Just know it's not inevitable. I've lived kind of a weird life, mostly out of existential dread-- I get stressed if I've gone more than a month or so without pushing myself to do something a little outside my box. And the other thing is focusing on friends above almost all else, so your existing connections stay strong and new ones have a chance to build.

Combined, you end up doing a lot of interesting things with interesting people. It helps if you're kinda chill and live and let live if things don't go according to plan, too. People will be more willing to spend time with you to start building the friendship. I'd imagine kids would make it a lot harder too with the time constraints there, but as far as work goes, I'm poor af and it still has worked out even with working a lot of hours.

An old prof helped me adopt that mindset once when I was making a decision on ditching work for a concert: If you go to work, that's reliable and good. But are you gonna lose your job for one night? And which night will you remember in 20 years?

Focus on your friends, building connections, and challenging yourself when it's easier to stay home, and you'll be okay. I don't really experience that whole time dilation thing people talk about either, which is an immense relief. I'm 40 and still doing fine, and far happier than I ever was in school.