I moved to a new city alone and I'm lonely. How do I make friends?

You are not alone in this. The U.S. Surgeon General's 2023 advisory found that about half of U.S. adults report feeling lonely, with some of the highest rates among young adults. It also found that a lack of social connection carries health risks comparable to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. Feeling lonely after a move is common, and it usually eases with steady effort over months, not weeks.

Choose a few things that repeat on the same day each week: a class, a volunteer shift, a sports league, a faith group, a running club, or a library event. Seeing the same faces regularly is what turns strangers into friends. Volunteering helps in two ways, since helping others is one of the advisory's own recommendations.

Stay in touch with the people you left. A regular call keeps those ties strong while you build new ones. Pay attention to how social media makes you feel, and cut back if it leaves you feeling worse. If loneliness turns into lasting sadness or hopelessness, talk to a doctor or counselor. If you are in crisis, call or text 988.

Source: U.S. Surgeon General, Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation (2023 Advisory) · Checked October 2026