1. Join groups based on your interests
Most larger cities have all sorts of groups that cater to people who have a wide variety of skills and interests. For example, I am a bluegrass and folk musician, and wanted to find a place where I could play with other like-minded musicians. I did a Google search for “folk music Denver” and “bluegrass music Denver,” and eventually came across Swallow Hill Music, an organization in Denver that provides music workshops and jam sessions to bluegrass musicians.
If you are interested in the outdoors, visit local outdoor gear stores to see if they have clubs or trips that they organize. If you love to read, visit the local library—chances are, they have some sort of book club or reading program. If you are a part of the LGBTQ community, and you live in a larger city, there is a good change there is an LGBTQ center somewhere around town. These centers often offer a variety of community engagement programs, like discussion groups and reading groups. Consider what organizations that cater to your interests might have groups that you could participate in.
2. Volunteer for something you are passionate about
Just the other day, I volunteered at an educational event on the University of Colorado Boulder campus. I was interested in attending the event, but tickets to attend were around $100, which I couldn’t afford. Then I learned on the website that I could attend for free if I volunteered at the event. In doing so, I got to attend the event (which was awesome!) and work with some pretty cool people along the way. I don’t have plans to stay in touch with any of them, but we had some neat conversations.
Consider spending time getting involved with a local organization that is important to you, whether it be an animal shelter, library, museums, or something else entirely. Volunteering is a great way to learn new things and meet new people, and experience some really cool stuff!
3. Interact with your neighbors
Take it from someone who is a major introvert – I think this is a little (actually, a lot) easier said than done. However, I’ve been making an effort to at least say hi to my neighbors when we see each other in passing, and the other day, I actually had a full conversation with the guy who lives directly above my apartment. Turns out that we both play guitar, and we might meet up and jam sometime. You don’t have to try to be best friends with them, but consider having little conversations when you run into each other in the hallway.
