How many hours it takes to find a new friend

As a kid, it’s pretty easy to make new friends. Once you work up the courage to talk to a buddy in class, the next thing you know is sharing snacks during recess. But as we grow up, it gets a little harder for some. Your social circles don’t expand quickly and often, your co-workers become your inner circle.

But a new study published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships went a step further and found exactly how many hours it takes an adult to make a new friend. For the study, friendship status was examined as a function of hours spent together, activities together, and everyday conversations.

RELATED: Get High and Watch Movies with Your New Internet Friends

According to PureWow, which got its hands on the study:

…it takes about 50 hours to go from acquaintances to casual friends, and about 90 hours to feel comfortable upgrading them to “friend” status. After all, it takes more than 200 hours to consider someone a close friend or best friend.

The study found that there is a strong association between friendship and time spent together, but not when it comes to work. Your office colleague may never be your best friend, regardless of whether or not you can hear every single one of their phone conversations.

The average American adult hasn’t made a new boyfriend in five years. 5 years! So if you’re wondering how to make friends, you’re not alone.

Here are 9 places where you can meet new people and make new friends:

1. Volunteer in your community.
2. Join a local gym or sports league.
3. Visit a neighborhood coffee shop or juice bar regularly.
4. Join a professional networking group.
5. Become a donor or support your local arts, zoo or museum organization.
6. Go to church or join a spiritual study group.
7. Take your dog to the dog park.
8. Visit neighborhood food, arts and music festivals.
9. Take a class or learn a new skill at a community college or learning center

Good luck finding new friends!