[mleonhard]

Friendships can form when people have repeated un-planned meetings. Put yourself into such situations regularly: work at a co-working space, keep a consistent gym schedule, regularly attend several meetups, regularly attend a volunteering group, visit a coffee shop on a schedule, take public transit at the same time each day, etc. Don't let your headphones prevent random conversations with strangers.

The biggest cause of loneliness today is loss of the third-place [0] in modern communities. Suburbia is soulless and isolating because there are few third places where people can socialize and meet others.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_place