1. The internet makes it easier to find the perfect people for you. These are the exact individuals you want to be in touch with. You will feel a much deeper connection with them than most of the other people you meet. Since you meet these people online, you may develop thinner relationships with them—seeing them less frequently, very rarely (if ever) in-person, mostly on audio or video, often asynchronously—and yet these relationships might be even more rewarding than physically being around people who are near-perfect but not quite.

2. One expert suggests it might take 200 hours to develop a good friendship. If you want to spend more time with friends, the relationships you’ve already invested in isn’t the worst way to start. Getting together with old friends will inevitably remind you of the person you used to be, the things you did, the memories you share together. Sometimes, to your delight, and sometimes to your displeasure. If you’re trying to remember who you were, this can feel very healing—almost like you’ve found a part of you that was lost. If you’re trying to grow beyond who you were, this can feel very painful—almost an extra weight on your shoulders, as you make a leap of faith.

3. You probably don’t just want more friends; you want more real moments with real friends. You want to create the conditions for consistency, positivity, and vulnerability, and to expect your friends to contribute as well. You may need to accept, as time goes on, that hanging out isn’t as fun or frequent as it used to be—and making it work is still worth it.