The alarming statistic: 1 in 4 French people feels lonely. And here's the kicker? Among 25-39 year-olds, it jumps to 35% who admit to feeling often very alone. Clearly, right when we're supposed to be living our best life, everyone's still looking for their crew. (Source: Fondation de France, Solitudes 2024 study) Little bonus for the singles: your friend group remains spot #1 for finding love (19%), ahead of work (17%) and dating apps (16%). Fun fact: 27% of couples started out as just friends!
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Why is it so hard in adulthood?
In high school or college, you bump into hundreds of people every day without lifting a finger. Once you're an adult? Welcome to the commute-work-sleep combo (sometimes with the same faces at happy hour). From now on, you have to make your own luck... and nobody ever taught us how to do that. It's what psychologists call the proximity effect: that natural instinct to bond with people you see all the time by chance (neighbors, colleagues, classmates). Once you leave these mandatory settings, the automatic facilitator disappears: you need to go into active mode!
Rule number one: take action and get out of the house
Stop waiting for miracles to fall from the sky. Go for it: a pottery class, a local club, team sports, a DIY workshop, dance... The trick? Choose an activity where you'll see the same
rcme team week after week. Real friendship takes a little time to build (even though friendship at first sight definitely exists !)View this post on Instagram
Go for sports
Promise, you don't need to be an Olympic athlete ! Group fitness classes, running club, climbing, dancing, yoga, swimming... The best sport to make friends ? Simply the one that makes you want to come back!come! The big bonus: the legendary "how about grabbing a drink to catch up?" works like a charm.
Dare to do solo activities
We know, showing up somewhere alone can be terrifying. But it's the best trick for making friends! Look at your buddies who travel solo: they always come back with 10 new contacts. So why not "travel solo" in your own neighborhood? Exhibitions, concerts, quizzes, cooking workshops, book clubs, gallery openings… No one to join you? Go anyway!
What if we got help from apps?
Purple: the 100% female app
Purple is a 100% female app to meet new friends. Yes, with an E. You match, you chat, then you can join girls' outings ororganized near you. The concept of a dating app... without any awkwardness or unwanted advances!
UnCafé: your Sunday meetup
To step away from screens and do something genuinely 100% IRL, the UnCafé app came up with a brilliant concept. Here's how it works: a weekly ritual: every Sunday at 3pm, you share a coffee one-on-one with a stranger in a public place. Zero flirting, zero intimidating groups: just a real, spontaneous conversation to chat about life the old-fashioned way.
The little habits to stay in touch
- Send a spontaneous little message.
- Share a reel, some news, or a great tip you found on Le Bonbon that'll make them laugh.
- Suggest a quick and easy meetup (a quick coffee or a rushed lunch).
- Set a reminder to check in on them on an important day (exam, interview, birthday).
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Here are some concrete ideas to get you started:
- Join a club or community (ex: Timeleft, Frimake)
- Try a running club (ex: Midnight Runners, Marais Running Club)
- Take a creative workshop (ex: pottery classes at Wecandoo, DIY workshops at Les Affûts)
- Join a book club (ex: The Feminist Book Club, bookstore gatherings like Le Genre Urbain)
- Attend an aperitif or community event (ex: game nights at Dernier Bar avant la Fin du Monde)
- Try an app like Purple or UnCafé
Your turn to play!