I’m in my 40s, and one thing I’ve realized is that making new friends as an adult can feel awkward sometimes. Everyone is busy, people already have their circles, and it can be hard to know where to start.
For me, the hobby that has worked best has been playing tennis.
I started as a beginner, but tennis gave me something I didn’t expect: community. It put me around the same people consistently, gave us something fun to talk about, and made it easier to connect naturally without forcing friendships.
I think the biggest thing is finding hobbies where you see the same people often. That could be tennis, pickleball, walking groups, fitness classes, dance, book clubs, volunteering, church/community groups, or anything that gets you out of the house and around people.
Tennis has helped me stay active, laugh more, meet kind people, and build friendships in a way that feels natural.
For women 40+, what hobbies or activities have helped you make new friends? And if you play tennis or pickleball, how did you find your group?