Why Is It So Hard to Make New Friends as an Adult?
Adulting is Hard—Making Friends Doesn’t Have to Be
Making new friends as an adult often feels unexpectedly challenging. As our lives evolve through career commitments, relationships and increased personal responsibilities, opportunities for meaningful social connections tend to shrink. Unlike childhood or university days, when friendships seemed effortless because we were all stuck in one place five times a week, all day for most of the year. Adult friendships require intention, effort and sometimes even courage.
For high-achieving women, whose schedules are frequently packed and whose standards for connection are high, casual social events may feel shallow or unsatisfying. Meeting people is one thing, but most of us want to find the right people for us. Sometimes we do meet that person, we exchange numbers, excitedly tell them we’d plan a meet up and then…nothing.
The secret to fostering authentic friendships lies in proactively seeking out environments that attract individuals who resonate with your interests, values and ambitions. Exclusive social clubs, thoughtfully curated networking events and sophisticated cultural gatherings are ideal for forming deeper connections. These spaces go beyond surface-level interactions, creating opportunities for conversations as enriching as they are effortless.
At Minerva, we firmly believe true friendships flourish best in environments tailored for meaningful exchange. Whether bonding over fine dining, engaging theatre outings or insightful cultural discussions, Minerva creates the ideal backdrop for quality friendships to grow naturally. Our ethos revolves around the principle of quality over quantity because the best friendships are not just about companionship, but about mutual inspiration, genuine support and shared growth. We offer events ranging from intimate gatherings of 12, to larger mixers that introduce members to our vibrant, diverse community. For those seeking deeper bonds, we also host more personal ‘matchmaking’ meetups for 2–3 members - and, most importantly, we help facilitate follow-up meetings when a spark is felt. We’re here to get the ball rolling because friendship shouldn’t be left to chance.
In adulthood, friendships rooted in shared ambitions and genuine values stand the test of time. Curated spaces, like Minerva, exist precisely for this reason: to bring together like-minded women who understand that deep connections far outweigh small talk.
