There are a ton of tiny truths you’ll uncover during your teenage years, but one of the most unexpected ones is this: The older you get, the tougher it is to make friends. That said, as you grow up and find yourself interested in different things, it’s also inevitable that you’ll come across someone who just totally gets you in a new way.
Meeting a potential pal who shares your interests is a special thing. Think your newfound bud and you could one day rival each other, but have no idea how to promote your bond to BFF status? We’ve got all the answers.
You have more time than you think.
As weird as it sounds, making a new BFF is a lot like dating. If you wanna see the person, you gotta make the effort! Without coming on too strong, express that you’re so stoked you’ve become friends, and even though you’re both crazy-busy people, you hope you guys get to hang out. The trick is to factor your new pal into events that are already in your schedule so there’s no reason you won’t be able nurture your relationship.
Explore a new hobby.
Embarking on an adventure of sorts with each other is a great way to try something new or pick up an old skill that’s long forgotten. And better yet, you’ll now have a regular scheduled hang with your pal without having to give it any thought! Not only will it let you dabble in new experiences, said new experiences will actually be easier because having a friend in tow is way more fun.
Be proactive IRL!
No matter what kind of plan you put on the books, try to finalise it while you’re together (in person!) to minimize flakiness. Friendships often lose momentum simply because you don’t see each other enough in a short period of time. Though scheduling plans in advance may come off a bit Type A, locking something down then and there guarantees you won’t space out and inadvertently let the entire term fly by (which trust us, can totally happen!).
Get down with tagging along.
Your new bud is super fun, cool as hell, and has the best taste in music…but none of your BFFs know s/he exists. That tiny voice in your head that says, “But they’re my friends!” may be causing you to subconsciously keep the two entities separate. Sidestep your self-sabotaging behaviour and welcome her into your crew. If it doesn’t work out, you’ll still have your new pal and your old ones, but if everyone gets along, your group could gain a new member for life. Plus, you guys will be able to spend even more time together if you’re in the same social circle!
