Meet New People and Make Friends in Chicago
Finding friends in Chicago is easier than you think.
Cafe 53
Cafe
Small, laid-back coffeehouse pairing its java with sandwiches, ice cream & free WiFi in cozy digs.
Check out We3
Privately match with the most compatible people nearby based on 150 factors. And the best part? It’s FREE.
The challenge of meeting new people in Chicago.
Making new friends as an adult isn’t easy. It seems that everyone already has their friend group and they’re too busy to expand it. Simply meeting new people becomes increasingly rare. To make matters even worse, nowadays most people in Chicago walking on the street or waiting in line have their headphones on, making it even more difficult for a serendipitous encounter to happen.
Luckily, making new friends doesn’t have to entail removing the headphones of strangers just to see if they’re good friendship material or not. Below is our simple 5 step process to meet new friends in Chicago.
How to find friends in Chicago.
1. Be yourself.
There are lots of people in Chicago that are highly compatible with you and who are in the same situation. So don’t pretend to be someone you’re not just to meet new people. The friendship will be short-lived and you will regret wasting your time. Instead, focus on finding the right people.
2. Understand the goal.
When it comes to making friends in Chicago, compatibility is the name of the game. The more compatible you are, the more likely it will be that a great friendship will emerge.
The quickest way to meet compatible people in Chicago for free is to use an app like We3. After answering questions about yourself, the app will privately connect you with highly compatible people who share your traits, interests and goals.
| Download We3 |
3. Segment your desired social life.
It’s quite rare for one new person to fulfill all your social needs, so it’s important not to place those high expectations on every new person you meet. The key to make new friends in Chicago is to segment your desired social life into the various activities you enjoy doing and see each new person as fulfilling one part of it.
Not only is it much easier to find people that share one of your interests, but it will be easier to get to know them in that context. If you’re lucky, the friendship will quickly grow to fill more parts of your life.
4. Try to form tribes.
One of the challenges with making new friends in Chicago is that it is far too easy for others to question your motives. When this happens, it’s common for the conversation to grind to a halt. Which is why it’s always preferable to get to know someone in a small group activity.
There’s also less pressure to contribute to the conversation, so you can relax, be yourself, and are less likely to dread an awkward silence. Three is the optimal number, because the conversation can’t split up into two or more separate exchanges.
The best way to make new friends is to meet new people in groups of 3.
5. Avoid common pitfalls.
Given that people are so different, generalizations can only get you so far. Nevertheless, here are a few common pitfalls that you might want to avoid:
- You only get one shot at making a first impression, so avoid using it to complain about something or be cocky and brag. It’s easy for someone to think that’s your general attitude and may lose them.
- Make sure the people in which you invest time and effort fit your personality. Even though you may share plenty of interests, conflicting personalities may derail a budding friendship. You can find out what your personality type is on We3.
- If you’re inviting someone for the first time to take part in an activity, make sure it’s in a public place. Inviting people to your house before they get to know you may raise a red flag in their minds.
- If someone doesn’t seem interested in chatting or doing something afterwards, don’t take it personally or give up. It’s likely they’re just busy or aren’t interested in growing their friendship circle.
- Don’t simply go to a bar or club expecting to meet people there. Most people there are in small groups that are difficult to approach. Form your tribes first, and then go together.
- Avoid hoarding the conversation. Most people enjoy talking about themselves, so ask questions and make an effort to listen more than you speak.
- Great friendships can take some time to develop. Going too fast may scare people. So unless it’s going stellar, it’s important to pace yourself when inviting the same person to do something with you.
Where to meet people in Chicago
Once you’ve formed your Tribes on We3, below are some great local places where you can all go.
Meet friends in Chicago
Testimonials
“I met two wonderful new ladies who shared so many similar interests and without We3 I wouldn’t have ever met them!”
“Just like to say, I formed a London tribe a week ago and met up with them! […] We were super similar and on the same wavelength! Your algorithm really works!”
“We3 was a great way for me to connect with some adorable ladies. Since it takes into account personality, beliefs, interests, etc, you are almost certain to “click” with the people you match with.”
“We really hit it off and had so much to talk about. We love to eat out and that’s what we have been doing every time we get together – try one new place at a time!”
