Finally found your dream job, but it’s out-of-state? Moving to a new area to pursue higher education, experience a new environment, or even maybe reconnect with nature once you’ve left your current city? Plain sick of your current living and want to strike out on your own and find somewhere fresh and new? Whether you’re moving to a new city or a new town completely by yourself, it’s easy to get intimidated or not even know where to start or what you’re doing when it comes to the actual relocation process. Not to mention, once you arrive at your new destination, you’ll have to adapt to this new environment all on your own, learn your way around, make new friends, and figure out what your new routine is. Plus, if you’re moving for work-related purposes, you’ll have to start a new job and try to work out how to be your best new self in your new surroundings.
Moving alone to a new place can be difficult, both in the planning and moving stages, and sometimes even more so once you begin to settle into your new environment and new home. For all of the best ways to plan and execute your move, but the best ways to settle into your new home, surroundings, and job as smoothly as possible, read our complete guide to moving to a new place alone.
Moving to a New City Alone: How to Settle In
Now that you’ve successfully executed your solo move, it’s time to get to know your new town or city and see what it has to offer. If you’ve been looking to switch things up a bit for yourself, as far as style or interests to pick up, this is also the perfect time to do so. Take classes, explore a new hobby, join a club, and see what new things you can enjoy and discover in your new environment.
Even though moving to a new city can be daunting, odds are you’ll be able to find your niche and settle into a routine or a new normal that works for you. Follow our tips for settling into a new city alone to get out there and figure out what your new town has in store for you.
- Meet New People
Having a community and people to hang out with and talk to is imperative to your happiness and your comfortability both short and long-term in your new city. However, meeting new people is often the most intimidating task to tackle when you move to a new area. Some people might even wonder if they’ll make friends at all in their new city! However, if you approach building a new friend group the right way, you’ll be able to meet people with your interests and hobbies in no time as you settle in.
So how do you meet new people after moving? We’re glad you asked. Though it may take some time to truly find a group you mesh with, there are plenty of ways to meet individuals who have things in common with you, no matter what they are.
One of the best ways to meet new people is by engaging in or signing up for activities, clubs, or classes in your new area. From joining a book club to fitness classes, or even hopping on a casual for-fun sports team, activities like this are a great way to put yourself out there. You can also join volunteer programs if you’d like to put yourself to use and give back a little to your new community. Though it may be scary to show up to something you’ve never done before by yourself, going to activities like this lets you get out there and meet people who share your interests and puts you on an automatic common ground with them.
However, though joining activities and clubs upon moving to a new city is a great way to meet new people, don’t overdo it or commit to so much that you end up overwhelming yourself. Try to look for a club or group that meets once a week or a couple of times a month so you’re able to comfortably commit to these meetings – especially if you’re joining multiple activities. All you need to do for each activity is try to make a friend or two or connect with someone from each, and boom! New friend! You’ve already begun building a circle while discovering a new skill or taking up a new hobby.
Not sure where to sign up for classes or activities? Check out apps like Meetup or Google club or activities in your area.
If you want to meet people for dating or friends in a more one-on-one environment to get to know them, you can always try Tinder or Bumble BFF to find people with similar interests or who are also new to the area. However, always remember to be careful when meeting up on your own with strangers you don’t know.
- Explore Your New City
One of the best things about living and working in a new area is all of the sites to see and things to explore and experience for the first time. When moving to a new city or town, you should put on your tourist hat and discover the attractions of the area. Go to local museums, landmarks, cheesy tourist traps – anywhere that sounds interesting! Check out that restaurant you heard about on that travel show – go see that weird sculpture in a part of the city you’ve never been to.
Try to explore as much as you can and as soon as you can. It can be easy to get overwhelmed with work or with the new transition itself when you move, so getting out there can keep the excitement and nervous energy of your move going before you get saddled with additional responsibilities or engagements. You don’t get to be a tourist in your own (new) city often – take advantage of it and enjoy it before you settle into your new life and routine as a local.
- Move in With New People
When moving to a new area, a great way to meet new people can just be done at home, believe it or not. Because of the high rental and housing prices not just in big cities, but seemingly everywhere these days, you’ll probably end up at least considering getting a roommate or two before your big move.
Not only do roommates save you money on rent, but these individuals can be your built-in friends in a new city, which can be invaluable. Additionally, even if your new roommates aren’t interested in being friends or don’t mesh too much with you as far as interests go, odds are they know great places to go and things to go that you might not find from looking up the best things to do in the area.
When looking for roommates online or through friends-of-friends who might know people in your new city, try to look for like-minded individuals who you have more chance of hanging out with and getting to know, rather than just someone you see in the hallway in your home.
The most popular way to look for a new roommate or several, especially in a city you’re not living in yet, is by looking at Facebook groups or postings. Try to join groups geared toward those who live a similar lifestyle to you, and look for people who you think you’ll mesh well with. Let them know your situation and plan, and see if they’d be a good fit!
- Keep Your At-Home Support
Though it helps in settling into a new area to not dwell on the past or your old home, this doesn’t apply to your existing friends and family in your old area. Always maintain contact and relationships with your friends, no matter where you are. However, make sure you’re balancing maintaining your relationships with the friends in your area with trying to make new friends in your new city. After all, you’ll just make yourself miss your old city more and prevent yourself from making meaningful connections if you’re only talking to those you already know.
Also create a system that will allow you to engage with content about your old neighborhood and city, without making you upset or homesick. It’s hard enough to settle into a new city by yourself – don’t make it harder than it has to be! Moving to a new city, no matter how fun and exciting it can be, always comes with sad or bittersweet moments when you think about or miss the good times you’ve had in your old city and the people you miss. Allow yourself to miss your old home while embracing and moving into the future with your new one!
If you’re looking for a professional moving company to help your solo move go safely and efficiently, Bekin Van Lines are exactly the professional movers you’ve been looking for. For over 100 years, we’re provided customers with complete moving services near and far for the best prices. Discover what we can do for you today – no matter where you’re headed.
