Get By With A Little Help From Your Friends: A Guide To Making Friends In Denver

Friendship can be a challenge for anyone, and some recent events may make it even harder. Many people are beginning to go out in the world after a global pandemic and get back into routines that they have always known.

Whether you are new or been in Denver awhile, important friendships were prioritized and finding a sense of belonging can be difficult.

The hustle of a city can be overwhelming for some, and there are still ways to connect to those around you. Loneliness can impact both physical and mental health substantially, so not only is it reassuring to find friendships, but it can also support your overall wellbeing.

Though it can seem tempting to stay isolated if you don’t have friendships already formed, there are many benefits to becoming active socially in Denver.

Read More: “How Your Expectations Of Relationship Influence The Relationships You Have”

Meeting a new friend or new person can create a social circle. Some benefits may include:

• Reduced Stress
• Improved Confidence and Self-Esteem
• Change Unhealthy Habits
• Gain Happiness
• Provide A Social Network Of Peers

Why is it tough to form friendships?

It can be tough to make friends because people have different priorities.

Potential or existing friends may need to focus on family, health, work, addiction, etc. Even if you identify as a people-pleaser, this is not the time to personalize shifting life events.

You can make your own set of priorities and this may include meeting new people.

When you move to a new community, it can be an added challenge to form friendships. Stay open and willing to meet new people no matter how much courage it may take.

How many friends should I have in my network?

The number of friends doesn’t matter as much as the quality of friends. You may only have two friends that you consistently engage and feel safe with in your life. That is perfectly acceptable and normal.

It is important to remember boundaries when it comes to friendships. Not all of your friends require the same amount of self-disclosure.

This means that you may not feel safe telling the same information to every person in your social network, and that is okay. You may have acquaintances, friends, and best friends.

Your boundaries may look different for each person. In partnerships, you may be tempted to make one person your everything. This can be an early sign of codependency.

If you rely on one person to take care of all your social needs, it is not fair to you either you or them. Remember to take care of yourself first and then start seeking friendships.

What can I do in Denver to make friends?

There are many possibilities when it comes to making new friends in the Denver area, whether you are in a new spot or not. The first thing to do is go where the people are in your city.

Read More: “5 Ways To Boost Your Self-Esteem”

This may take some bravery and willingness to fail, but you can also form authentic friendships this way.

A great place may be just around the corner, but in Denver, it’s usually at a park like City Park or Washington Park (Wash Park).

Denver is full of outdoor activities and ways to meet new people. It can be as simple as engaging in some new interests.

When you try some of these activities out, Popular activities in Denver may include:

Look Into Facebook Groups

There are many Facebook groups based on activities and interests that locals in Denver may also share with you.

Look for interests you have paired with the city you live in and you’ll likely find a group or two that meets those criteria.

A few to check out Denver Foodies, Denver Women, The Denver Boss Babe Collective, Women Who Hike Colorado, Hiking Colorado.

Search for Meetups

There are many groups meeting up that are posting in Meetup.com. Just like with Facebook groups, look for groups meeting up that have shared interests of yours.

Meetups range from language groups, knitting, hiking, running, yoga, book clubs, and more.

Volunteer

An easy way to meet new people is to support friends in the community. Depending on your interests, you can match up with many organizations.

We love Metro Denver Partners and VolunteerMatch.

Join A Recreational Sports League

Denver is full of recreational sports leagues. Consider joining a sports league as a solo member and get matched up with a team that needs more players.

Some leagues in town to look into: Denver CityWide Sports, Meet. Play. Chill., Sports Kind, and Volo Sports.

Take Your Dog For A Walk

Denver is known for various paths, trails and parks across the city, and many of them are dog friendly.

Say hi to other dog owners, and ask questions of people who approach your dog, like “are you from the area?” “what other trails do you like?“.

There is no better way to strike up a conversation with a dog you love by your side.

Though these conversations may not lead to a new friendship right away, they get you warmed up for starting new conversations with people you don’t know in public areas.

Why do I have trouble maintaining my friendships?

If you find yourself constantly needing to make new friends, it may be time to reflect on how you show up as a friend. Are you nurturing your friendships in the same way that you expect others to do for you?

Read More: “A Guide For Making Friends As An Adult In Denver”

Maintaining friendships may mean that you develop character traits that are already within you.

To nurture your relationships, consider these factors:

Be Trustworthy

Boundaries aren’t just for forming relationships; they help maintain them too.

If someone tells you something private or confidential, avoid spreading gossip.

You can share resources and connect people but sharing information for the sake of a quick connection with another friend is not trustworthy.

Make Yourself Available

Staying busy can mean that you miss opportunities to nurture friendships and build intimacy with someone.

If you consistently say no to invites, you risk not being invited to events anymore.

You get to prioritize what is important to you and saying yes sometimes to people you have fun with and feel safe with can make a positive impact in your life.

Manage Your Nerves With Stress Reducing Strategies

You will mess up in friendships. You will do something that leads to rumination and overwhelm.

It’s okay.You may say or do the wrong thing.

It can end a friendship if this happens, and it can also strengthen it.

By acknowledging the hurt, apologizing, and taking actions to make a change, you can repair a relationship in your life.

If you do get anxiety when it comes to making friends, consider mindfulness, meditation, self-compassion, and nature as solutions to help you through the difficult times.

Making friends and maintaining friendships takes effort, and you are worth it. Humans need social connection, and there are many ways to engage in your community.

Loneliness is deeply impactful, and without a social life, you may find yourself struggling to thrive in other areas of your life.

When you feel like making friends is too much or could use some guidance, Denver Metro Counseling has therapists on their clinical team who can help you identify next steps and create strategies for your toolbox.

There are many ways to connect in Denver, and you deserve to be part of the network.

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Written by: Randi Thackeray, MA
Clinically Reviewed and Edited by: Julie Reichenberger, MA, LPC, ACS, ACC