When we retire and start enjoying independent senior living, we suddenly have a lot more free time on our hands. Meeting new people and making new friends is one of the best ways you can fill up that time. Interested in making new friends to create wonderful new memories with? Read on! In this blog, we reveal some of the best tips for starting new friendships in retirement.
1. Reconnect with Old Friends or Family Members
It can take time to build deep and meaningful friendships so reaching out to old friends, family members, or colleagues that already know you can be a great way to start. Sometimes we already have people within our social group whose company we enjoy, but if we only see them on the rare occasion, it can be hard to build a lasting friendship. Maybe it’s time to invite them over and see what the future brings. You’ll always wonder if you never try, and you’ll never know until you try!
Why not reach out to them with a pleasant phone call or share an old photo and ask them how they’ve been? You can make plans to go out for coffee and a catch-up.
2. Start a New Social Hobby
One of the best things about retirement is that we gain so much more time to focus on what we want, rather than spending it working a nine-to-five job every day. While this can feel disorientating at first, it’s an incredible opportunity to get out and about, and dip your toes into new waters!
If you never had enough time to focus on your hobbies before, why not start now and take the opportunity to socialise at the same time? From dancing groups and reading clubs to walking groups, painting groups, quiz groups, and more! Everyone likes doing something, so why not do it with others? If you’re a complete beginner trying something new, remember—learning something new will take a lot of fumbling for everyone, no matter how old we are when we start.
3. Consider Mentoring
If full-time work was your hobby and passion, why not keep it in your life and give back to the community by mentoring? A growing trend nowadays—for seniors who want to stay in the loop with old careers—is for them to utilise their life’s work and give back to the community through mentoring. By sharing your knowledge with younger learners in your field, retirees can have a new meaningful way to connect with the younger generations.
Mentoring doesn’t have to be related only to your career, either, it can be anything from mentoring your interests to simply taking a more engaged role in the lives of your grandchildren.
4. Join a Community Club or Meet Up for Seniors
Getting out into the community and chatting with like-minded individuals may sound easier said than done but it’s simpler than it seems! Joining a local community group or even a meet-up for seniors is an excellent way to get the ball rolling and start getting to know new faces. Book clubs and coffee clubs are great way of getting to know people and joining a volunteer organisation or a community organisation committee are also great ways you can make new friends.
5. Host Parties and Dinners at Your House
Hosting a gathering or dinner at your place gives you the perfect opportunity to grow your social circle. Invite people who you enjoy spending time with and would like to know more about. You can also request that guests bring a friend, and in this way, you can be introduced to a whole new group of people to form friendships! If you feel shy at the prospect of introducing yourself to new people, having friends introduce you to new guests at your party is the ultimate solution.
6. Find Friends Online with Apps!
If you are trying to make new friends, why not try to make friends online? It’s not all online dating out there, apps for making friends also exist—just make sure that in your profile online you state that you are “just looking for friendship”—unless a romantic connection is something you’re interested in!
Great apps to check out include Tinder, Tinder Social (which is JUST for making friends), Scout, CLIQ, and Bumble BFF. If you’re an animal lover and would like to meet up with other enthusiasts, Meet My Dog is the app for you!
Attend Events and Activities at Your Retirement Village
Finding new friends isn’t as hard as you might think. Try out these great suggestions and you’re sure to make new meaningful friendships and fill up your calendar with social engagements. So, stay positive, keep on smiling, and enjoy your retirement to the fullest!
When you join a community like Settlers, you’re joining a wonderful bunch of like-minded individuals who are also looking to enjoy their retirement to the fullest! This can make it a lot easier to make friends. By simply joining activities and events within the village, you get the chance to meet other retirees and make new friendships within the village.
If you’re looking for excellent lifestyle villages in Auckland to retire into, Settlers is the village for you! To register your interest, contact Rosalie, our sales manager, by emailing rosalie@settlersalbany.co.nz or call 0800 102 652 today!
