Making friends when you're in your forties can be tough. As people grow older, they tend to have hectic schedules filled with work and family obligations and sometimes they can't find the time to see a movie, have a drink or go out to dinner with others. To find friends at this age, you must make it a priority. The more you get out into the world, the more likely you'll find people with whom you'll click.
Step 1
Go out after work, even if you're tired. You might think staying at home will give you more energy to tackle tomorrow, but going out and meeting new people can give you a real boost. Accept invitations from friends and co-workers to parties and social events, even on weeknights. "When you surround yourself with relationships that support you, your energy expands," says Marci Shimoff, author of "Happy for No Reason: 7 Steps to Being Happy From the Inside Out."
Step 2
Join a club or sports team. Most major cities and smaller towns offer plenty of book clubs, arts and crafts groups, political organizations and a variety of sports leagues.
Step 3
Take a college course. You can enroll as a part-time student or take a class through an extension program, which typically attracts older students. Many private organizations and companies also offer classes in culinary arts, sewing, jewelry making, computer programming, auto repair and gardening.
Step 4
Join a social networking site, such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter or Ning. Find existing friends then branch out by friending your friends' friends. To get to know others better, interact with them by commenting on their status updates and posts.
If you think all social-networking users are teenagers, think again. A 2009 report released by the marketing firm iStrategyLabs revealed that 45.6 percent of Facebook users are 25 years and older, with the fastest growing group consisting of women ages 35 to 54.
Step 5
Donate your time to a nursing home, animal shelter, labor rights organization or any other cause you feel strongly about. You'll meet people who share your passion and want to make a difference in the world. "These are not only friend-making possibilities, they are networking opportunities and a chance to give back and feel good about that," says Beliefnet contributor Therese J. Borchard.
Step 6
Carpool to work. "...it works for elementary school kids," Borchard says. "Many six-year-olds meet their best buddies on the bus because 1) they live in their neighborhood (what could be more convenient?), 2) they are on the same schedule, and 3) they know the same people..." says Borchard. She adds that this way of making friends is eco-friendly and that by working for the same employer you already have a few things in common.
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