I don't have any friends

[Lily2075]

And it's making me feel so sad especially now the weather is getting nicer, restrictions are gone and people are going out doing stuff. I will not see another human being this weekend apart from maybe someone serving me in the corner shop. I don't know where to start with making friends and having lived through covid alone I'm so used to spending time on my own now. I don't even know what I would talk to new people about.

Could you do evening classes? Did u have friends before and have lost touch with? If so maybe contact them? Are your colleagues nice? Where are you geographically?

Im sorry you're feeling sad.
Lots of other people are lonely too. What do you enjoy doing? Go out and do things.
Walk in the park, go for a swim, a coffee. Make small talk and small connections with others. Smile, make eye contact and get on with your day. Make others feel less lonely and you will too.

Hello! Where do you live - I don't mean specifically but town/city/rural?

How would you feel about joining an activity, then you don't have to worry about making small talk with strangers?

I go to an outdoor exercise class every Saturday in the park. It is partly social and people find it on MeetUp or Facebook, and every week some of them go for coffee afterwards - I know that some people have found their way to that having moved into the area - at least this way they have at least one interest in common and that's something to talk about/bond over.

Did you used to have friends, OP? Do you like your own company and feel happy most of the time?

That sounds very hard. How about joining some groups based on your interests, eg choir or bookgroup? Or do some volunteering? I find structured things like that a good way of meeting people because you have something to talk about and even if you don't make close friends from it you are still getting out and talking to people.

I'm in the same boat OP. I see all the best friend things like videos on TikTok of women who have a proper bff, and it makes me really sad.

I'd recommend meetup.com

This is a site I used regularly before motherhood and I made some friends on there.

Now I'm lonely again with an 18 month old and a 3 week old.

Ahh this is sad to hear. Where abouts are you? Theres someone out there who would love a friend like you. I know its easier said than done with joining a group but it may help get you out there a little.

Could mumsnet do anything like an 'I'm lonely and live in X place' board/thread? Does anything like that exist? Get people on here together?

Are there any walking groups in your area? Plenty of people come to the one we go to on their own. People are always happy to chat as they walk. I often chat to many different people during a walk - you don't have to walk with the same person all the time.

I enjoyed doing Ceroc (dancing), they also have workshops and holidays you can go on. You don't need to go with a partner as everyone swaps around.

Is there a local Facebook group for your area. Other local people might know of local places with things running (community centres, groups, hobby classes etc). Do you work, could you volunteer? Most people I'm friends with are through a volunteering activity I do.

I find it much easier to talk to people when we're doing a shared activity as that gives an easy conversation starter.

Me too, I’m in the same boat.
I would happily join a thread that says peoples towns and see if any of us are local to each other.

Good advice by all posters.join something you like knitting sewing etc walks and scour local noticeboards for coffee afternoons and talks in libraries too.walk a dog.offer to volunteer for local charities near you.Meetup is good too.choir singing go to church.

If you want an instant social network, joining a political party and getting involved with your local party is the easiest way in my experience. They are desperate for volunteers and campaigners to put in time so anyone who can give it is welcomed into endless meetings, events and socials.

The politics itself is the downside, unfortunately, and the reason I’m no longer involved. But nothing else I’ve ever done, including Meetup and evening classes, comes close.

@Lily2075, do tell us a bit more about what you like doing, if you want to, have a little chat here ?