Most of us need someone with whom to chat, share stories and have fun – after all, that’s what friends are for. But as life goes on, friendships can change and the person who has always been your confidant, may no longer be by your side.
YourLifeChoices has gathered together 10 websites which can help you to improve your friendships, or make new ones. There are sites which allow you to search for like-minded people in your area, connect with friends from the past, or find tips on how to build a friendship. You can even meet people by playing word games online – friendships can be virtual too!
1. Not just dating
There are many websites which offer to help you find the love of your life, but did you know that many of these help you find friends as well?
www.RSVP.com.au
2. Alone in a new country
It can be difficult to arrive in a new country with no-one to guide you or with whom to share the experience. It’s important to remember you’re not the first one to go through this and there are others willing to share their experiences.
www.newcomersnetwork.com
3. Friendship knows no bounds
Thanks to the internet, making friends on the other side of the world is easy. One of the most common bonds of friendship is similar interests and you can find people who like the same things you do anywhere in the world.
www.friendship.com.au
4. Real or virtual
Social media has changed the way in which we conduct our friendships, with Facebook leading the way in how we connect with each other. Keep up-to-date with what’s happening in peoples’ lives, share photos and even attend virtual events.
www.facebook.com
5. The art of friendship
For some, being a friend comes naturally, for others it can take a little more effort. There is a fine art to friendship; knowing when to step back and when to force an issue. This simple guide will give you tips on how to find friends and build a friendship.
www.helpguide.org
6. Try something new
If you’re stuck in a rut, seeing the same old faces, or locked away watching television for most of the day, then meeting new friends will be a struggle. Try something new and you may be surprised by the interesting people you meet.
www.ted.com
7. Do something selfless
Volunteering is not only a great way to give back to the community you live in, or charity you support, it can also be a great way to meet new people. There are many organisations which are looking for people to share their time or skills in order to help make things better.
www.volunteeringaustralia.org
8. Become a couchsurfer
Whether you are offering up your couch as a place for weary travellers to stay, or taking advantage of the free accommodation, couchsurfing is a unique way to meet people from all walks of life.
www.couchsurfing.org
9. Words with friends
Available on the iPhone, iPad and Android smartphones, Words With Friends is a virtual game of scrabble. You can play against people you know, or elect to play against a random stranger, with whom you may be able to strike up a conversation through the chat function.
www.wordswithfriends.com
10. Advertise yourself
Whether it’s a travel buddy, someone to have coffee with or just to chat with online, then you can place a Personal Classified Ad on YOURLifeChoices website and wait for the offers to roll in.
www.yourlifechoices.com.au
