Recognize that you get to define your own friendship goals. Some people love to network and build huge circles of friends... but not everyone does, and that's okay. Maybe you just want a few close friends, or you want mostly online friendships. You get to choose what type of friendship circle you want. Don't feel like you have to give in to pressure about having a certain type of social life.
Avoid judgmental people. Most people in the world are pretty nice. But not all of them are, and you don't want to spend time with people who drag you down and make you feel bad about yourself. Limit the time you spend with these people, or cut them off altogether.
Social problems aren't always your fault. Research has shown evidence of a "double empathy problem," in which non-autistics don't empathize as well with autistic people. This isn't your fault. If someone isn't willing to try to understand you, they aren't good friendship material.
Remember that online friendships can be wonderful and meaningful, just like in-person friendships. Autistic people may find it easier to make friends on the internet. If that's what makes you happy, then go for it!
Recognize that friendships with disabled people are just as good as friendships with non-disabled people. You may feel pressure to spend more time with "normal," non-disabled people, to prove that you're "good enough" or "high-functioning enough." But these pressures aren't healthy. You should choose friends based on who you enjoy spending time with, not based on who doesn't have any diagnoses.
Don't try to make friends with someone who doesn't respect you. If someone treats you badly, you don't have to spend time with them.
If you get bullied a lot, it may be hard to make friends with non-disabled people. And you don't have to. If all your friends are disabled, that's okay. Sometimes, friends with disabilities are much less judgmental and cruel than people without disabilities can be.
Expect building friendships to take time. It takes time for people to get to know each other, and feel comfortable around each other. When you're an autistic person in a non-autistic world, it may take longer to find people you "click" with. That doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you, or that you should give up.
Aim for a balanced life, whatever that means to you. You choose the amount of social time, relaxation time, work/study time, et cetera that feels right for your mood and your life. It's okay if that balance looks different from what other people's looks like.
