Friendships
Building Meaningful Friendships in Your 30s

Making friends in your 30s can feel a little daunting. Life gets full — with routines, careers, and responsibilities that leave little space for spontaneity. But here’s the truth we hold close at Nomad Girls Club: connection doesn’t expire with age — it simply evolves.

Friendship in adulthood is a powerful force. It’s the grounding energy that keeps you steady during life’s highs and lows. It’s also the magic behind laughter-filled dinners, beach walks with your girls, and honest conversations under the stars.

But yes, building those connections requires something from you: a little courage, a little curiosity, and a willingness to step into new rooms, circles, and chats — even when it feels unfamiliar.

That’s exactly what NGC was created for — to make that first step less scary and a lot more fun.

Why Making Friends in Your 30s Feels Different

By the time you hit your 30s, life feels like it’s running on tracks — career growth, maybe a partner, or a new city. You’ve probably already outgrown surface-level friendships and crave something deeper, more honest, more aligned. At NGC, we hear this every day: “I just want real friends who get me.” or “I want to have deep conversation”

You’re not alone.

In your 30s, friendships take longer to form because we’re all more intentional. We want quality over quantity. We want our time to mean something. And that’s a beautiful thing.

Some of the shifts we notice in our NGC community:

  • Limited free time due to careers, travel, and responsibilities.

  • A stronger desire for meaningful, aligned friendships.

  • Less interest in small talk, more craving for authenticity.

These changes make sense — and they also create space for deeper bonds to form. You just need the right environment. (Hi, NGC 👋)

Why Adult Friendships Matter (So Much)

Having a circle of women around you isn’t just a “nice to have.”

It’s essential. At NGC, we’ve seen firsthand how friendships:

  • Ease the loneliness of working remotely or moving to a new city.

  • Offer emotional support when life gets messy (because it will).

  • Encourage growth, creativity, and risk-taking.

  • Make life so much more fun — from Sunday picnics to spontaneous girls’ trips.

And yes, the science backs it up: friendships help reduce stress, boost happiness, and even improve your health. But beyond all that, they remind you: you’re not alone.

Common Challenges to Making Friends in Your 30s

Let’s name what gets in the way:

  • You’re busy — like, really busy.

  • Your routines feel safe and cozy (but maybe a little isolating).

  • Socializing as an adult can feel intimidating — especially when you’re the new girl.

We see this all the time in our community. The women who walk into an NGC dinner or workshop often arrive a little nervous — but leave with new numbers in their phone and plans for the weekend.

The key? Showing up. Even when it’s awkward. Even when you’re unsure. We create the container — you just have to walk in.

Where (and How) to Meet New Friends – NGC Style

1. Attend in-person community events
Yes, you could scroll social media… but real friendships happen when you’re face-to-face. Our Lisbon pop-up dinners, picnic workshops, and interest-based meetups are designed to help women connect in low-pressure, high-vibe ways.

2. Explore your city like a local
Whether you’re new to Lisbon or have been here for a while, there’s always more to discover — rooftop events, beach yoga, knitting in the park. When you say yes to new experiences, new people often follow.

3. Join intentional communities (like ours)
We believe every woman deserves a space to belong. NGC isn’t just a club — it’s a platform for friendship, creativity, and sisterhood. From casual walks to business collaborations, everything starts with connection.

Group Activities That Actually Work

We’ve seen what works — and what doesn’t. Here’s what helps friendships spark:

  • Small-group dinners (intimate, cozy, safe to open up)

  • Workshops where you create something together

  • Walking meetups with room for one-on-one convos

  • Skill-sharing sessions where everyone brings something to the table

The magic isn’t just in the activity — it’s in the shared energy of women who are open to connection.

Volunteer. Give Back. Feel Aligned.

Volunteering is a beautiful way to meet like-hearted women. Whether you’re helping at an animal shelter, running a beach cleanup, or mentoring teens, shared values build real bonds. And at NGC, we’re exploring ways to integrate more give-back events into our calendar — because impact and community go hand in hand.

The Role of Social Media & Apps (with Caution)

While apps and platforms can help you connect, they should be tools — not the destination. At NGC, we use WhatsApp groups to foster daily check-ins, spontaneous plans, and accountability. But the real transformation? That happens offline, when you sit across from someone and say, “Same here. I’ve felt that too.”

Rekindling Old Friendships

Sometimes, the best friendships are ones you already have — they’ve just been paused. Reach out to that old roommate, college friend, or travel buddy. NGC has even sparked reconnections between old friends who didn’t know they both landed in Lisbon.

Start simple:

  • “Hey, I was thinking about you.”

  • “Remember when we…?”

  • “I’m hosting a dinner — want to come?”

Real Talk: Making Friends Takes Effort

You get out what you put in. But effort doesn’t have to be exhausting. It can look like:

  • Sending a meme that made you think of her.

  • Following up with someone you met last week.

  • Being the one who initiates the plan.

In NGC, we celebrate this kind of emotional labor — because friendship is a two-way ritual. Not always easy, but always worth it.

Life Is Changing? So Will Your Friendships.

You’re evolving — and so will your relationships. At NGC, we normalize friendship transitions. Some people are meant for a season, others for the long haul. The key is grace and communication.

Here’s what helps:

  • Honest conversations about needs and boundaries.

  • Allowing space for people to grow.

  • Cheering each other on, even from afar.

Embracing the Journey: The Rewards of Friendship in Your 30s

At Nomad Girls Club, we believe friendship is foundational. It’s not a side dish. It’s the main course. Especially in a world that praises independence, we’re reclaiming interdependence. That brave, beautiful act of reaching out and saying:

“Hey, want to be friends?”

Whether you’re 25 or 35, new to Lisbon or just craving more depth — you belong here. Come as you are. We’ve got space for you.

NGC, where Friendship grows