Posted on Friday, April 29 2022
Moving to a new city is both exciting and unnerving. You need to carefully research your new area, get to know your transit options, and most importantly, give yourself time to adapt to your new environment. While it may take some time to adjust to your new home, there are a few key things you can do to help make that transition easier! Read on for our top 10 tips for moving and adapting to a new city.
Moving to a new city is a big deal. It should be a well-thought-out decision. Is this truly what you want and need? Are you prepared for the highs and lows that come with being thrust out of your comfort zone?
Consider a few key questions before you decide to move:
If you’ve thought all this through and feel confident in your decision, amazing! Let’s go over some essential tips that will help you adapt to your new home.
Moving is stressful even under the best conditions, so you’re going to want to do everything you can to ensure that your move goes as smoothly as possible.
Do a little research ahead of time to figure out what mobile apps are popular and useful in your new city. From on-demand grocery delivery and food delivery apps to bike-sharing programs and public transit apps, these days there’s an app available for anything you need - so do your research!
The best way to get out and become familiar with your new city is to say yes whenever someone invites you out. That may mean joining a coworker for coffee during your lunch break or heading to a trivia night with your new neighbour. Even if it’s not something you would typically say yes to, this is the time to step out of your comfort zone. You never know who you’re going to meet and you just might discover your new favourite spot in the city!
You’re going to feel much more comfortable and secure in your new home if you have a general understanding of your surroundings. First, utilize Google Maps. Looking at your neighbourhood from a bird’s eye view will be massively helpful. You can make note of all the important fixtures in your area, like the nearest pharmacy, grocery store, gas station, coffee shop, and pizza joint. Once you figure out where everything is located, your new community will start to feel more like home. Now you’re ready to head out on a walk and start exploring.
It’s completely normal to feel a sense of melancholy once the dust has settled and you’re all moved into your new home. Don’t panic. many people feel this way after going through a big life change. Give yourself time to feel at home in your new city. That means spending time in your new home as well as immersing yourself in the community. Take it slow. You can just start by grabbing your beverage of choice and sitting in a park. If this can become a little ritual you do once a week, you’ll begin to feel more comfortable with your new neighbourhood.
Whether you drive or not, we would suggest looking into your city’s transportation options, such as public transportation lines, bike-sharing and ride-sharing services. It’s important that you feel confident getting around your new city with ease and a big part of that is mastering public transit. Do some research and make a list of neighbourhoods you want to explore, then use public transportation to visit one every week!
A great way to familiarize yourself with your new town is using social media. Join all the Facebook communities you can, whether it’s about apartments, local information, meetups or a niche interest. There are all kinds of groups that cater to pretty much any interest! You’ll also be able to find out about local events you can attend. Plus, you can use social media and alumni databases from school or past employers to see if any acquaintances live in your new city.
It’s always nice to have plans or events to look forward to, whether you’re new to a city or not. This could be as simple as signing up for a weekly exercise class or making a reservation to try a popular restaurant you’ve heard great things about. This may even be the opportunity to push yourself out of your comfort zone and try something new! Either way, making plans will get you out in your new city and open to meeting new people.
This last point is the most important one. Moving is a lot of things: daunting, exciting, scary, and promising. It can be easy to get caught up in how you expected everything to unfold.
Whatever happens, focus on what you like about your new home (like a short commute to work or a picturesque neighbourhood). Find activities, hobbies, and clubs in your city that make you happy, such as joining a gym, a sports league, or a book club. Get involved in your community and stay positive!
With all the planning and commotion involved in moving, it's easy to forget to be optimistic about this new chapter in your life. There will undoubtedly be challenges, but there will also be new opportunities, experiences, and friendships. Hopefully, our tips will help you past the uncomfortable feeling of moving and adapt to your new home in a breeze.
Source: https://travelsofadam.com/2020/02/tips-move-to-new-city-alone