Moving to a new city alone? Seven tips on how to adjust to your new adventure!
The idea of leaving your family and friends and moving to a new place is scary. I had never been apart from my family and friends for more than a couple weeks, let alone moving to a new state by myself. I needed a change of pace and I always said I wanted to move, I just couldn’t find the courage. I finally hit a point where I told myself if I didn’t do this now I would never do it and I would end up regretting it. What did I have to lose?
After making that decision everything else seemed easy. I am from San Diego, but now live in Boston, a whopping 2,581.62 miles from home according to Google Maps. Living here for two years now, it doesn’t seem that far anymore and I think it’s because of the things I did when I first moved here.
Research played a big part on my decision where to live and it should be for you too. Forbes does an annual list every year where they use Niche, which tracts millennial behaviors and decision-making to come up with the best cities in America for millennials. Niche also factors in age, diversity, crime, median rent, and life considerations such as proximity to bars, coffee shops and restaurants. In 2016, Cambridge, Massachusetts landed the number one spot where nearly 75 percent of the city’s residents hold a bachelor’s degree and 6.5 percent of millennials moved to Cambridge in the past year according to Forbes. This is just a small sample to look at but one I would recommend.
So if you are moving to make a change or moving for a new job, here are some tips I learned along the way that could be helpful to you, too.
1. Keep Busy
This one was is going to be important when first arriving. Feeling homesick will happen eventually, but you also have a new adventure waiting for you! Start making your new place feel like home. Unpack your boxes, go do a Target trip to get any supplies you will need. Doing little tasks will help keep you busy and get you excited about the move.
2. Go Explore!
Whenever you go to a new place this is always the best part! Explore and go find your new favorite coffee shop. Make sure to have a camera so you can take a lot of pictures. If you are a woman, look around for local salons for those days when you need pampering. If you are a man, go look around for the best sports bar to watch football on Sundays. This will also be an opportunity to figure out the vibe of the city.
3. Talk to EVERYONE
Don’t be shy about this especially if you made this move alone and don’t have any connections in your new city. Talk to locals, talk to your new co-workers and try to make friends with your neighbors. These are going to be the people who will invite you to do stuff and introduce you to new people.
4. Say “YES” to any invites to go out
You are new! Why not say yes to everything, you have nothing to lose. Everything will be exciting for you because you will be meeting potential new friends and finding new spots to hang out at.
5. Join a gym or recreational league
This is one of the first things I did when I first moved. Gyms are a good place to meet new people especially if you join a weekly class. Or if you want to do something a little different, join a rec league. I play slow-pitch softball and it is something I always look forward to and a great way to make friends.
6. Volunteer
Volunteering is a good way to find out about your new community and for you to get involved. Is it a welcoming place? Are there a lot of places that need help? You will also feel good that you are helping a good cause.
7. Research your new city
I know this doesn’t sound fun, but it is important. Look at your city’s crime rate, go to the city’s website to see when public meetings are held and get involved if you want to. If you like the news you can also subscribe to the local online news site or paper to help keep you informed. Knowing this information will ultimately help you be more comfortable in a place you are unfamiliar with.
