Midweek Mingle: How I’m Finding Connection in My Twenties

Often, we can get so caught up in work, relationships, and daily routines that finding time to meet new people can feel like a challenge. But deep down, most of us are craving those meaningful connections. Our twenties and thirties can be a time of huge change – new jobs, new places, and new experiences – but they can also be lonely, especially if you don’t have a solid support network.

There are different ways you can combat this, and I’ve tried a fair few of them. Bumble BFF is an interesting one; it helps you meet people you maybe wouldn’t have otherwise, but it also has the limitation around ”matches” being able to expire, and the app feels (sometimes) like too much of a dating app, in my opinion.

Then there’s joining walking groups or doing gym classes, but these also aren’t for everyone. I used to be a super active gym-goer, but unfortunately, life got in the way and has presented me with some health problems that meant I can no longer go to those classes, or join those groups.

So what does that leave?

Many of us have no clue, including myself.

There are “girl groups” you can join, which you can find online, that set up different activities and events in different areas. The closest one to me is called The Whlesome Project, but it is still a little too far away from where I live for me to comfortably get there in the evenings.

So, I started toying with the idea of setting up my own thing. I never took the idea too seriously, until I got into a group chat with a handful of girls from my area, and saw just how many of us were feeling the same way. A walk was organised for one of the coming weekends, and I wasn’t able to make it work around my schedule (or go on a long walk, really), so I sent a message to the chat saying I’d be up for some drinks in the middle of the week instead, and it ended up being well received.

The first meeting was small, but it was lovely. We sat together, shared stories about how hard it can be to build new friendships, and realised that so many of us feel the same way.

After that evening, I decided I wanted to make it a regular thing.

And so Midweek Mingle was born!

It’s not about building huge groups or formal networking. It’s about offering a laid-back, judgement-free space where women can come together over a drink (or two!), relax, and meet people in a similar stage of life. You don’t need to come with a friend, and you definitely don’t need to worry about fitting in. The goal is to leave feeling a little lighter, maybe with a few new Instagram followers.

I knew that to get people to notice it, I’d need some way to get the word out, so I took myself to my computer, and made a quick flyer. After a quick brain storm; I decided on the phrase ”Midweek Mingle” to give it a bit more oomph. This then went up on the local Facebook groups, so we’ll see how it goes!

What comes next?

I’m about to have my second Mingle, and I’m hoping to keep it as a weekly thing, where any woman between 20 and 35 can come along and feel welcome.

I’m excited to see how it grows, not in numbers but in connections. It’s not about creating something big or structured; it’s about giving women like me a chance to meet, chat, and unwind in the middle of the week. Life in your twenties and thirties can be overwhelming, and it’s easy to feel like you’re the only one struggling to make meaningful friendships. But that first meeting reminded me how so many of us are in the same boat.

So, here’s to the little moments; the midweek pick-me-ups that remind us we’re not alone. I hope that Midweek Mingle continues to offer that space for any woman who needs it, just as much as I do.

If you’re in a similar place in life, my advice is simple: take that leap and start something, no matter how small. Sometimes, all it takes is a casual “fancy a drink?” to create something that makes a real difference in your week.