This has to be one of the worst years for creating new friendships. By far. I know a lot of us have struggled this year in our relationships. Between not being able to see the people we love, and simply not being able to meet new people, it’s been extremely tough. That’s why Elise decided to round up her top tips for how to make friends during a pandemic. She recorded her easy five tips below, so give it a watch. But if you’re more of a reader, I have her five tips on how to make friends during a pandemic below!

Check In With Your Existing Support System

Even though you might feel completely isolated right now, you do have friends. And you probably have a lot of friends you completely forgot about.

This isn’t your fault. It was easy to take support systems for granted when you were routinely going out with friends and seeing those acquaintances once a month at random get-togethers. But now that we no longer have the ability to attend large parties or fun barbecues, it’s time to make a solid effort.

Don’t be shy, now. Even if you feel like nothing new is going on in your life or you have nothing to talk about – you’re not on a hunt for new information. You’re on a hunt for connection. And connection can happen even during the most boring of times.

So take some time to scroll through your list of friends, acquaintances, and even friends of friends to see who you could check in on. Chances are, they really need it, and this could serve as the perfect opportunity to make a closer friend.

If you’re having a hard time following through, create a FaceTime schedule. Set aside time every day, week, or month to call people you haven’t spoken to in a bit. Get in the habit. The more you get used to it, the easier and more fulfilling it will feel.

Get to Know Your Co-workers

This might have been the last thing you wanted to do last year, but now that most people are working from home, it might actually be nice to have some bonding time with Julie from Accounting.

Coworkers can be a great source of friendship because you already have a major thing in common – you both work for the same company. That means you can both bitch about the same things, troubleshoot the same issues, and brainstorm for future endeavors under the same umbrella.

Let’s face it – when you’re trying to make friends during a pandemic, beggars can’t be choosers. We need to work with what we’ve got.

However, I definitely suggest being careful when taking this route – sometimes it’s best to remain on professional terms with some coworkers. But on the whole, having a casual, friendly relationship with coworkers can help your day to day become much more enjoyable. And after all – not every friendship has to be deep and involved. Sometimes those surface level friendships can be exactly what you need for taking the edge off.