surprisingly effective for meeting like-minded people.

Listen to “Someone Had to Say It ft. Morgan Stewart” from Khloé in Wonder Land to learn more about friendship!

Friends of Friends

This is such an underrated tip, but it works wonders. You probably already have a handful of high-quality friends, right? Ask them to bring their friends to hang-outs! It sounds too simple, and that’s because it is. When you’re open to exploring connections through ones you already have, it makes it so much easier to meet people. Plus, you and your friend’s friends’ already have something in common: the friend! (That was a mouthful.) Say yes to group diners, birthday events, or casual hangouts—you never know who you’ll click with.

Friendship Podcasts

Sometimes, the best way to navigate friendships in your twenties is by hearing other people talk through it in real time. Whether it’s setting boundaries, outgrowing relationships, or figuring out if you actually have enough friends, these podcasts are honest, unfiltered, and authentic. Here are the best podcasts about friendship to help you through the process:

Gals on the Go

If you’ve ever questioned your social circle, this one’s for you. Hosts Danielle Carolan and Brooke Miccio are like your virtual besties, helping you through all of those confusing, awkward moments you’re unsure how to navigate. And they keep it totally unfiltered and honest. Example A? “Uninvited to the Wedding, Friendship Break-Ups, & Boys Trips.”

Well with Arielle Lorre

Host Arielle Lorre is a totals girl’s girl, and that includes advice on navigating friendship. Through solo episodes and guest appearances, she covers the topics other people tip-toe around. She regularly touches on topics like personal growth, boundaries, and relationships—including friendships. Want an insight look into what kind of content she creates? Listen to “Can You Be Friends with an Ex? Advice to My 20-Something Self & the 5 Beauty Things I Can’t Live Without.”

Girls Gotta Eat

If anyone’s gonna give you honest advice about friendship, it’s Ashley Hesseltine and Rayna Greenberg, hosts of Girls Gotta Eat. They take a comedic approach to everything like dating, sex, and relationships, helping you navigate even the most taboo parts of making friends in your twenties. Start with “Friendship Love Bombing and Ghosting,” you won’t regret it.

Let’s Be Honest

Kristin Cavallari doesn’t hold back when it comes to friendships. But did you expect anything different from someone who grew up on Laguna Beach and The Hills? She’s like… the OG friendship analyst, who’s now helping people everywhere navigate their own relationships. Start with an episode with one of her old friends, “The Laguna Reunion and Spencer Pratt for Mayor!” Or… the episode everyone’s been waiting for, “Team LC.”

Scheananigans

Hosted by Scheana Shay, this podcast gives you a very real look into making friends in your twenties. Especially friendships that evolve, transform, and readjust over time—which typically happens during your 20s, right? Each conversation is unfiltered, informative, and full of advice you can’t believe you lived so long without. Start with “Bestie Betrayal, Bravo Chaos, & a Broken Engagement” and work your way down her episode list.

Making friends in your twenties is hard, but you can do it!

Making friends in your 20s can feel like the hardest challenge, but it doesn’t have to! With these tips, podcasts, and apps, you’ll have your ideal social circle in no time. Remember: stay true to yourself, remain confident, and trust that the right people will find the way into your life. Anyone would be lucky to be part of your circle!

For more life advice and podcast recs, check out the Dear Media blog and our list of amazing podcasts. We’ve got everything you need to absolutely slaaaay in your twenties. Let’s go girls!