Social hobbies that allow you to meet up and engage with others People have varying levels of socialness with some being less social than others, however, socializing is very much a key ingredient for maintaining your long-term happiness, whether it be done in person or over the internet. Still, it’s best to hang out with people in person because there are other benefits, like getting some exercise and keeping or improving your social skills. 1. Martial Arts Over the past 10 years, people have become more interested in martial arts, mostly because the UFC has become so popular and because the internet makes it easier to spread the word about fights. Many people find the idea of joining a martial arts club scary, but it’s one of the best ways to build confidence and make friends with people who share your interests. When martial arts are done safely, you don’t have to get hurt or even spar with other people if you don’t want to. You can learn a lot about the techniques and rules of martial arts just by watching demonstrations. It’s also a great way to get in shape and keep your mood up all day. 2. Communities on the Tabletop (Warhammer, Magic: The Gathering, etc) If you have an interest in any type of fantasy world/universe then you’ll probably find it also has a variety of tabletop or trading card games to play and a community to go with them. In fact, some of the most popular fantasy series, like Warcraft, Warhammer, Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, Lord of the Rings, and many more, have tabletop games based on them, which makes it easy to find people who like the same things you do. There’s no rule that says friends have to like the same things, but it helps in the beginning because it gives you something to talk about during those awkward silences. Even if there aren’t any specific tabletop games for the fictional world you’re interested in, you can still use Dungeons & Dragons to simulate the world you’re in. Again, if you want to find a community, you can easily do so by searching Google for “D&D groups near me” or the name of the community and game you want to play. 3. Join a gym near you Joining a gym is a great way to meet people at almost any time of the day, especially since most gyms are now designed to be open 24 hours a day. If you’re bored, this is a good chance to get a good workout, relax, and maybe meet some new people. Even if you don’t go out of your way to talk to people at the gym, it will happen at some point when someone needs a spot or wants to use the equipment you’re on between sets. This can start a conversation about the kind of workout you’re doing and what tips you or they can give to make it better. Gyms are great places to join clubs, and they often have special activities you can sign up for to make it even easier to meet new people. 4. Sign up for a forum. Even though some people think they are old-fashioned, forums still get a lot of people who want to talk about specific topics. Reddit is one of the most popular places where you can find subcommunities for just about anything you want. Forums are a great place to find people with similar interests, whether you’re looking for advice, want to talk about something, or just want to make friends. The only bad thing about online forums is that you can’t talk to people in person. However, you can still set up meetings if it makes sense. 5. Skateboarding If there is a group of people who love to hang out and help others learn, it would have to be skaters. Skating is often thought of as a hobby for young people, but online tools like YouTube are making it much easier for people of all ages to learn how to skate. People of all ages are trying it out because of this. When done safely, it can be a great way to stay in shape and have fun at the same time. All you need to skateboard is a skateboard and a place to start, like a skatepark. 6. Arcades People think of arcades as a time capsule for the old days of gaming, but they’re still a great place to hang out and meet new people. Many arcade games can be played by at least two people, so you can challenge other people to dance-offs, one-on-one matches in Mortal Kombat, or to a game of basketball on the basketball machine. You can even combine your skills to win prizes together, which makes for a really fun day out. In fact, going to the arcade is probably one of the most underrated things to do because people think they won’t be busy or won’t be able to compete with PC gaming or console gaming. You can rest assured that the arcade experience is unique and can’t be duplicated at home, so why not go out and try it? 7. Comedic Evenings When you want to relax, eat good food, have a drink, and watch some of the best comedians in your area, comedy clubs are a great place to go. Most comedians get the crowd involved, so it’s easy to start talking to the person next to you or the comedian himself, which is a great way to meet new people. There are usually regular comedy shows, so you shouldn’t be short on options and should be able to go at least a few times a month, if not more. Most of the time, though, everyone loves to laugh. It’s good for the soul and a great way to meet new people. 8. Take a class or study Going to college or learning something new are great ways to get into a room full of other people, which can lead to making friends or meeting new people. At the same time, you’re putting money into yourself, which can make it easier to get jobs or lead to a more satisfying career. Some of the best friends you’ll ever make will be in school, and it might be the same when you go to college or get a degree. It also gives you someone to meet up with after work for a drink or a meal, which is a great way to spend your day. 9. The stage Joining an amateur theater club is a great way to show off your creativity and meet new people if you like acting or want to try it out. It takes a lot of confidence at first, but once you get to know people and laugh together about how awkward it is, you’ll feel very at ease. It also forces you to get close to other people for certain scenes or acting moments, so you can talk to them without a specific reason. Also, if you’re shy or lack confidence, doing something at the opposite end of the spectrum can be a good way to break out of that protective shell that usually keeps you from meeting new people. 10. Join a reading group Reading is a great hobby that makes you think, so you should join a book club to share and talk about your thoughts on the books you read. Not everyone will have the same opinion, but this can lead to deep, even philosophical conversations about what the book means or how you can use its lessons in your own life. There is no discrimination based on race, age, or gender, so it doesn’t matter what kind of person you are, you’ll fit right in. If you can’t think of anything good to read, it can also be a great way to get suggestions from other people, which makes it easier for people from different backgrounds to talk to each other. If you don’t know where to start looking for a book club in your area, Google might be the best place to start. 11. Form a group If you’re good at music or just love playing an instrument, you can easily turn this into a way to meet new people by putting together a band. Making a band has led to some of the best friendships, and even if it doesn’t do well, it will give you a chance to be creative and put something out into the world that is truly yours. This requires intricate communication between yourself and your band members which forces you to create a strong bond so you know how to work with each other. Once you get to know each other, you’ll find that you’re never alone, no matter what. Bandmates can be some of the best long-term friends, full stop. 12. Join a group of online gamers Although this may be something your parents would scoff at, online gaming communities are one of the best tools to use to find and make friends all while playing some of your favorite games at the same time. Some of the most popular types of games, like MMORPGs, FPS games, and MOBA games, encourage you to find a tight-knit group of friends to play with so you can raid dungeons or take down the other team tactfully for the glory of total dominance. We have already written an article about gaming as a hobby and how it has changed over the past 30 years to become what it is now. Gaming is here to stay, and it’s always changing how people see themselves and what we call a “sport.” 13. Team Sports If you have a passion for a certain sport such as Soccer, Football, Basketball, and other team activities, then it can be well worth trying to find a local team to play with or trying to rally your friends together to join you for some friendly competition. Even if you lose, nothing gives you as much of a rush as playing as hard as you can and trying your hardest to win in a tough game. Team sports require good communication, but they can also help you feel more confident and meet new people. It also helps you get closer to the people you already know, which you might not have been able to do otherwise. 14. Handyman Jobs Doing odd jobs for your neighbors or becoming a handyman can help you meet new people and make money at the same time. If you do good work, word will spread like wildfire, and you’ll have plenty of chances every week to make a little extra money while chatting over a cup of coffee after a hard day’s work. Not only will you make money and new friends, but you’ll also stay in great shape because doing physical jobs for other people can burn hundreds of extra calories per day. Many people undervalue their own knowledge but even if it’s something simple such as fixing computers, installing flat-pack furniture, or being great with children, this is a great way to capitalize on your hobbies to net you several strong benefits in your life. 15. Dating Even though dating isn’t a hobby in the strictest sense, it’s a great social activity that you can do in your spare time for fun or company, and the best part is that it can lead to a long-term relationship. Even if the romance part of the date isn’t successful you’ll more than likely end up with a friend that you can chat with as you’ve already done the hard part or broken the ice. Dating takes a lot of courage, but if you find someone you want to be with forever and who is also your best friend, it can be well worth it. You’ll both learn things, make things, and have fun laughing at different things. Most of the time, it’s … Continue reading Social hobbies that allow you to meet up and engage with others