Making new gal pals can be difficult. Between busy work schedules and family obligations there seems to be little time to meet new female friends. However, cultivating strong female friendships and bonds can lead to a wonderful support system and fun long-lasting memories!
Female Friendship 101
Making connections with other women can be intimidating at first, especially if you are new to an area. Finding friends begins with the search. Where do you find gal pals? Check out these tried and true and unique locations:
- Meeting Friends at Work – The workplace is a great way to meet friends. Do you have a great working relationship with a female co-worker? Consider inviting her out for a quick lunch or an after work happy hour drink.
- Meeting Female Friends at Mom Groups – Have a group, class or daycare that you use regularly for your children? Getting kids together for a play date is one way to see if there is a friendship connection. Even if your children don't get along - it doesn't mean you can't have a fun Mom's night out!
- Making a Friend at an Interest Group – Book clubs, knitting groups, gardening club meetings and your local church group are great resources for meeting other women with common interests.
- Reconnecting With Old Friends – Thanks to social websites such as Facebook, MySpace and Classmates - old friends can locate one another easily. Curious to know what happened to your best middle-school girlfriend? See if you can Google her and reconnect. Nobody knows you better than your childhood girlfriends.
- Post an Ad for a New Friend – Thanks to the world wide web, there are many avenues to meet new people online. If you can find a boyfriend on sites such as Match.com and E-Harmony, why not make friends? Try posting an ad on Craiglist or Girlfriends Cafe, a social networking site for connecting with other women in your area!
Becoming Friends With Another Woman
When you meet a potential future BFF (best friend forever), how do you get to know her? Take a cue from your younger self and just ask her out on a "girlfriend" date.
According to Glamour Magazine opinion columnist Joanna Goddard, "If there is a girl you like, even if you feel nervous, ask her to hang out." She also notes, "People really want to hang out...almost everyone loves to be invited to dinners, movies, parties...they'll probably be very happy that you asked."
If you are just getting to know someone for the first time, remember to take things slow. Like with any relationship, female friendships take time to develop.
Gone out on a gal pal date only to find you don't have anything to talk about? No problem. Good friendships can take time to find. Your job is to just keep trying until you find the right match, in the same way that you would if you were seeking a romantic relationship.
How to Keep Your Gal Pal
When you finally meet that special person who lends a sympathetic ear, supports you during tough times and is genuinely happy for your success, be sure to take steps to preserve and foster friendship growth.
For additional tips, see The Rules of Female Friendship and Girlfight – When Female Friends Fall Out.
The most important tip to remember when it comes to fostering healthy, supportive female friendships is to set aside the time to meet. Even with hectic work and family schedules, a short lunch break, a quick drink and even a phone call or even a quick e-mail.
Make a New Gal Pal
With crazy busy work schedules and hectic family lives, it can be hard to connect with female friends. Don't let your busy world keep you from cultivating close female friendships. Instead, look at your schedule as an opportunity to connect.
Finding a female friend can be similar to finding that perfect mate. Take advantage of like interests, common goals and values. Taking the time to make new gal pals can provide a network of women for laughs, advice, and even a shoulder to cry on now and then.
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