In elementary school, meeting a new friend was as simple as sharing a box of crayons during story time. Now that you’re older you have far fewer opportunities to talk to like-minded people who could become new friends, but that doesn’t mean that you should give up entirely. Use these smart tips to begin making new friends at any age:

1. Ask friends and family. Just like you might ask friends and family if they know anyone you might be interested in romantically, you can do the same for platonic relationships. It’s much easier to meet a friend when you already have someone to introduce you.
2. Be more social at parties. Instead of clinging to the group of people you already know at parties, make yourself more of an extrovert. Introduce yourself to anyone who looks like a potential friendship candidate, and be sure to exchange contact information.
3. Try something new. One of the very best ways to make new friends as an adult is through a shared interest. Join a book club, begin taking a workout class or even volunteer at your kids’ school to be around people with interests similar to yours. Just be sure to put yourself out there and strike up a conversation with anyone you meet.

Survey Says: How to Meet New People [Psychology Today]
50 Ways to Meet New People [About Relationships]
Real-Life Social Networking: How These Best Friends Met [Redbook]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Dave Catchpole