When I was living in the city, life was good. I had a fabulous studio apartment on the Upper East Side and my social calendar was always bursting at the seams. There were glamorous events and hot dates and through it all, I had three amazing best friends who were always there to see me through life’s ups and downs…
Wait. That wasn’t me. That was Carrie Bradshaw from “Sex and the City.”
My experience living in a new place was the total opposite. This past summer, I flew to Southern California for an internship. It was scary and exciting simultaneously. I was three time zones away from all of my family and friends! I was working all the time, didn’t have a car, and didn’t have any nearby family or friends.
Living in a new place by yourself can be difficult, but there are ways to navigate the journey to be fun and exciting. Since this is a major life transition, it may take a long time to feel settled in a new place. But it is essential to know that you are not alone.
Despite being surrounded by people and the technology to link us together in cities, loneliness has reached epidemic levels in the last decade. Those in a city are prone to their own special breed of loneliness despite and perhaps even due to being surrounded by thousands of others.
In order to ease the transition and settling into a new city, there are some tips that will improve your new experience. Following these may not alleviate all the difficulties of living in a new city, but it can smooth the roughness.
1. You are stronger and braver than you may think
It is terrifying and uneasy to move to a new city. It is important to remind yourself that you are doing it, and it will eventually get effortless. Especially if you’ve just moved from far away, it takes real guts to leave your support system and conquer the world on your own. A lot of people never have the courage or the opportunity to leave their hometowns and they stay in one place their entire lives. They never branch out to find their true selves.
2. Meet your neighbors and have roommates
Introducing yourself to your neighbors may seem simple, but it is actually uncommon. Your neighbors and roommates may actually be going through the same transition as you, so it could be beneficial to do it together. Roommates can also be a buddy for doing fun and adventurous things around the city.
3. Use technology as a starting point to make real-life connections
By using technology, you can meet new people and make new connections. Getting to know people by hobbies, interests, and passions can be beneficial and ease the transition. Meeting people from social networking apps at local events, or group hangouts can be exciting.
4. Volunteering or being a part of a local organization
Meeting people through service is a great way because you already have something in common. Bonding and getting to know a person during the service, and embracing that you both work hard can be a connection between each other.
5. Explore the city and its uniqueness: Various Events, Parks, and Restaurants
Every city is filled with cultural events, restaurants, and activities that the community takes pride in. Visiting the community surrounding the city will allow you to see what the city is really about. It will also allow you to gather with the people that live there. Exploring the city and all the perks it comes with is an adventurous way to meet new people and learn about the city and its history.
Moving to a new city and starting a fresh, exciting job is a huge life milestone that should be celebrated. Branching out and experiencing the new city with people that are encountering the same situation eases the transition.