Looking for Your People? Start With a Shared Hobby

When we're young, we naturally meet people at school, in sports, at college, and through mutual friends, so it's easy to have a large network. As we age and our routines become more established (gym, work, errands, make dinner, go to sleep), and so our circle gets smaller and smaller.
We have the same responsibilities and go to the same familiar places, week after weeks seeing the same people...

*** So how do you go about meeting new people?

(1) One of the easiest ways is to start with something you already have in common.
~ Join a group based on something you enjoy... Meetup groups, book clubs, fitness classes, recreational sports leagues, volunteer organizations, and hobby groups can all be great places to connect with people.

~ The benefit of this is that you already have something to talk about. Instead of walking into a room full of strangers and trying to make conversation out of nowhere, you’re all there for the same reason.

~ You don’t necessarily need to be looking for a new best friend. Sometimes simply getting out of the house, having a conversation with someone new, and expanding your social circle is a great place to start.



(2) Try a Class or Workshop
~ Classes are another easy way to meet people because there’s a built-in activity to focus on.

Cooking classes, pottery workshops, dance lessons, art classes, and other creative experiences give everyone something to do while conversation happens naturally along the way.
... At Pinot’s Palette Naperville, for example, you can grab a drink, follow along with one of our artists, listen to music, and create your own painting alongside everyone else in the studio.

~ You can come with a Meetup group, organize your own gathering, invite a few people you’ve recently met, or simply sign up for a public class on your own.



(3) Say Yes to More Invitations
Sometimes meeting new people is less about finding a specific event and more about being willing to try something different.

~ Go to the coworker’s birthday gathering. Attend the neighborhood event. Try the trivia night. Accept the invitation from someone you only know casually.

~ Every new social circle has the potential to introduce you to another one.



(4) Start Your Own Meetup
You also don’t have to wait for the perfect group to appear.

~ If there’s something you enjoy, consider organizing a casual meetup around it. It could be as simple as a monthly dinner, movie night, painting class, hiking group, or coffee meetup.

~ Having an activity planned can take away some of the awkwardness of getting a group of people together who may not know each other very well yet.



(5) Give Friendships Time
Not every interaction is going to turn into a lasting friendship, and that’s completely normal.
The goal is simply to put yourself in situations where meeting people is possible. Friendships often grow through repeated little interactions like seeing someone at another class, getting invited somewhere else, or eventually making plans outside of the original group.


If you’re hoping to meet some new people in Naperville, consider trying something that gives you a reason to get together in the first place.
Grab a friend, bring your Meetup group, or come on your own and join us for a painting class at Pinot’s Palette Naperville. You’ll have something fun to focus on, something new to talk about, and a painting to take home at the end of the night.
Sometimes making a new connection can start with something as simple as sharing a table, pouring a drink, and picking up a paintbrush.

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