4 Ways to Meet New People During Lockdown.

Loneliness affects millions of people worldwide every year, and it can be a challenge to meet people you click with. Quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic has made this isolation worse for many people. Never fear – our article suggests some creative ways you can find new connections in lockdown.

Building social connections can be challenging for an adult. Research shows that our social lives are at their most bustling when we are 25 years old. This is when we typically socialize and meet people the most. After this peak, our number of social connections begins to decline, and by 40, most of us statistically only have around 8 friends. 

Socializing in the Age of Covid

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, stereotypical social life advice went something like this: get out and try new things, go to new places, interact with strangers. But what do we do now that social distancing and quarantine has, for the moment, curtailed these activities? If you’re struggling to meet people during quarantine, we’ve got some tips to widen your circle even with distancing in place.

1.      Get Creative Online

The online world gives us access to millions of strangers who we can connect within a moment. Joining a discord server, a specific hobby chatroom or Facebook group, or playing an online game with others are wonderful ways to meet people around the world. Interacting with like-minded people is an ideal way to start conversations as your shared hobby gives you an immediate point of connection.

2.      Use a Social App to Meet People

Since the start of lockdown, socially driven apps like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, etc have skyrocketed in terms of popularity. Some of them are ideal for students looking to meet people online who are their own age. Users can receive notifications if their friend is online and can join groups that their friends or acquaintances are active in. This allows young people to socialize with their own friend group and meet friends of friends to extend their social circle without breaking lockdown rules.

3.      Embrace Online Dating

Single people may struggle with loneliness and isolation during this period, especially if they live alone. Some people also find it easier to meet people for a reason, like for a date or specific activity, rather than just talking to strangers online. If this sounds familiar, it might be a good time to try out some online dating sites and schedule some virtual dates. Consider doing a sweep of the best hookup sites 2020 has to offer and update your profile.

4.      Try an Outdoor Workout Class

Joining a gym or workout group is usually great advice for those who want to be more sociable. Although quarantine has made this more difficult, people can exercise outdoors, and workout groups are starting to spring up in many places. If you're looking to meet people and make friends, try to show up regularly to any group you join. This will help people remember you and help build consistent social connections.

Quarantine loneliness can take a toll on mental health. Socializing during lockdown can work wonders for your mood and help you build new friendships. You’ll be glad post-lockdown when you have a new group of pals to meet up with!

Final Call: Have you experienced loneliness or social isolation during this year’s quarantine? How have you found ways to combat this and meet new people? Share your experiences in the comments!

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Author’s bio:

Stefa S. is a hard-working freelancer and a caring mother. In her free time, Stefa loves to travel around the world and to discover new meals. As a charity, she helps people, who suffer from toxic relationships, how to make it healthier, or how to find forces to end with it. Any advice is given from her own experience.

Photo by Samuel Austin on Unsplash

Photo by Christian Wiediger on Unsplash

Photo: @tehhydina via Twenty20