How to make friends after a divorce? 8 practical tips

Divorce is a loss, a change in our lives, and as such we must face it and adapt to the new life situation. And this happens by relating to others in a new way, opening ourselves up to the possibility of making new friendships and meeting new people.

Although divorce is not normally associated with a pleasant sensation or moment, it gives us the opportunity to reconnect with ourselves, to do activities that we really like. and to meet people who contribute a lot to us, either to be able to find a new partner or simply make new friends that help us disconnect and prevent us from staying at home without doing nothing. Divorce not only means the end of something, but also the beginning of something new.

In this article We will talk about the post-divorce stage and how to make new friends when going through this stage, which may be marked by the feeling of loneliness.

• Related article: "The 5 phases of divorce and its characteristics"

Coping with post-divorce social life

Divorce understood as the legal action that separates and breaks the marriage between two people, supposes a process, of greater or lesser duration, through which the two members of the group go through and must overcome. couple. But beyond the law, it has psychological implications.

As with other grieving processes, given the different losses we experience, we will need time to adapt to it.. The time required will vary, depending on each person.

In cases where the subject is not able to control or endure the situation, the health professional mental health can assess grief as pathological and require the intervention of a professional to overcome the lost. For this reason, it is advisable to face the situation by seeking and carrying out activities that you like, in order to make the breakup more bearable.

Divorce represents a great change, the closure of a stage in our life and the beginning of another; as such it can generate in the individual a certain vertigo, fear of the unknown, of not knowing if life will be better or worseIf we can adapt to the new situation. But we must consider this new period as a possibility to evolve and start a new life, either without or with a new person.

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Tips for making friends after divorce

After breaking up with a person with whom we share a large part of our life, with whom we have probably lived together, shared endless experiences and even with whom we can have children in common, it may be difficult for us to visualize life without her. But as in other circumstances, the attitude with which we face the new situation will be essential to be able to adapt to it and be happy.

We can look at divorce as an opportunity to spend time with ourselves, do what we love, and reconnect with ourselves as individual beings, because on many occasions when we are with someone for a long time we lose or neglect autonomy, making decisions for oneself.

In addition, divorce also brings the possibility of meeting new people; the time that we used to spend with our partner is time that we can take advantage of to do activities or meet people. It is usual that the friends we had when we are with our ex are shared friends, or that they are still married, for this reason, without the need to break the relationship completely with them, yes, it can benefit us to change the scene and spend time with other people who have nothing to do with our previous life, who help us to disconnect completely.

So, here are some suggestions that may be useful for you to socialize and make new friends. Keep in mind that in the end the intention is that you feel good yourself, so act when you feel ready and do the advice that you see that can benefit you.

1. Sign up for new activities focusing on what you really like

Carrying out new activities that we like is a way of staying active, disconnect and at the same time meet new people. As we have already said, the stage that is presented to us gives us the possibility of doing new activities, dedicating more time to ourselves and doing what we like.

Likewise, by doing activities that we like, apart from having a good time doing them, it will be easier to relate to each other. with other people who have similar tastes to ours and surely find themselves in similar situations to the our.

• Related article: "The 6 types of social skills, and what they are for"

2. Expose yourself to change and lose your fear

We already mentioned that change usually causes us uncertainty and some fear, because of what can happen. But this fear should not stop us, It is time to experiment, to try new things, to carry out activities that we did not do before and to move in new environments that allow us to meet new people and make new friends. Although it may cost you at first or give you some qualms, staying home and doing nothing will not help you in the process.

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3. Get to know your co-workers

It is usual that with co-workers we have a cordial treatment but without ever having tried to get to know them. The work environment can be a good option to interact with different people, since they are people with whom we spend a large part of our time and gives us the opportunity to start a conversation with them and establish new friendships that we had not previously valued.

Sometimes the question is not to meet new people, but to value the one we already know in a different way. We can be surprised by people we already knew, but with whom we had not had the opportunity to speak.

• Related article: "9 habits to emotionally connect with someone"

4. Take advantage of social networks

Social networks may give us some hesitation or make us a bit lazy to meet or talk to someone through these platforms, but currently they are one of the ways to connect more easily and establish relationships with new people and break geographical barriers. There are different applications, more or less aimed at meeting people, that allow us to know the tastes of each person and have a first contact with them and thus decide if it is worth continuing to know them or no.

Through social networks it is also easier to find out about plans, activities, workshops, excursions that are organized and which we can attend. The applications to meet people are not only to find a new partner, but we can also use them simply to find new friends. It is a more direct and simple way to be able to relate to new people.

5. Connect with old friends

Just as we aim with co-workers, we can try to reconnect with people we already know but have not met for a long time. Although it is not appropriate, when we are in a relationship we may neglect our friendships and lose the relationship despite the fact that nothing bad has happened, simply due to estrangement.

It's never too late to reconnect. Try to approach them again and meet to catch up and see if you can really resume friendship. During life we ​​go through different stages, paths that can bring us closer or further away from people, but it is possible that at some point we will get back together, we can meet again.

6. Participate in groups

Surely in your city there are different groups, associations, of people who carry out different sports activities such as excursions or dancing, cooking, cultural... Get informed and sign up for the most you like them In this way it will be easier for you to interact with new people and move in a new environment. Carrying out the activities on a regular basis allows you to keep getting to know them and be able to establish new friendships..

This type of group will allow you to meet people of different ages, interests and professions, who will surely They are in similar situations to yours, they are single and their purpose is to have fun and connect with new people. people.

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7. Don't be shy about doing things alone

When we have been in a relationship for a long time and we have done most of the activities with the other person, it can be difficult for us make our life now independentlywithout anyone accompanying us. As we have already said, the best way to meet people is to join groups and carry out activities, so don't hesitate to go alone.

We may not like the option so much at first, but going alone is the best way to meet people, since we will try to get closer and start a conversation with them. In the same way, that they, seeing us alone, are also more likely to help integrate us.

8. Sign up for the plans that your friends propose

Another option, if you still don't feel ready to join only one group, can be accept plans your friends make with other groups. That is to say, your group of friends will surely relate to other people, to open the circle and meet new people can help you attend activities that your acquaintances organize with other people, such as meals, excursions, trips, going out for drinks something…