Run Clubs, Book Clubs and Pottery Classes: Why Hobbies Are the New Way to Make Friends
Loneliness is reshaping how Americans look for connection, and a growing number are skipping friendship apps in favor of something older and more reliable. A hobby.
Pottery classes, run clubs and book groups are becoming the social hubs where adults are building real friendships in 2025. The shift matters because it reframes how grown-ups meet new people, treating shared activity as the entry point rather than a profile or a swipe.
How the hobby-first approach to making friends works
The idea is simple. Instead of trying to meet people directly, you commit to a recurring activity you actually enjoy and let friendships form through repetition and shared focus. Platforms like Strava for running and cycling, Goodreads for reading and Meetup for local interest groups have helped move the idea online, while in-person communities continue to grow.
Arran Davis, an expert on social connection and health at the University of Oxford, told the BBC that collaborative activities like team sports help people build relationships through what psychologists call “sharing intention,” or focusing together on a common goal.
“‘I think about what you’re thinking about, you think about what I’m thinking about,’” Davis said of the experience. He added that shared intention “makes us feel a bit closer to one another and that can lead us to view one another as good cooperative partners or people that we feel more similar to.”
Why hobbies and new friends boost mental health
The health case for hobby-based socializing is strong. A 2023 poll from the American Psychiatric Association found that 71% of participants reporting “very good” or “excellent” mental health said they engage in creative activities more frequently than those reporting “good,” “fair” or “poor” mental health. Research also suggests that art-based hobbies done two or more hours per week deliver the strongest well-being benefits.
Book clubs offer a clear example. A 2025 survey of 2,000 Americans by Talker Research, commissioned by ThriftBooks, looked at how reading groups shape members’ social lives.
Barbara Hagen, vice president of marketing at ThriftBooks, said, “Not only are reading groups having a significant impact on readers’ romantic lives and friendships, they’re also hugely beneficial for book club members’ mental health.”
Hagen added that “readers are meeting in-person, online, in hybrid in-person and online settings and even on social forums. They’re also reading a diverse span of literature from recently-released titles to the classics and making friends and romantic connections along the way.”
Where to find hobby groups and new friends
Run clubs have surged over the past two years, with Strava data showing major growth in community participation. Beyond running, people are turning to a wide range of low-pressure activities to meet new friends.
Popular options include
- Pottery, knitting and crocheting classes
- Baking, cooking and gardening groups
- Book clubs, including silent reading meetups
- Run clubs, cycling crews and hiking groups
- Pilates, surf and dance classes
- Volunteer gardening and watercolor workshops
Apps are filling in the gaps. RacketPal and Reclub connect people for casual sports like pickleball and volleyball. Activitybees matches users with partners, groups or coaches. Hobbytwin links people who want to learn or teach skills. Silent Book Club, StoryGraph and Fable serve readers, while Tuft Club and Ravelry build craft communities. Meetup and Eventbrite remain reliable for finding local workshops and events.
The throughline is the same. Show up for the activity, and the friends tend to follow.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
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