The Japanese philosophy of Kaizen is all about taking what seems insurmountable and making it manageable. In a nutshell, it works by shifting your attention away from the vastness of the challenge at hand, and choosing to focus more on gradual improvements.

Kaizen was popularized in the business world—in fact, this philosophy is often associated with the leadership of Toyota, a former textile company that transformed itself into the globe-spanning car manufacturer we all know today. They successfully achieved what seems like a radical overhaul by focusing on Kaizen, which can be translated as “good change.” 

The effectiveness of this approach caused Kaizen to branch out from the business world. As more and more people witnessed its amazing results, they began to apply the philosophy to their own personal goals. These days, Kaizen is a staple within the self-help and wellness scene. There’s even an episode of This American Life about it!  

Whether your goal involves fitness, mental health, social life, or any other theme, the principles of Kaizen can help make the process significantly easier. You’ll probably even enjoy yourself more, feeling that sense of accomplishment along the way, instead of just fixating on a finish line. So if you’re interested in self-improvement, learn how to incorporate Kaizen, and start making good change today. 

Kaizen and exercise goals   

Lots of people see the incredible benefits of a more active lifestyle and want to transform their habits. They start an exciting new exercise routine, but end up struggling to sustain it. Often, the problem lies not in their motivation to improve, but in dismissing the principles of gradual change, and over-committing themselves too quickly to a radically different lifestyle that can’t be maintained.

Instead, for prolonged and measurable success, try the Kaizen approach. If your starting point is little to no regular exercise, don’t jump into the gym seven days a week. Try to find just one physical activity that interests you, and give it a go, just once. If you enjoy yourself and feel good about the exercise, make an incremental adjustment, like committing to that exercise once a week. 

When that routine starts to become the norm, then you can add a gym workout or a morning run to the mix. The idea is to set small, achievable goals you can knock out of the park. Eventually, your gradual progress will look like a massive improvement over your starting point!  

Meetup is full of resources to help you pursue the Kaizen approach to fitness. For example, at the beginning of your fitness journey, you could find a group like NYC Outdoor Badminton and try out a fun, low-key outdoor activity. Later, you might add in some more intentional exercise with a group like Free community yoga in Miami. When you’ve progressed to the point of wanting a serious workout, you can get together with an adventurous group like the Rocky Mountain Cycling Club RMCC.  

Kaizen in the kitchen 

If you want to become a great home chef, you might be tempted to start buying all kinds of expensive cooking appliances and filling your fridge with tons of ingredients. But then, there’s all this pressure to immediately make good on all those purchases. As with any goal, you discover that going from zero to 100 so quickly is unsustainable. In this scenario, it wouldn’t be surprising if you wind up ordering takeout just as much as you were before you tried to make a change. 

The smarter path to culinary glory starts with a single recipe. If you can find just one recipe that you enjoy making, you have a strong foundation to build upon. Cook that dish a few times. Maybe try some simple variations. Add one more recipe to the mix, and you’ve got a new catalog in the works! With this method, you can gradually decrease the amount of times you rely on takeout. This is a much healthier and more reliable system than the all-or-nothing approach. 

As you really start to progress in your home cooking journey, you might consider joining a virtual session with a group like Chez Francois French Cooking Classes. Or you could explore more of the healthy eating lifestyle with a group like Eatin’ Vegan in Chicago.  

How to use the Kaizen philosophy for all kinds of hobbies  

There’s no limit to the benefits you can gain from incorporating this focus on gradual change into your daily life. If you’ve always wanted to learn a new language, you might allow yourself the time and space to start slow with just 10 minutes per day on Duolingo, then graduating to a beginner language group like Atlanta Spanish/English Language Exchange – Intercambio. A few more of the endless examples include: 

• Meditation — Commit to setting aside just  one minute per day, then two, and so on. Then you can try a longer group session with a community like Charleston Free Meditation. 

• Drawing — You can start with just a pen and paper. Don’t worry about the final product yet, just keep drawing! As you gain more experience, then you might invest in some high quality supplies, and learn from fellow artists in a group like Art On Location- San Diego.  

Dive deeper into the Kaizen philosophy through books like One Small Step Can Change Your Life: The Kaizen Way. You can even create your own Meetup group and use the wisdom of Kaizen to help other people who share your interests and may be struggling to sustain their habit.

The post Accomplish Your Goals with Kaizen: the Japanese Philosophy of Good Change appeared first on Meetup Blog.

Finding the right tools and solutions for your events can be a daunting task. Luckily, Meetup’s Community Support team is available seven days a week to answer your questions and help you build your communities!

Watch this recording with two of Meetup’s customer support professionals, Alex Marden and Colin-Pierre Larnerd, for a demonstration of the ways you can contact a support specialist. Learn about the kinds of answers and support we can provide, get some tips for receiving the most efficient service.

Main Takeaways:

• Meetup’s Support Team
  • Meetup’s Community Support Team is full of real organizers who use the website and apps.
  • We offer comprehensive support to our members and organizers seven days a week by:
    • email
    • on social media through Facebook, Twitter, & Discord
    • and through the articles on our Help Center!
• Available Online
  • We offer digital support because, by communicating online we can instantly view groups, events, and profiles… And we love to send helpful screenshots and provide thoroughly-written directions.
• Tips for reaching out
  • For social:
    •  @meetup_support on Twitter
  • You can publicly tweet at us with general questions. We also monitor our Facebook public comments and DMs.
  • DM us on Twitter or Facebook for account-specific concerns.
• Using the Help Center demo (8:46)
• Feature Requests vs. Product Feedback
  • Meetup’s Support Team partners closely with the Product Team to ensure that all of your feedback is considered. We track and record all of your requests by volume and welcome all feedback!
  • Feature Requests are tools or functionality that does not yet exist on Meetup, but you want built. Submit request here.
    • Examples: 
    • Hybrid events
    • Direct Messaging in the Organizer App
    • Threading Event Chats
  • Product Feedback is a “poor user experience” that exists, but should exist a different way. Submit request here.
    • Example: 
    • Photo album thumbnails should not be displayed in landscape mode
    • Inactive Event Chats should not be shown in my chat list
• Reporting a Bug
  • Bugs (or “defects”) are things that are not working like they were built. Report bug here.
  • Examples: 
    • Error message occurs when scheduling an event
    • Recording a payment doesn’t save to my Money page
    • Inaccurate number of attendees on my event page
• Trust & Safety
  • It’s very helpful when you report a person/group directly on our platform directly, as it saves us time. Submit report here.
  • Please include the following information when submitting a report:
    • A detailed description of the situation
    • Links to pages where any relevant content at issue may be appearing on Meetup
    • Any relevant emails or content received through Meetup
    • Anything received outside of the Meetup platform that would be relevant to our inquiry
    • Any other information that may be helpful!

Top Q&A Question and Resources:

• Can the Trust & Safety team be approached about changes requested to the policy too?
  • Absolutely yes, the best way to approach this is to submit a question through our direct request form. Which will either be routed to the trust and safety team or a specialist will answer more general questions.

Resources:

• Meetup Community Support Resource Hub
• Organizer Guide
• Product Release Notes

The post Recording | Meetup 101: Support for Growing Communities appeared first on Meetup Blog.

It’s the summer of friendships! Build a thriving community to enjoy the season with by listening to questions get answered during office hours hosted by Meetup’s Community Support team.

Watch this recording with two of Meetup’s customer support professionals, Alex Marden and Colin-Pierre Larnerd, for essentials on managing your group, hosting events, and making the most out of Meetup’s features.

Main Takeaways:

Product Updates

• Toggle for member photo uploads
  • Organizers and Pro administrators can decide whether their group members may upload photos to their group(s).
  • This is a great way to secure your community or manage your group’s branding.
  • You can turn this setting on/off in your group’s Optional Settings page.
• New member profiles
  • The Android app has launched an updated member profile experience!
  • New sections:
    • Looking to
    • Shared groups
    • Shared interests
  • Members have full control over what appears and doesn’t appear on their profile.
  • Coming soon on iOS and Web.
• Editing events after they start
  • Organizers and Event Hosts can now edit an event after it starts! The option to “Edit event” will be available up until the event ends.
  • If the event has already started, you can edit:
    • Event Title
    • Featured photo
    • Description
    • Pro speaker (if Pro group)
    • Event topics
    • Location (online & venue)
    • COVID-19 safety measures
    • Event Host
• Event feedback overview page
  • Launched today! See all of your past event feedback in one place.
  • See what people liked and what went wrong.
  • Sort and filter ratings, message reviewers, and report feedback.
  • Use your member’s feedback to learn and make improvements to your events!

Top Q&A Questions and Resources:

• How do I announce an online event beyond my local geographic area?
  • Colin: Currently, our platform treats online and in-person events the same due to its origin as the old platform focused on in-person meetups. However, we recognize the importance of online events in building communities. We appreciate the feedback to distinguish between event types and are actively exploring ways to differentiate them, including tags for online events and RSVP options. Your input is invaluable in shaping our platform’s future. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
•  Is there a way to conduct surveys in Meetup directly?
  • Alex: This is not a feature Meetup has currently, but there are some workarounds. You might find it helpful to post poll links in your group discussions to encourage direct engagement. There are robust survey tools like Typeform, Google Forms, and SurveyMonkey that you can explore. Also, consider using the ‘contact members’ tool to send out emails and gather the information you need. These methods can increase engagement from your communications without relying on built-in polling features.

Resources:

• Product Feedback form
• Stay up to date on product updates
• Meetup’s help center
• For further support from our team or to report a bug, submit a direct request to our team using this form
• Join the Organizer Discord Community

The post Recording: July 2023 Meetup Community Building Office Hours appeared first on Meetup Blog.

Self-care is an umbrella term for many different activities and routines you can pursue, all with the goal of reducing physical and mental tension in their various forms. 

Much more than just an excuse to veg out, the World Health Organization thinks self-care is important enough to have a whole month dedicated to it, culminating with International Self-Care Day on Monday, July 24. Prioritizing self-care means taking an active role in your own health, and the benefits extend beyond stress relief and mood improvement to disease prevention and longevity. 

And while we may all occasionally benefit from creating space to do “nothing,” you’ll find that some of the most effective ways to embody self-care are quite intentional and proactive. So check out these four inspirations for unwinding this month, and participate in a worldwide movement of health-conscious enjoyment.  

1. Spend time outdoors 

We only have to look back a short time ago—around the height of the pandemic and the social isolation era—to recall the major toll that too much time indoors can take on our physical and mental health.  

On the other hand, reconnecting with nature is a profound experience that touches on so many different aspects of overall wellness. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the positive results of spending time outdoors include:

• Improved heart health 
• Soothed muscle tension 
• Reduction in levels of cortisol (often called the “stress hormone”) 
• Lower risk of depression  
• Increased psychological resilience 
• More willingness to engage with people  

Outdoor time could mean anything from learning some new steps in Riverside Park with the New York City Swing Dance Group, or getting a vigorous workout with Kayak-Cardio at Stone Mountain Park in Atlanta. 

2. Pick up a mindful hobby 

Any activity that pulls your focus from the internal toward something external can be a healthy pursuit of mindfulness. 

For example, you could find a group like Drink and Draw Bay in San Francisco, whose 3,500 members gather both in-person and online with people from around the world to let off steam through creative expression. 

Popular hobbies under the mindfulness umbrella include other art forms like writing and photography, as well as more intentional tension-relievers like yoga and meditation, both of which you could try out with a group like Sunday Morning Sunset Cliffs Yoga in San Diego. 

3. Commit to making one healthy change 

Ride the current of International Self-Care Day toward a brighter and more positive future by identifying one habit or routine you can improve. 

It could be something as simple as deciding to put down your devices an hour before bed, or you might look into some refreshing exercises to perform in the morning. With the support of a group like Fit Over ‘50’ in Green Bay, you could join a summer healthy eating and home cooking initiative.  

4. Be intentional about being social  

Community isn’t just an abstract idea—it’s a potentially life-changing connection between you and fellow human beings that you can create with just a little effort. So in the spirit of the holiday, care for yourself by caring for others. Try to reconnect with an old friend, family member, former classmate, or coworker who you’ve fallen out of touch with recently. Don’t overthink it: just reach out and say hello!

You can also broaden your sense of community by establishing new connections and revitalizing your social life. Check out a straightforward and easy social activity with groups like First Friday Charleston- Professional Networking Happy Hour or the Coffee Club of Seattle. Find the first upcoming event that fits into your schedule and register for it. You’ll be well on your way toward sparking new friendships.

And as always, if you don’t see a fitting community in your area, you can easily create your own Meetup group centered on any theme, and invite others to join you in the social act of mutual self-care. 

Try a social activity by joining a group for friendship and attending the first event that fits into your schedule. Don’t overthink it–just register and go!

The post 4 Ways to Celebrate International Self-Care Day  appeared first on Meetup Blog.

July 30 is International Friendship Day and we’re making it easier than ever to spark more friendships with new features on Meetup Member+. In this Meetup Live recording, we’ll be hosting a deep dive into all the platform tools we’ve rolled out to bring people together and fight the loneliness epidemic.

Watch Meetup team members Annyce Davis, VP of Engineering, and Mike Bass, Senior Product Manager, for a walk-through of platform features designed to facilitate friendships. Hear real stories of members who found their community with Member+. Learn how organizers can also benefit from this suite of friendship features and get the scoop on what’s to come with Member+.

Timestamps:

• Fighting the Loneliness Epidemic (1:31)
  • Members Want to Form Relationships (2:49)
  • Meetup Helping Members Form Friendships (5:53)
• Why Meetup? (7:30)
• How Member+ can Help Build Friendships (8:44)
  • Unique Features to Member+ (10:21)
• Member+ Goals (21:01)
• Impact of Member+ (21:37)
• Finding Events to Make Friends (22:48)
• Q&A Session (25:40)

Top Q&A Questions and Resources:

• Can we hide group memberships from people with Member+?
  • Annyce: Yes, you can hide your group memberships. There’s a setting on your profile where you can choose not to make your groups public and that will mean that anyone viewing your profile won’t be able to see shared groups with you or the group memberships that you belong to.
• Are these features only available on the app, what about desktop?
  • Mike: You can get that benefit now. Our web platform functionality follows our apps, but yes, these features are on web or coming to web. An example of this is the brand new profiles feature. Right now it is on the Android app and is not yet on iPhone. Then it will come to the web in a few months. So it’s a little bit delayed there, but it’s coming and you’ll get those benefits on the website.
• With Member+ will I have access to Meetup groups that I would not otherwise have?
  • Annyce: For now, the answer is no. We haven’t considered creating any special Meetup groups for Member+ subscribers exclusively, but that’s an interesting thought.

Resources:

• Enhance your experience and make new friends by signing up for Meetup Member+.

The post Recording | Member+: The Best Way to Spark New Friendships appeared first on Meetup Blog.

Lots of offices are either fully or semi-remote these days, and workers have been telecommuting for almost a year now. It’s not difficult to see how this transition to a virtual workplace disrupts personal connections between colleagues. With so little face-to-face interaction, if you don’t have strong coworker friendships, your 9 to 5 can be a lonely time. Many people who started a new job within the last 2 years have never actually met their coworkers in person! 

Work friendships are a vital part of our everyday existence. A human resources study reported on by CNBC shows that 70 percent of employees say it’s crucial to have friends in the workplace. Many people spend a third of each day at work, five times per week. With so much time each week devoted to work, it makes sense to develop friendships with coworkers. Additionally, the benefits of strong work friendships include: 

• Being more invested in your work 
• Having trusted confidants you can turn to for advice
• Persevering through common struggles    
• Reduced feelings of isolation
• Improvements in overall health and well-being  
• The satisfaction of helping others achieve their goals   
• Expanding your career network  

Even when you don’t share a physical office space, you can still take steps to deepen friendships with colleagues. Here are a few things you can get started on today. 

#1. Invite coworkers to attend an online Meetup career event   

If you and the people you work with are career-oriented, go-getter types, what better way is there to socialize than by networking outside the virtual office? There are all kinds of career groups on Meetup, whether you and your colleagues are young professionals with entrepreneurial aspirations or seasoned veterans making a name in your field.  

For example, NY Career Meetup regularly hosts online events where you can pitch your best business ideas and meet trend-setters from the Forbes Top 30 Under 30 list. Women’s Voices in Tech is a great option for women who want to excel in the technology space.

#2. Host virtual happy hours  

Planned gatherings that occur regularly are an excellent way to broaden your base of workplace friends and deepen your coworker friendships. These help reduce feelings of social anxiety and pressure. Everyone knows that if they miss out on one event, they can always join the next one.  Happy hours are comfortable, fun, and no fuss. That’s what everyone wants after a hard day of work. 

With a little preparation, virtual happy hours can be just as enjoyable as in-person ones. When you’re hosting, it can be helpful to have a few conversation starters up your sleeve. As most everyone has discovered this past year, small talk takes a little more effort when it’s taking place over Zoom. That’s where you come in with a discussion on recent news, or a classic guessing game like two truths and a lie. You can even add a book club or film club element to your virtual happy hour.  

If you’re looking for any more pointers, check out these 4 Tips for Fun and Frequent Virtual Happy Hours.   

#3 Get to know the people around you through Meetup

These tried and true social activities can help you make friends with coworkers whether you work remotely or in person. Whatever your situation is, there are bound to be colleagues who share some of your interests and your desire for personal connection. If you want to invite others to attend an event with you, you can choose from thousands of Meetup events taking place every day. If you’d prefer a private company event, you can easily create your own Meetup group and start hosting today.

The post Three Ways to Make Coworker Friendships While Working From Home appeared first on Meetup Blog.

Some people might say that you can’t learn how to be a good friend by reading books. Most likely, those people haven’t read the five books below! 

These recommendations can offer you practical advice on meeting new people, establishing authentic connections, and maintaining friendships. Many of them incorporate data-driven analyses of friend-making tactics, the challenges of modern socialization, and more. Others employ personal narrative, brilliantly evoking the peaks and valleys of social life over the years, and demonstrating why heart and mind are of equal importance for anyone on a friendship journey.  

Now, you may not be able to make friends just by reading these books. But the knowledge inside of them can absolutely make you a more empathetic person with a more intimate understanding of  “what friends are for.” That kind of wisdom may be life-changing. So find a book that speaks to you, and dive in. 

1. Platonic by Marisa G. Franco, PhD  

A New York Times best-seller, this book focuses on the science of attachment, and how understanding these basic principles can help you find “your people.” The author is a professor of Counseling Psychology at the University of Maryland who regularly writes for Psychology Today and was recently a guest on Meetup Live.

At the core of this book, Franco argues that it’s still possible (and maybe more necessary than ever) to make new connections and deepen long-standing relationships today, when our world often feels totally fragmented.  

So how can you be confident and thoughtful about making friends in an era when technological distractions are everywhere and division is the new normal? The key, she knows from experience, is understanding attachment theory and your own attachment style. Find out where your style fits on the spectrum between “secure,” “anxious,” and “avoidant.” Then, you can unlock what’s working in your friendship habits, and where there’s room for improvement. For example, this book will highlight why some of your friends aren’t texting you back (hint: it’s not because they hate you) and give you the insight to deal with that situation in a constructive way.  

2. Big Friendship by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman 

Another New York Times best-seller, this book goes beyond the quaint, surface-level sentiments that often surround the idea of friendship, and gets into the nitty-gritty. 

Co-authors Sow and Friedman (who also created the hit podcast, Call Your Girlfriend, a show for long-distance besties everywhere) tell the sometimes messy story of their connection. They don’t shy away from revealing the hard work it takes to maintain such a deep friendship—the beating heart of this book is its realness. By the end, you’re sure to walk away with a more vivid understanding of “big friendship,” which they believe to be society’s most underappreciated relationship.  

3. Friendship in the Age of Loneliness by Adam Smiley Poswolsky 

Subtitled as “An Optimist’s Guide to Connection,” this book responds to the here and now by examining the effects of social distancing and lockdown measures during the pandemic on our social lives. Smiley Poswolsky takes off from the unique understanding the pandemic gave us about the true value of human connection, with lots of people learning the hard way just how important active social bonds are to one’s health and happiness. 

From there, he launches into a warm and inspiring guide on how to live a more meaningful life, with practical suggestions like doing periodic “digital detoxes” and investing in real-world experiences. Smiley Poswolsky’s TED talk on “the quarter-life crisis” has been viewed over 1.5 million times, and he recently appeared on the Keep Connected podcast to discuss this new book with David Siegel, Meetup CEO.  

4. We Need to Hang Out by Billy Baker  

The side-splitting memoir of a middle-aged man balancing his career and family life who suddenly realizes how badly he needs some quality time to chill with his bros. 

Along the way, Baker finds out just how common his predicament is, learning that tens of millions of middle-aged American men suffer from chronic loneliness, which has actually been compared to smoking and obesity in terms of its negative effects on overall health.  

A heartfelt, charming, and often hilarious book that features Baker basically starting a frat house for middle-aged guys, We Need to Hang Out is more than anything a testament to the power of companionship.  

5. My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante 

This novel is the first book in the “Neapolitan quartet,” which many believe to be Italian author Elena Ferrante’s magnum opus. The whole story unfolds over sixty years as two women, Lila and Elena, maintain a complex emotional bond throughout each of their lives’ many transformations. In My Brilliant Friend, we begin in the 1950s, in a poor neighborhood outside of Naples, where Lila and Elena have their fateful first meeting as ten-year-olds. 

The Neapolitan Novels are many things—examinations of a nation in change, studies of marriage and gender roles—but above all they are intimate portraits of female friendship. My Brilliant Friend has been adapted into an acclaimed HBO series, which was recently renewed for a fourth season.  

Read about friendship while making friends 

All of these books have something special to offer, if you’re willing to put in the effort to receive their lessons. Make that commitment easier by sharing these recommendations with your own Meetup book club, discussing what you learn, and putting those ideas into practice with new friends!

Find events, join groups, and communicate with your people—from anywhere. Download the Meetup app today.

The post 5 Books to Make You a Better Friend  appeared first on Meetup Blog.

The year may be halfway over, but it’s still full of limitless possibilities for everything from career advancement to hobbying and—maybe most important of all—stronger social connections. The global pandemic created an epidemic of loneliness that the whole world is still finding its way out of in 2023. For the first time in many people’s lives, the true necessity of active community and friendship was put on full display. A few years later, we’re taking those lessons seriously and learning how to prioritize time with one another. 

Although fun is the main goal, there’s so much more to socializing. In fact, social activity can carry over into many other aspects of life, and have a profound impact on your overall health and happiness. Studies reported on by Psychology Today reveal that both your mind and your body benefit greatly from positive, durable relationships. Some of these benefits include: 

• Increased cognition that helps you think more clearly, solve problems, be creative, and more 
• Higher levels of self-esteem and sustained confidence 
• Improvement in the ability to communicate with others 
• Decreased feelings of depression and the negative physical effects of isolation   

In addition to all of that, an active social circle presents so many unique opportunities to experience joy and wonder in the world. Trying new things with new people is a brave step to take if you tend to be more introverted, but the rewards can truly be life-changing.  

So find out how to make friends on your own terms, in a way that aligns with your social preferences, while still “putting yourself out there.” You’ll be well on your way to making 2023 your most social year yet!

Do some prep work 

Before diving into any particular social scene, do yourself a favor by reflecting on your goals. Being intentional will help you decide on activities that really speak to you, feel confident with a set plan, and form connections that are more genuine and lasting. 

For example, if your social goal for 2023 is generally to have more friends, you could be more concrete and try to make at least three connections throughout the year. These connections don’t necessarily have to turn into lifelong friendships—as long as you’re making an effort, those deeper relationships will come with time. Social connection always begets more social connection.  

If you’re looking to socialize while also establishing your professional life or advancing your career, your approach could be to attend at least three networking events this year. It’s a low bar that you could easily exceed, and that’s great! Starting small makes progress attainable and results seem more realistic, all of which goes a long way in maintaining your motivation throughout the year.  

What your year could look like 

With your intention-setting done, it’s time to get out in the world and make yourself known! Whatever social path you decide to take, the most important thing to keep in mind is consistency. Attend events regularly, even if you’re trying new things and some of those events end up being super different from one another. Don’t worry if something doesn’t stick right away, just think of your efforts as building up your social muscle. 

Whether you’re at a low-key hang or a professional mixer, be sure to talk to people. If showing up is half the battle, engaging while you’re there is the other half. If you’re feeling intimidated or just want to brush up on small talk skills, learn how to have a conversation with someone you just met. The key takeaways include active listening, asking lots of questions, being complimentary in a chill way, and finding your courage. 

With all of these tools in your toolbelt, you’re ready to build a social foundation that will sustain you throughout 2023 and beyond. If you’re just looking for more weekend plans, you could join a casual group that meets regularly, like Happy Hour Lovers 20s/30s or Fun People – Fun Events! – Chicago. To add more physical activity to that casual social atmosphere, check out communities like the Nashville Hiking Meetup group. 

Lots of people want their free time to mean something. Your social goals can align with your desire to give back when you join a Meetup volunteering group like GOTCHA – Get Off The Couch Houston Area or Charleston’s Coastal Cleanups.  

Take the reins of your social life  

As with all pursuits in life, a little initiative can transform your outlook on friendship and lead to surprisingly quick success. Give yourself a surefire way to socialize with new people by creating your own Meetup group on any topic under the sun, and inviting others to join you in person, online, or both!

The post How Introverts Can Make 2023 Their Most Social Year Yet  appeared first on Meetup Blog.

Making friends as an adult is hard. As you get older, your responsibilities grow, so the time window for your social life typically decreases as you begin to prioritize family and career goals. Even if you already have a really strong network of friends, the opportunities to engage with them are fewer. Actually meeting new people and forming strong bonds is an even bigger challenge. 

This was the state of adult friendship long before the pandemic added another huge roadblock in the way of connection. In the wake of the social effects of prolonged isolation, the United States Surgeon General went so far as to refer to the “epidemic of loneliness” as a serious public health crisis in May 2023. 

But at their best, Dr. Vivek Murthy believes “our relationships are a source of healing and well-being hiding in plain sight—one that can help us live healthier, more fulfilled, and more productive lives.” David Siegel, Meetup’s CEO, responded to the Surgeon General’s warning by recognizing how ordinary people can come together and support the mission of ending loneliness.

So, despite all the factors that make adult friending difficult, it’s essential that we find a way forward. If you tend to be more introverted, there’s plenty you can do to make 2023 your most social year yet. No matter what your social orientation is, you can follow some basic tips for making friends during lonely times. 

In preparation for the International Day of Friendship on Sunday, July 30, go over this guide and start living your best social life!  

Making friends with the people around you   

A great approach to forming new connections is to take advantage of the potential friendships that already exist in your usual environment. For example, you could read up on how to make friends at work. A couple of the main points include: 

• Being an active participant in team communication channels 
• Embracing opportunities to say yes to optional work-organized activities  

You can also engage with an even broader swath of your immediate community—the people who live in your same neighborhood or city. Check out this Q&A with Madison Moose-Barrington from Common on sparking friendships in a new town. Some of the best advice is about simply putting yourself out there and getting involved, as well as the best practices for exchanging contact information and making follow-up plans.  

You might also try Member+, Meetup’s new subscription with exclusive features including a whole suite of friendship tools, prioritized support, and an entirely ad-free experience. Member + will officially launch everywhere (meaning web and mobile platforms) on July 30, the International Day of Friendship.  

When registering for events with Member+, you’ll have the ability to see “Who Will Be There,” which highlights attendees’ shared interests, as well as what each person is looking to gain from the overall experience. Those options include things like “Practice hobbies,” “Make friends,” and “Professionally network.” Innovations like these greatly increase your potential to attend events with people you’d like to meet and stay in touch with.

Get social by pursuing your passions 

Nothing brings people together better than a shared interest or hobby. Plus, one of the best ways for introverted folks to make socializing an authentically enjoyable experience is to pursue activities that you would enjoy by yourself. This relieves a lot of the pressure, and allows the friendship process to become more organic. Here are just a few of the limitless possibilities you can pursue: 

• Sports and fitness — If you’re up for some friendly competition, check out a sport group like NYC Outdoor Badminton that makes organizing games super easy. Other communities like Short Hiking Trails in Charleston provide a more low-key opportunity for exercise.  

• Arts and culture — For anyone looking to express themselves creatively, there are groups like San Diego Figure Drawing and Painting. If you want to meet other people who appreciate the finer things in life, you can find a community like ChicagoLand Art Gallery, Museum & Music Events… Plus! 

• Career and causes — There are tons of broadly professional groups out there, as well as more niche ones like New to Nashville Music Industry Networking. You can also make new contacts by devoting some of your free time to a good cause, like the hacktivists who volunteer with Code for KC.  

Put in the time  

Once in a while, a brand new friendship blossoms overnight. But for the most part, it’s a process that requires a little effort and a little patience. Research suggests that, on average, it takes 50 hours of time together to turn an acquaintance into a friend. 

If you find it challenging to get past the “getting to know you” stage, you can be proactive and read some of the best books on friendship. You could also listen to the Keep Connected podcast, which often features relationship experts and introvert success stories.  

Another way to ensure that you’re putting your best foot forward is by filling out your member profile on the Meetup app.

The post The Ultimate Guide to Making Friends as an Adult   appeared first on Meetup Blog.

In May 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory on the dangers of loneliness, calling it a health risk as serious as a daily smoking habit. This sober warning sparked a global discussion on social isolation. Meetup’s mission of bringing people together to explore shared interests and spark real connections is more urgent than ever.

Watch the recording with CEO David Siegel at Meetup Live for a mid-year update on how Meetup has been addressing the loneliness crisis and what you can do to help. You’ll hear all about the changes Meetup has made to make community building easier and forge lasting friendships.

Timestamps:

• The History of Meetup (1:03)
• Top 10 Reasons Community is Important
  10. Loneliness (3:12)
  11. Leadership (5:14)
  12. Find a New Job (6:33)
  13. Mental Health (7:08)
  14. Learning (7:47)
  15. Business Growth (8:28)
  16. Find a Life Partner (9:30)
  17. Travel & Relocation (9:55)
  18. Accountability (11:01)
  19. Friendships (11:58)
• How is Meetup Doing in Driving Connections & Community? (13:32)
• How are We Working to Grow your RSVPs & Show Ups?
  • Driving More RSVPs (15:36)
  • Web: New Signup CTAs (16:58)
  • App: Launched IOS App Clips (17:45)
  • Email: Dynamic Web Flow (18:19)
• What’s Coming Up Next?
  • Redesigned Homepage (19:20)
  • Swiping Experience on Native Apps (20:02)
• Organizer Success
  • Organizer Tools Update (21:02)
  • Organizer App (22:45)
  • Organizer Community (23:31)
  • AI-Powered Group Descriptions (24:26)
  • Updating Our Designs for Accessibility Needs (26:05)
  • Member Feedback (26:27)
  • Member+ Members (27:36)
  • Pro: Hybrid Events (28:43)
• Meetup and the Surgeon General Fight Loneliness (29:22)
• Q&A Session (30:38)

Top Q&A Questions:

•  Is Meetup ever going to rid all the groups that haven’t posted events in years?
  • We have made significant improvements to our algorithm for recommending and joining Meetup groups. Our main objective is to ensure that when someone joins a group, they are directed to an active and vibrant community with regular events. To achieve this, we prioritize suggesting groups that have a proven track record of hosting events and engaging their members. Additionally, when a new group joins our platform and plans an upcoming event, we actively promote that group to attract more participants.
• Will the new design make it easier to get into a Meetup event that we are registered for?
  • One of the primary objectives of our new design is to enhance the speed and ease of joining a group and attending events. We are actively working towards streamlining the process, aiming to reduce the number of steps required. While it is important for us to gather some information about your interests to provide relevant recommendations, we understand the need to strike a balance and avoid making the process overly complicated.

The post Recording: Addressing the Loneliness Crisis with Meetup CEO appeared first on Meetup Blog.