Amidst your packed work schedule and other responsibilities, it may be hard to get to know people deeper than the surface level and find a sense of belonging. The negative effects of lacking meaningful social connections are serious, though, as you may feel isolation even though you regularly encounter people. If you want to improve this kind of situation, there are luckily steps you can take. Here’s how to find community in your everyday life.
Do Activities with Coworkers
One action that you can take is to do activities outside of work with your coworkers. You may not feel that close to them when you only see them in the context of your job, but when you talk to them more, you may find you have more in common than you thought. You can go for dinner or do some other casual activity, like watching a movie with some coworkers that you already talk to a bit at work. Furthermore, you can also try to participate in social activities and events organized by your workplace. These could be good opportunities for you if you’re intimidated by the prospect of initiating a meetup yourself. By being present in these activities, you can naturally break down some of the barriers that exist when you’re more focused on work than socializing.
Volunteer in Your Area
Sometimes, the key to making worthwhile friendships is to focus on helping others. Signing up for volunteering opportunities around your area can give you a reason to go out while doing something productive at the same time. If you’re not sure where to start, look for online services that connect you with various volunteering opportunities. You can put in your location, view the list of results for it, and then pick one that you would like to participate in. As you volunteer, you can talk with other volunteers and the people you’re serving. From there, you may start to volunteer together with some friends that you meet along the way. There may also be certain organizations you want to become more deeply involved in.
Join an Interesting Class
Think about what you are interested in and consider joining a relevant class—classes are a great way to meet people. Whether you like to make art, exercise, cook, or there’s something you always wanted to try, a class will both teach you new skills and help you to meet other like-minded people. For long-standing groups that come together over a shared interest, members support each other to improve in the activity or craft. For example, you can choose a martial arts class based on your personal preferences. You’ll take part in something that you’re interested in, and the instructors and more experienced students will help you develop your techniques. Over time, you can form bonds through this support system and help those who come after you. No matter what specific type of class you end up joining, the goal of everyone there will be to grow. This kind of positive environment is the perfect platform from which to forge lasting relationships.