A community can look like a lot of different things. It can look like the few neighbors in your apartment hallway. It can look like a faith-based group that you spend time with every week. It can look like your group chat, your social media following, your coworkers or your family.

With the internet becoming more and more a part of our lives, our communities have evolved to be a little more spread out and hosted over virtual means — which isn’t a bad thing at all! All it means is that we have a little less reason to venture out into our physical, geographic communities to seek friendship, support and company. 

If you’re looking to connect with your physical community, as in your neighborhood, suburb or town, then there are plenty of ways to get your foot in the door and start making connections while, of course, enjoying your time!

Here are some ways you can get involved in your immediate community, however much you want to! 

7 ways to get involved in your community

Start playing a sport

Playing club sports isn’t just for kids, and it’s arguably a little more fun as a grown-up, too!

Whether you’re into flag football, rugby, water polo, outrigger canoeing, soccer or anything else, there’s almost certainly a club nearby that would love some new members. Most of the time, all it takes is a quick Google search or a quick browse through Facebook Groups or Meetup groups in your area. If those don’t turn up any results, then head to a bulletin board at your local library or community center. Many local businesses also love to advertise local groups and clubs, so ask around there, too!

Support a local sports team

If you enjoy sports from the other side of the field edge, then find a local sports team to support from the sidelines! Great friendships have been forged from the clumps of camping chairs around soccer fields, ice rinks and tennis courts, and there’s just something about the energy of watching a game that brings people together like nothing else!

Do some volunteering

Volunteering is a great way to give back to your local community while also having some fun — and it looks different to everyone!

Join a trail cleanup group to enjoy some outdoor time, or spend time with kids at community centers hosting after-school care activities. Catch up on podcasts while driving for Meals On Wheels. Brush up on your knowledge while volunteering as a museum docent. Check out your local zoo for chances to help clean enclosures or help with animals. Volunteer your time at the local animal shelter, or start fostering animals. Ask a botanical garden if they need help with weeding. Dole out soup at a soup kitchen. 

The options are endless!

Look up event calendars

A good way to start stocking up on local opportunities, as it were, is to get familiar with a monthly event calendar. Print it out, set reminders on your phone — whatever works for you! That way, you can plan your week around events you want to be a part of and start looking forward to some new experiences. 

Shop local

This is an easy one!

Shopping local is a great way to really get involved in your community, since the benefits stay right within your community! You get a great hand-crafted or high-quality item, the owners get to support their families, you get to be a regular at a place that really cares about you and the money goes right back to your local community, rather than to a mysterious corporation elsewhere. 

Join a park cleanup group

An afternoon in a park with people who care about their community is an afternoon well spent.

Park cleanup crews are friendly, they’re passionate about their spaces, they care about the outdoors and they’re great neighbors. Join a cleanup crew to not only meet up with great people, but to get to know your parks and your neighborhood like never before!

Join a hobby club

Hobby clubs are everywhere, and there’s sure to be a club that draws your interest somewhere nearby. 

Head to Google, Meetup or Facebook to search for groups near you, or try your local coffee shop, library or community center’s bulletin board to look for advertisements. There’s always going to be a bit of awkwardness when joining a new group (especially if others have been part of it for a much longer time) but give it some time and the ease will come and the conversations will get more meaningful. Everyone there has the same passion in common, so that’s a good start!

Getting involved with your community can be as simple as watching a football game every weekend or as complicated as joining a board — the commitment level is entirely up to you! Give yourself some time to settle in and you’re sure to make at least a few good friends and, if anything, you’ll be doing something you enjoy while you’re at it!

Enjoy!

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Featured photo by Cristi Tohatan on Unsplash