They say the only constant thing in life is change. Our jobs change. Our social circles change. Our hopes, dreams, and aspirations change. Heck, even our personality changes little by little as time goes by.
With the dynamic nature of life, it won’t come as a huge surprise if you have to move to a brand new city in order to start over. It could be for a new job, or it could be to escape from your mundane hometown, or it could even be because you’ve always wanted to live in a particular city, so you took your chance.
How to adjust to a new city
If you’re moving to a new city, and are unsure of how to start over because you’re so used to living the routine you’ve been living for so long, don’t fret. There are some really easy ways for you to embrace the change.
#1 Use the internet to get social. There are so many easy ways to find out what is going on in your city. Thanks to social media, it can literally be as simple as searching for a keyword to find out everything local in your area that pertains to your interests. For example, if you’re looking for live music, you can search “live music [name of your area]” and tons of different sites will come up that show you all the local shows to expect in the next months, and maybe even in the next year!
Another really easy way to meet people who share common interests is to look for meet up groups, and the easiest way to start is by joining meetup.com. It’s a website where you search for a keyword, interest, hobby, or whatever you’re looking for within your area, and it pulls up all the different groups nearby that share the same interests. So if you’re looking for a knitting club, you will totally be able to find it.
#2 Rename yourself. If you’re moving to a new city, and really want to transform yourself, change your name. If you’ve always thought your middle name was pretty awesome, but never had the guts to go by it, now is your chance! Who cares if you have always been known as Tiffany? Celebrities do it all the time, and you’re allowed to do it too!
#3 Join a gym. When you start going, not only will you start recognizing the regular gym goers, but you will also have the opportunity to meet new people. Sure, you may hate going alone at first, but once you start working on your fitness routine, and feeling better, you’ll find yourself feeling guilty if you miss a workout.
Not only that, but if you start taking the workout classes offered at the gym, well, that’s even better because when you take a workout class, you put yourself out there. And we all know that people in workout classes are full of energy, bubbly, and have no problem chatting up a storm.
#4 Try dating sites. If you are starting over in a new city, you may not have tons of friends *or any* to grab a drink or check out the dating scene with. That’s exactly where dating sites come in! Who needs a fallback group of friends at the bar when you can check out tons of eligible singles with just a tap of the finger?
You don’t have to be looking for Prince Charming or your future wifey, but it is a great way to get out there, try some new restaurants, and check out the sights and sounds your new city has to offer. And if you do happen to fall in love, well, that’s just a bonus!
#5 Find a hobby. If you have always thought about taking a pottery class or wanted to try one of those “Art Design and Wine” classes, go for it! One of the easiest ways to start over in a new city and make new friends easily is by finding a hobby you enjoy doing. You may be surprised at how much more you have in common with the people you share the same hobbies with.
#6 Try something new. Moving to a new city is a great way to try new things, and have a legit reason to do so! One of my favorite things about moving to a new city is getting to try out all the new restaurants and local hangouts.
A great way to dip your toes into the “trying new things” pool is by trying a new restaurant once a week. If you find yourself driving down the road and happen to notice a restaurant that looks super cute, make it a point to try it out. Who cares if you have to go alone? You’re new in town, and you gotta eat!
#7 Get a part-time job. Depending on your schedule, a great way to meet new people and learn about the city you just moved to is to get a part-time job. It could be something like working every Saturday, or every other weekend.
When you have a job, you have co-workers, and sometimes co-workers can turn into friends, but sometimes customers can, too. You’ll never know if you don’t try, and the worst that could happen is you end up hating it, and quitting. But hey, at least you can say that you once tried a job that you never thought you’d try out!
#8 Volunteer. If you’re really passionate about animals, check out the local animal shelters in the area, and see if they could use volunteers. If you are great with kids, do some research about all the local kids groups and organizations nearby. Whatever it is you are passionate about, put your passion to good use. You’ll not only meet others who share your passion, but you’ll also start to feel yourself fitting in.
Another added benefit of volunteering is that it can help heal the homesickness you get from moving into a new city. We all know just how lonely it can be to go home to an unfamiliar house that you have yet to get used to. So by lending a helping hand, you’re helping others out as much as they’re helping you!
When you relocate to a new city, there are the tedious tasks of having to change your address, having your mail forwarded, remembering your new address, and whatever else, but there are also many new opportunities that will make moving to a new city so exciting!
