25 Ways to Build Strong Loyal Friendships After 50

Social connections matter throughout our lives, but especially in our 50s. Research has shown that strong relationships and personal connections help us live longer and bring joy to our lives.  

Too often, women in this life stage have told us they feel anxious, lonely, and socially isolated. But this year, more than ever, people are feeling disconnected and alone. Many women are languishing—living between feeling great and feeling down. It’s as if the effort of holding everything together to get through the pandemic has taken a toll. Now that things are opening up again, it may feel difficult to jump right back into a pre-pandemic routine and social life. And, you may not even feel like it. 

These feelings are common after difficult times, disasters, emergencies, and health crises.

In addition, midlife is a time of life transition — kids leave home, marriages may end, careers peak, homes get downsized, and aging family members need care and support. Social connections built while raising kids or building careers often disappear due to these midlife challenges and can result in a lack of deep and loyal friendships at a time when we need them most. 

Many women find themselves hungry for strong loyal friendships again but may struggle knowing how to develop new relationships with other women. 

Maybe this isn’t you. You have a robust and abundant network of female friends you can share and confide in. You feel socially connected. Your friendships bring you joy. Great news, this puts you in a perfect position to help other women. 

Whether you feel lonely, socially isolated, or deeply connected, these 25 ideas will help you build strong, loyal friendships and foster a strong social network after 50.

Connecting with other women matters. It’s up to us to ensure all women feel connected, supported, visible, and valued. We must lift each other up and ensure all women thrive through meaningful connections with one another. We need each other now, especially. 

Make a goal to reach out to one woman this week who you haven’t connected with recently, or at all. 

Imagine the difference you can make in your own life and the lives of others by taking the first step to connect, build deeper relationships, and create safe spaces for women to talk about what they’re emotionally experiencing. 

To get started, invite a girlfriend, neighbor, acquaintance, or complete stranger to try one or more of the following ideas with you. 

1. Share a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share and make a date to meet and divide the share each week

2. Explore a new local trail on foot or on bikes 

3. Check out a local pizza farm 

4. Try a new restaurant with a great patio 

5. Go berry picking

6. Have a picnic

7. Get coffee at a different shop each week

8. Go for a walk

9. Check out the fresh produce at a farmer’s market

10. Sign up for a community education class

11. Learn a new sport like pickleball

12. Take an exercise class together

13. Meet at an outdoor yoga class

14. Take a cooking class

15. Go to a free summer concert

16. Make s'mores around a bonfire

17. Attend a neighborhood association meeting

18. Cook a meal together and try a new recipe

19. Host a potluck or book club

20. Go to a festival

21. Walkthrough a zoo

22. Explore a museum

23. Take a dance class

24. Buy tickets to a sporting event

25. Go bowling

Don’t stop with just one invitation. Deep, meaningful relationships take time. Reach out. Be inclusive and supportive. Reap the personal benefits of connection and give the gift of social connection to others! 

Do you need more evidence supporting the value of social connection? Check out our four discoveries from Rumblings’ 31-day Commit to Connect Challenge last October.

Together we can make a difference! 

Rumble on!