Moving is tough business, especially when you’re moving to a different town or city. You might find yourself in a strange, new place, with no one to rely on or to go out with.
Are you wondering how to adjust and thrive? Or maybe how to make new friends? Don’t fret, we’re here to help. Here are a couple of tips and tricks for navigating the new life you’re about to build.
Turn Your New Living Space into a Home
Don’t rush into the city as soon as you’re there. Florin, a business owner who owns a movers company, had this to say about moving blues: “once you arrive at your new home, start by putting pictures of your friends and family around the house.
They will remind you of where you’ve come from, and make you feel less lonely. If the colors of your apartment don’t suit your aesthetic, talk to your landlord; you can surely work something out in regards to repainting the place.
This will also give you something to do, and take the worries off your mind.”
If your landlord allows it, get a pet. A dog might be too much work if you’ve got a busy schedule, but cats are really low maintenance and they are very loving creatures.
Alternatively, if you’re not a cat person, you can always get a couple of squeaky guinea pigs to help brighten your day. Pets will make you feel more at home and will definitely make you feel less lonely.
Use the Internet
If you’re looking for places to meet new people, the internet is your friend. Try joining a local forum about whatever topic suits your fancy, or look for meet-ups such as boardgame nights at local establishments.
It might seem old-fashioned, but there are loads of groups on Facebook where you can meet new people. Dust off that profile and go hunting!
Other things you can find using the internet are classes of any kind. Ever wanted to learn bachata but never had the courage to?
Now’s your chance! Look up classes in your city and give it a go. Self defense classes are always a good idea; even if you won’t make any friends, you’ll still learn some valuable lessons. Remember to get out of your comfort zone as often as possible, and you’ll find a new group of friends in no-time.
Start a Journal
Even if you’ve managed to get your days full of activities, you’ll still end up a little bit sad. Don’t worry, it’s completely normal; everyone experiences homesickness.
The best solution to wave the blues away is to start a journal. Write down everything that bothers you, how you feel about your new move and how often you miss your old friends. You’ll find that once your worries are on paper, you won’t care about them as much anymore.
You can also write about other things, such as your goals, aspirations and ambitions. This will help you have a clear objective in mind in regards to your move, and clear goals you can work towards.
Keeping yourself busy is key to succeeding in a new city. For example, write a goal to say yes to ten things every day.
That coworker who invited you to drinks after work? Say yes, you never know where such an activity might lead you.
Be Kind and Give Yourself Time
This is probably one of the most important pieces of advice we can give. Be kind to yourself, and don’t be mad at things for not being perfect.
Remember, it takes up to a year to acclimate to a new city, especially if you moved by yourself. Do as much self-care as you can and try to keep a positive mindset.
This will help not only yourself but also when trying to make friends since such a mindset will definitely attract like-minded people to your side.
