HOW TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS POST-COVID

Many of us have felt lonely during lockdown, realising we have fewer friends than we’d like. Emma says we can change that

Recently, a friend said the rules allowing her to meet five mates made her feel awful, as she could only think of two. I haven’t been to a single group online social, yet my Instagram is full of my colleagues and acquaintances enjoying their weekly video quiz. Lockdown has taught many of us an important lesson: to invest in friendships. If your loneliness has been exposed, first, reflect on people who are already in your life; a mum you used to chat to at the school gates, or someone who comments on your social feeds and seems to share your humour. Be brave; send a message suggesting a socially distanced walk. If you recognise you have let close friendships drift, pick up the phone and tell them that this pandemic has made you realise you took them for granted, that you should have worked harder at maintaining your friendship and that you would like to try again. You may get the odd rejection, but other friendships will deepen because of your honesty. If you realise that you don’t have many – or any – close friends, see this realisation as empowering. When you see a problem, you can find a solution. After my best friend died, I started to ask women with whom I felt a friendship spark for their number. A few years on, I have created a couple of amazing friendships. Join an online interest group, or an app to meet like-minded others, and if you get on, ask them to join you for a picnic outside. Just a couple of new friends will make your life fuller.