10 Ways to Build Community and Combat Loneliness in a New Town
You can make new friends at any age
Many of us go on the move each year, often in search of better quality of life or career upgrade. In 2021, 20% of American millennials lived more than 100 miles from where they grew up. Similarly, recent research found that around 8% of 447m European residents had a different original nationality to the country where they lived.
Whether you’re moving across a city or the world; a challenging and rewarding aspect of a new neighborhood is finding your community. The ones you can go out or share hobbies with, or chill in and chat to.
If only Google maps could highlight the local people we’d click with, like our new favorite restaurant, supermarket or gym!
I’ve personally spent time building communities in two parts of the world far from where I grew up in London. Los Angeles is an 11 hour flight, and Ibiza - 900 miles away on a Spanish island. Although Ibiza is closer, neither support easy commutes to hang out with family or old friends.
A friend recently moved continents, and asked how I met my friends in Ibiza.
