50 Years Old And No Friends? 10 Practical Solutions

50 Years Old And No Friends? 10 Practical Solutions
50 Years Old And No Friends? 10 Practical Solutions

50 Years Old And No Friends? 10 Practical Solutions

Entering your 50s can be a difficult time, you are certainly no longer young but you are not really old either.  Victor Hugo described it well when he said that ’40 is the old age of youth and 50 is the youth of old age’.  If you had children your 30s and 40s are likely to have been spent raising your family together with all the stresses and joys that entailed.  American parents have a tendency, these days, to create a fetish of parenthood, putting all their energies into supporting their

children while allowing their own interests to take a back seat.  Is it any surprise therefore that, by the time the youngest goes to college, mom and dad sit back and realize that they no longer know who they are and what interests them?  

Because parents’ lives are so intimately bound up with their children’s many of their friendships will also be tied into their children’s activities.  You may suddenly find that you no longer have anything in common with the soccer moms and dads you spent every weekend with if there is no match to cheer.

At the same time your 50s is a challenging period career wise.  You will be close to expert in your field with many years’ experience under your belt.  You may also start to struggle with innovations and new methods of working that are introduced, that is only normal.  Sadly, for many employers, that leaves the impression that the over 50s are expensive dinosaurs and they may be searching for any reason to get rid of you.  This makes finding the time to socialize even more difficult.

So what is your average, gregarious 50 something to do when they wake up one morning to realize they have the sum total of zero real friends?  We have 10 practical solutions for you.

10Get A Dog

You want a friend? Get a dog!

9Take A Class

Get enrolled

8Get Involved With Politics Or Become An Activist

Get involved

7Volunteer

Be helpful

6Go To Church (Temple, Synagogue, Mosque Etc)

Find a new or more religion

5Use Technology To Keep Up With Old Friends

Reach out online

4Turn To Your Virtual Friends

Online groups can be fun

3Leverage Your Spouse

Your spouse can help

2Smile, Be Friendly And Find A ‘Local’

Use those pearly whites

1Don’t Be Too Eager

Don’t try too hard