Lonely? You’re not alone. Here are ways to make friends in Columbia

If doomscrolling on social media or staying home has become more the norm for you than a fulfilling conversation, you might feel alone — but the reality is the exact opposite.

Loneliness and building friendships have been a common problem for her patients, said Angela Scott, a therapist at Pee Dee Medical Center, and one of the “hardest things” adults are facing.

“The more time you spend alone, the more comforting it becomes,” Scott said. “But, of course, that’s not the best option for you. Isolating is not good.”

America has never been more lonely — a 2023 report from the U.S. Surgeon General declared loneliness an “epidemic” carrying dangers equivalent to 15 cigarettes a day. South Carolina is no exception. More than 15% of South Carolinians said they felt lonely “usually” or “always,” according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 Household Pulse Survey, more than 2% above the national average.

Post-pandemic, Scott says she’s heard more reports of loneliness as remote work and isolation became part of everyday routine.

“We start to be so individualized in the world that we feel we did not need groups of people, or we did not need to belong, so that loneliness started to grow,” Scott said. “I want you to be able to explore who you are and what you are by yourself. But we weren’t meant to live alone, we weren’t meant to be alone. We need people in order to be able to thrive.”

She recommends to patients that friendships founded on shared interests might have a better chance of flourishing.

“What do you like to do?” Scott said. “If you like to do it, you can guarantee that there’s someone else out there that likes to do it as well.”

Kids see each other every day on the school playground, but adults might have to be a little more intentional to build community between juggling family responsibilities and work. Especially if you’re new to Columbia, you might be looking for where to build new friendships that fit into your life.

Here are some practical ways to forge friendships in the Columbia area:

Ready, set, meet up

From co-ed kickball to volleyball, bowling and flag football, Everplay Sport and Social Club is a Columbia-area community sports league that can help you forge new connections and satisfy your competitive streak.

You can register as a free agent or a small group on Everplay’s league page, meaning that you do not have to have a complete team to play. Registration fees vary by sport, but nearly all are under $80 per season – registration for fall sports is open now, so make sure to check registration deadlines, most of which are in August.

Nothing like adrenaline, team camaraderie and occasional discounts on beer to get a friendship going.

Book clubs galore

Whatever genre floats your boat, there are many book clubs in the Midlands to connect bookworms over what they enjoy most — reading.

Detectives and Desserts, a monthly book club hosted at the Cayce-West Columbia library, even tosses in a little something sweet to accompany a rotating collection of mystery novels. A different dessert is served at each meeting, discussion flowing between bites of that month’s sweet treat.

Meetings are from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month and are free to join, no registration required.

Piecewise Coffee Company also offers a monthly book club on the last Thursday of each month from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Those who mention they’re buying for the book club can get a 10% discount at All Good Books, and members who join the group on Fable can meet other members before the meeting even starts.

Piecewise Coffee Company can be found at 2001 State St. in Cayce.

Art parallels life

For the artistically inclined or those just looking to add a new skill under their belt, the About Face drawing group is a way to hone your drawing or painting skills while meeting other creative people in the city.

The sessions at Stormwater Studios are about two and a half hours long, and include the opportunity to capture two live models in the medium of your choice — a portrait model and a figure model. Artists of all experience levels are welcome, and the $15 fee is waived for first-timers.

Sessions are normally twice a month, and posted on the studio’s website and Instagram. Stormwater Studios is located at 413 Pendleton Street in downtown Columbia, so get on down there for the next session July 20, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Dance your cares away

Dancing is one of the earliest forms of human communication, and it has stood the test of time.

Local social dancing organization Crazy Dance Love hosts Salsa Sundays at Savage Craft every third Sunday — no partner necessary. The events are about three hours, starting with a dance lesson and followed by “the best in Latin dance music,” including salsa, bachata and merengue, according to their website.

Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door, but children under 14 dance for free — perfect for parents who want to get their groove on. The event lasts from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. with the next upcoming event July 19. Savage Craft is located at 430 Center St., West Columbia.

Another great option for meeting people in motion is Bill’s Pickin’ Parlor in West Columbia. Thursday nights the rustic dance hall and music shop has shag dancing nights from 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., with a 30-minute lesson at the start. Entry is only $5 to meet other fun-loving individuals and dance the night away.

Bill’s Music Shop and Pickin’ Parlor is located at 710 Meeting St.