Is it normal to only have 2 friends?

Despite the high volume of #squadgoals grams posted by acquaintances you don't actually go out with, it's actually perfectly normal to have just a few close friends. So whether you've grown apart from your high school or college friend group, or never had one to begin with, here's why—and why it's OK!

cosmopolitan.com - 6 Perfectly Good Reasons You Only Have, Like, 2 Friends

What is toxic about Gemini?

Being moody, sarcastic, and impulsive are some bad traits of Gemini. In addition, they may act childish at times and are easily attracted to...

Last updated Jul 14, 2018

How to know a girl likes you?

Signs a Girl Likes You She reschedules a date she can't make. ... She makes an effort to continue the conversation. ... She compliments you and...

Last updated Feb 3, 2019

Do you really know who the “One” is? Your true Soulmate?

Promotion

When both of your BFFs are busy on a weekend, and you're fresh out of people to hang with, you might wonder why you can't seem to buckle down with a squad that never leaves you lonely. Why is it so impossible for you to have more than two friends?!

Why are you like this???

1. You have so many things going on in your life!

Finding time to see all two people in your posse can feel like a lot on top of work, meal-prepping, and the rare slivers of designated you-time AKA bingeing Netflix in your sweatpants. You might not have time to make extra plans and keep up with an ongoing group chat.

More From Cosmopolitan

This content is imported from twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. the most unrealistic part of sex and the city isn't carrie's apartment, it's having 3 close friends — carina hsieh (@carinahsieh) June 20, 2017 You might also be better off: While most people consider friendship to be universally beneficial, keeping up with an extra-large group of humans might not be extra fulfilling, according to a 2016 national survey, which found that smart people who spent less time with friends were happier.

2. You move around too often to maintain a solid squad.

There are times in your life where you might need to make a tough choice: stay where you've always been, surrounded by your close friends, or go somewhere new for school or work, knowing that some of your friendships might fade as the distance between you grows. "If someone moves away from a place where they lived for many years, it may be hard to rebuild new networks of friends," says Dr. Irene S. Levine, PhD, psychologist and professor of psychiatry at the NYU School of Medicine. "Close friendships develop slowly, over time."

Giphy

3. You climb the corporate ladder too quickly to make lasting friendships at work. Promotions or frequent job changes can make it difficult to maintain friendships with people you meet in the environment where you spend most of your adult life: at work. "It also can be lonelier at the top, as a manager, with fewer opportunities to socialize with peers," Dr. Levine says, also noting how women who work in a male-dominated workplace can struggle to find female friends at the office.

4. You subconsciously steer away from social groups.

Why am I attracted to someone so fast?

Falling in love easily, quickly, and often is called "emophilia." This tendency can lead people to miss critical red flags, so they may be prone to...

Last updated Sep 11, 2019

How old is the youngest language?

The world's youngest language, coming in at only 100 years old (officially), is the South African language of Afrikaans. Surprised? Afrikaans, the...

Last updated Oct 3, 2019

Promotion

“People differ in terms of their needs and preferences for having more or fewer friends,” Dr. Levine says. If you're the party-goer who tends to gravitate toward one interesting person to chat with in the quietest corner of the room, squad life might not be for you.

Giphy

After all, the larger your friend group, which grows when members invite their roommates and co-workers to join in the fun, the less tight you are with each individual in it, science suggests. That means you might end up spending group time stuck in boring, surface-level conversations that revolve around catching up rather than deeply-engaging exchanges.

Related Story 7 Charts Only BFFs Will Get

No wonder it’s completely natural for dyads (aka twosomes), to form within bigger groups, according to Dr. Levine—meaning it's normal to prefer intimate relationships, no matter how many times you try to enjoy larger crowds.

5. You're putting extra effort into your romantic relationship right now.

As you get older, new relationships sometimes take precedence over nights out with your squad. "If someone is partnered, they may have less time and need to socialize with friends than when if they were single or divorced," Dr. Levine says. While spending Friday nights Netflix-and-chilling with your S.O. can isolate you from your extended crew, if you still have a few great friends you regularly carve out face-to-face time for, you are fiiiiine. Besides, having less time to physically see everyone can help you realize which friends you've been prioritizing all along—your besties! You'll catch up with everyone else when you can.

6. You put your all into each of the friendships you have.

It's actually really healthy to fully invest yourself in your friends, regardless of how many you have: In a 2002 analysis, researchers found that the common bond between "very happy people" was their close friendships and relationships, and the fact that they devoted time to meaningful one-on-one interactions.

Giphy

So remember...

The next time you scroll through a rando's group photos and find yourself wondering whether more friends would make you happier, check yourself. It's better to be a great friend to a few people—and to yourself!—than it is to be a so-so, kind-of-flaky, kind-of-flustered friend to a lot of people. So stop counting!

Follow Julia on Twitter.

cosmopolitan.com - 6 Perfectly Good Reasons You Only Have, Like, 2 Friends

Which Zodiacs are hard to date?

The Most Incompatible Zodiac Signs That Should Never, Ever, Date, According to an Astrologer Aries and Cancer. Aries love to move quickly and...

Last updated Aug 1, 2019

How many times do couples break up?

Couples break up all the time. The average woman goes through seven relationships before finding “the one,” while men have dumped a partner or been...

Last updated Apr 29, 2018

Promotion

Is it normal to fall in love so quickly?

Falling in love easily, quickly, and often is called "emophilia." This tendency can lead people to miss critical red flags, so they may be prone to...

Last updated May 20, 2018

Promotion

What are 5 signs that death has occurred?

Heart rate, body temperature, and blood pressure begin dropping. With reduced circulation, the hands, arms, feet, and legs start to feel cool to...

Last updated Dec 14, 2022