If you want to work out with a buddy, you could ask a family member to play soccer or tennis with you, or take your dog for a long walk. Joining a sports team might feel intimidating, but it can be a great way to meet new people.
If you can, consider getting a change of scenery by taking a bus or train to a different city for a day.
Have you undergone a significant change recently? Going away to college or moving to a new city can be part of the reason why you may not yet have friends. Likewise, having a falling out with friends can lead to isolation. Did you recently lose a friend or group of friends for some reason? Are you naturally introverted? If you tend to prefer your alone time to spending time with other people, then you might be an introvert. If this is the case, then not having friends may be due to a preference for solitude. However, you can still have friends and maintain your solitude. Have you been struggling with emotional turmoil lately? If you have been feeling down for a while and unable to motivate yourself to go out and seek friendship, then this could also be part of the reason why you don’t have friends. If so, it is important to seek help. Talk to your school counselor, someone in the counseling center at your college, or a trusted adult, such as a parent, teacher, or religious leader.
If your peers try to make fun of you, stand up for yourself. Don’t get into a physical fight, but do let people know you aren’t a pushover. If you want to make more friends in the future, accepting yourself as you are now is an important first step.
However, keep in mind that being alone all of the time is not healthy either. You may not want to be as social as other people, but having some degree of socialization is healthy.
If you think you have a mental health disorder, ask your parents to take you to a doctor or therapist.
When you treat other people well, your peers won’t have anything to use against you, and you’ll have an easier time making friends in the future if you want to.
For instance, you could join a science club, a book discussion group, or a sports team. You can also check out Meetup. com to find people who will share your interests.
Consider adopting a shelter dog or cat. These animals often have a hard time finding good homes, but they can make very loyal pets. Having a dog may also help you to break the ice when you are out walking with your dog. For example, someone might compliment your dog, and this could be a good opportunity to strike up a conversation, such as by saying, “Thank you! Do you have a dog?” Having a dog or cat might also provide you with something to chat about with neighbors or new acquaintances. For example, if someone brings up their pet, then you could say, “Oh, I just adopted a cat/dog myself. I really enjoy the companionship. ” Then, you could show a picture of your pet and talk with the person about your pets.
Start small. Even a job at McDonald’s or Starbucks will help you save money for the future. Volunteering for a cause you care about will make you feel good, and the experience will give you a leg up when you search for jobs or apply to college.
If you aren’t sure why you don’t have friends and you know your social skills are a bit rusty, then this could be a potential explanation. However, keep in mind that having rusty social skills is often indicative of a deeper problem, such as a fear of rejection. Talk with an adult you trust, like a parent or a teacher, to talk about why you might be having some issues with social interactions.
Opt for open-ended questions or statements that allow the person to share as much as they like as opposed to questions which lead to simple “yes” or “no” answers. You might ask at an event, “So, how do you know the host?” or “What kinds of things do you do for fun?"[14] X Research source
Engaged listeners make great friends because many people often want to vent their problems or share their points of view. Practice being fully engaged while you are listening and be ready to respond with a statement that summarizes what you just heard. For example, you might say, “It sounds like you had a really rough day” to sum it up after the speaker is done talking.
Think of something small you can share with the other person about yourself like “I had a pretty rough term last school year. My parents got divorced. " Then, see how they handle it to determine if the friendship goes any further.
Say, “Hey, you seem really cool. Would you like to catch a movie together this Saturday?"[17] X Research source
