Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
By Dr. Rachel Christopher, a licensed psychologist in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Fort Lauderdale has lots of opportunities to make friends as a young adult! Kick loneliness to the curb with these 5 friendship hacks.
BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. The familiar buzz of a tattoo gun rattles in my ear. I’m getting a tattoo on my arm, smiling and laughing through the pain with my super friendly tattoo artist. We’re joking around about a very common plight for most 20-somethings. How on Earth do you make friends after college?
Read more about Social Anxiety here.
I remember being shocked that someone as undeniably cool as a tattoo artist was struggling to make friends. Surely she isn’t afraid of anyone, right? It reminded me that anyone can have this problem. She was new to the area, and had tried out Bumble BFF. She told me that she had tons of success on the app– even showed me photos of her and her new pals at coffee shops and on the beach.
Fast forward a few years, especially post-COVID, and lots of my clients are asking me how to make friends after college. Check out 5 of the ideas I typically pass along to them.
“Be genuinely interested in everyone you meet and everyone you meet will be genuinely interested in you”
― Rasheed Ogunlaru
1. Open up
The easiest place to look for friends is within acquaintances. Chances are you already know people who you think you’d have a blast with, you’re just not sure how to approach the topic. Gone are the days of group projects and study buddies, so it’s time to learn how to make a real invitation to hang out.
Who do you know in your life that tends to leave you smiling after interactions? This might be a neighbor, a coworker, or even an old friend that you haven’t connected with in a while. It’s intimidating, I know, to pop your head into your work pal’s office and ask them to take their lunch with you. Consider the cost/benefit. What is the worst that could happen if you ask? What’s the worst that could happen if you don’t?
2. Look Online
Speaking of being brave, you could step out of your comfort zone and onto the Bumble BFF app! You probably know of Bumble as a dating site, but it has a friendship feature. Here’s how it works:
- You make a profile. Be sure to include photos of you doing an activity you love, so you can connect with people with similar interests. Show your wonderful personality and have fun with it.
- Get swiping! You’ll view other users’ profiles and decide if you want to start a conversation.
- If you swipe right and so do they– it’s a match! You can start chatting away and planning your first hang.
There are lots of other ways to make irl friends online. Facebook interest groups could be a good place to look, as well as local Discord servers.
3. Sign up for a rec sports league!
There are lots of different recreation leagues for sports locally. Look for pick-up games of basketball or soccer. One of my friends frequently raves about how much fun she has in a recreational kickball league. She hangs out with them outside of game days, and 4 people she started in the league with turned into 2 married couples! There’s a Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach and Coral Springs version of the league.
4. Join a Class
Anything you’ve always wanted to try, but haven’t? Maybe you think you’d be good at pottery, or ballet, or the violin? Let your creative juices flow and join a class! Remember how easy it was to make friends in your college courses? The same kind of rule typically applies here. Offer to host a jam session, free-paint, or post-class happy hour!
5. Volunteer
Consider something that is really important to you and embodies your values. Volunteering is a great way to meet people who share your value of giving back to the community, protecting the environment, or caring for animals.
This group meets on the second Saturday of every month for a clean up on Fort Lauderdale beach. Check it out!
“You can’t stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.” ― A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh
Sending that text!
I get it– it’s nerve-wracking! Rejection is scary. It feels personal, but it usually isn’t. Folks are busy and stressed, so if they say no to your first invite, try at least one more time.
I don’t know about you, but when I’m nervous to send a text I write it and re-write it a million times. Let me save you that struggle. Here’s a little text script to help to you out:
Hey (insert wonderful potential bestie’s name here), would you wanna go to happy hour at The Best Bar In Town (or to Your Fave Coffee Shop) next Friday? I’ve been there before and loved it.
I know, it’s easier said than done. The hard part is next– waiting for the reply! Take a deep breath and remind yourself how YOU felt the last time you received an invite. Flattered, included, liked? Your invitee will likely feel the same.
Conclusion
Making friends in post-college adulthood is tough. You might have to take some risks and try new things outside of your comfort zone. If it feels too overwhelming, or you have an intense fear of being judged, you may be experiencing social anxiety. Schedule a call back with us today if you’d like to hear about some treatment options.
Your new bestie is out there, and I believe in you!
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Dr. Rachel Christopher is a licensed clinical psychologist in Fort Lauderdale. She is an expert in working with teens and young adults. She specializes in depression therapy, anxiety therapy, PTSD and trauma-related issues, self-esteem, perfectionism, stress management and more.
Call 954-488-2933 or email today to discuss how our services can help you.
Copyright © 2026 The Psychology Group Fort Lauderdale, LLC
