My friends and I do a good job of checking in and catching up on each other’s lives. We get into long conversations about work, “Love Island,” and our dating lives. Based on their stories, let’s just say I’m happy I’m off the market. 

One thing we often discuss is how challenging it is to find friends and great dates. Whether that’s because of our busy schedules or a new move, it takes a lot of energy to go out and try to meet people. From pre-k to my master’s, school has always been a great way to socialize and meet people, so I never had to put too much energy into meeting singles my age. 

But now that my friends and I are older, we have to be more intentional about making connections. 

If you feel like you’re in the same boat, don’t fret because it happens to the best of us. To make things easier for your adulting journey, here are my tips on how to meet your next bestie or true love. 

1. Go Online

Naturally, the web is a popular resource for people to make connections — and I’m talking about all kinds of connections! 

If you’re looking for something serious, the dating apps Match and eharmony can provide worthwhile introductions. Both of these apps have been around for over a decade and have continuously proven that love can be found online. I’m especially fond of Match because it was the first dating site to hit the market in 1995, and it is still going strong.

Category Rating
★★★★★ 4.9/5.0
  • Find quality women with advanced search filters
  • Communicate with your Top Picks for free
  • Add up to 26 photos to your profile

Online dating is a simple way for people to find dates, and now a lot of singles in my generation (shoutout Gen Z!) are using it to find friends, local events, and even business connections. Bumble was one of the first platforms to go beyond romantic matchmaking with its initiatives Bumble BFF and Bumble Bizz. Bumble is a progressive space where singles are encouraged to make the first move and find the connections they want. 

But love isn’t always what singles are chasing after either. Tinder is a very popular dating app where it’s OK to be casual and date at your own pace.  

2. Join a Club or Meetup

A lot of people think that clubs are just for kids or students to do after school –– but that’s far from the truth! Even in your adult years, clubs serve as a great way to get involved and meet people within your area. 

It’s best to choose to join a club based on your hobbies and other interests because then you’ll likely meet people you have things in common with. Depending on your location, clubs are often advertised on the web, but you can also go the old-school route and check your local newspapers for different club event listings.

Meetup screenshots
Meetup is a great tool for finding local communities.

The Meetup platform is known for offering local groups for people to join. It’s honestly an amazingly easy way to engage with other singles. Meetup was created to help people find support for their hobbies while pursuing their passions with new connections. Some of the groups offered on Meetup are career, social, and creativity groups for members to join. 

“I love my local Meetup group. They have a lot of fun events and are incredibly welcoming to new members. I admit the people who run these groups can make all the difference –– thankfully ours are wonderful,” said Meetup member Veronica O’Dwyer in a review.

3. Get Involved & Volunteer

Whether it’s through your local church or a community center, you can find volunteer opportunities to get out there and connect. 

Personally, I always enjoyed volunteering at Ronald McDonald House Charities because, from the families and other volunteers, there were always new people to meet and get to know. 

Volunteering reveals character. Not to be corny, but it shows a side of people that is warm, kind, and vulnerable. When volunteering, you get a glimpse of people’s passions and you share a common goal, which serves as the perfect icebreaker. 

4. Find a Speed Dating Event

Speed dating events are becoming more popular these days, and I’m not surprised. The excitement of the event is unmatched. And the sheer number of single people you meet when speed dating is rare, especially in person.

If you’ve been single for a long time, speed dating events are perfect to ease your way back into the dating scene. Speed dating events mostly consist of short conversations (10 minutes or less) that allow you to gauge interest while not having to worry about being stuck for hours with a dud. 

Speed dating can be exciting

For the bold participants, speed dating is an opportunity to step outside their comfort zones and experience people for who they are. 

“The biggest takeaway from my speed dating experience is that I was surprised by the number of people I got along with but never would have chatted to if I’d only seen their dating app profile,” shared Sienna Barton in a Fashion Journal article.

5. Mingle at Bars or Festivals

It’s an old standby for a reason. Bars remain a great place to mingle with local people while having a drink or two. Singles thrive in a chill and comfortable environment. In my experience, some of the best conversations are had when people let their guards down over beer, wine, or cocktails. Even mocktails will work, so don’t worry if you don’t drink.

Talking to someone at a five-star restaurant can be nerve-wracking for some, but at a bar with a beer in hand, it’s not as intimidating. 

A lot of bars host game nights and karaoke nights, which are the perfect opportunity to meet new singles in a fun way. 

Festivals are also known for being tons of fun. From music to food, festivals are filled with people who share similar tastes and interests as each other. 

6. Ask Your Friends for Blind Dates

Sometimes trusting someone else to help you out in the love department isn’t such a bad idea, especially if it’s a friend or family member. Although, in my experience, moms tend to not be the best at setting up blind dates for their children. I’d say there’s less anxiety when friends do it. 

Say yes to blind dates.

Friends usually have a good idea of what you do and don’t like in a person — or better yet, what you deserve in a partner. I know some of my friends aren’t the best at picking up stand-up guys, so whenever I get a chance to introduce my friend to a great man, I go for it. 

So next time your friend offers to set you up on a date, let them! You’d be surprised at how many blind dates turn into something serious at the end of it all. 

7. Go to the Gym

Gyms are a fun place to go to meet athletic or health-conscious people. There’s always someone at a gym trying to achieve their New Year’s resolution of getting fit.

And with the help of Zumba classes or yoga groups, it’s super easy to introduce yourself to others. Bonding over shared goals is a great way for new relationships to form. You can even commiserate over the sweat and pain. It’s all part of the experience of working out.

“I joined a new gym this summer after an awkward breakup at my last one. I had made a couple of friends at my old gym and it was kind of nice,” said Daphne Sevde in a Quora post.

8. Chat Up People in Real Life 

As crazy as it may sound, meeting people during your day-to-day routine is possible, too. OK, it’s not all that crazy because it happens quite often. But sometimes it feels out of reach when you’ve been single for a minute. 

We're hardwired to make quick decisions about a person's character and value.

People often associate random run-ins with rom-com movies like “Serendipity.” But singles are still meeting the old-fashioned way by introducing themselves at grocery stores, on the bus, and in line for coffee. It never hurts to say “hi” and send a warm smile to a cutie who piques your interest. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Now, I’m sure you’ve got some follow-up questions not covered by this list, so I’m going to answer some common inquiries we get from singles hoping to meet people ASAP.

Is There a Free Dating Site for Meeting Singles?

There are a lot of dating sites that offer free plans. OkCupid is one popular dating site that has a lot to offer to singles reluctant to open their wallets. The site does a great job of matching members based on what matters to them by using a detailed personality quiz. Over 5,000 optional questions are used to find commonalities between singles.

Is It Better to Meet Singles Online or Offline?

It really depends on what’s your cup of tea because both have pros and cons. Many singles feeling burnt out by the swiping apps are more interested in IRL events. Meeting singles offline provides more trust and security because they know they’re not being catfished

Catfish profiles are common hazards

That said, dating apps are certainly convenient and still a dominant matchmaker. It’s helpful to have a team supporting your dating journey by providing high-quality matches based on your preferences.

Where Do Smart Men Hang Out?

Try trivia nights or book clubs –– smart guys are bound to be there. 

Networking events for single professionals could be good opportunities too. You may leave with a mix of business cards and phone numbers.

If you have the cash to spare, you might want to hire a matchmaker who can do the legwork for you. 

You Never Know Where Your Dating Journey Will Take You

Dating can feel like a wild roller coaster sometimes. I’ve been there. If you don’t want to end up lonely and burnt out, it’s important to know how to handle the ups and downs and keep having fun along the way. 

As someone who is still trying to figure out how to be a big girl and meet new people as an adult, I constantly have to remind myself that I have plenty of opportunities to meet people –– it’s just a matter of putting myself out there. 

Advertiser Disclosure DatingNews.com is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. To keep this resource 100% free, we receive compensation from many of the offers listed on the site. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear on the page (including, for example, the order in which they appear). DatingNews.com does not include the entire universe of available offers. Editorial opinions expressed on the site are strictly our own and are not provided, endorsed, or approved by advertisers. Our Editorial Review Policy Our site is committed to publishing independent, accurate content guided by strict editorial guidelines. Before articles and reviews are published on our site, they undergo a thorough review process performed by a team of independent editors and subject-matter experts to ensure the content’s accuracy, timeliness, and impartiality. Our editorial team is separate and independent of our site’s advertisers, and the opinions they express on our site are their own. To read more about our team members and their editorial backgrounds, please visit our site’s About page.