My New Year's Resolution Is to Make New Friends — Here's How I'm Going to Do It

I've never considered myself much of a "people person." My friends would bring me to parties and I'd mingle but rarely initiate conversation. Instead, I'd think about a warm bed and my beloved Netflix queue. But now, as I approach the end of another year, things need to go a bit differently. I've just graduated college, I've started my career, and I'm living in a big city where I really don't know many people. I left most of my friends behind where I attended school, and I'm kind of lost. High school and college are prime times to make new friendships; you have mandatory classes and clubs to steer you in the right direction. But as an adult, those resources disappear. Can anyone relate?

That's why my introverted self has decided to make a New Year's resolution that's sure to put me out of my comfort zone: Make. New. Friends. To most people, this is probably is an easy task. But for me, the concept of introducing myself to strangers is actually terrifying. I can feel my heart rate increasing just thinking about making small talk. That's why I relied on the advice of my coworkers and asked them to give me some tips. These can work whether you're post-grad like me, are relocating for a job, or if you've recently suffered a breakup in a new city. If you want to join me on my quest to make new friends, follow these helpful suggestions.