Moving To A New City: Tips And Secrets You Need To Know
Published: July 19, 2021
Moving to a new city is something that a lot of people only dream of. For others, it’s an adventure worth any and all the risk that may come along with it. Whether you’re toying with the idea, in the planning stages, or just settling into your new surroundings, there are some things you should know to make the transition smoother!
We’ve compiled this short guide to help ease you in so you can put down new roots, regardless of why you took off in the first place.
Reasons to Move to a New City
One of the biggest questions you’ll face when telling your loved ones you’re leaving or meeting strangers in your new location is, “Why?” It’ll come up in different variations like, “Why’d you move?” “What brought you here?” “Do you miss home?” and more.
There’s always a why. But for every person, their why is their own.
Some of the main reasons why people choose to move to a new city are:
- They want a fresh start
- They got a job offer that they couldn’t pass up
- They are taking time to study abroad
- They desired a change and wanted to step outside their comfort zone
- They are seeking immense personal growth
Picking Where to Move: A List of Considerations
Depending on the reason why you are moving to a new city, you may not have much say in where the destination ends up being. However, in some cases, like if you’re seeking a fresh start, studying abroad, or wanting to try something new, then the world is quite literally your oyster.
Sometimes, having too many options can make it harder to make a decision in a phenomenon known as “analysis paralysis.”
To help narrow down the list of potential touchdown locales, consider the following:
- Desired climate
- Size of the city or town
- Your reason for moving
- Cost of living
- Safety
- Walkability or driveability
- Nightlife
- Access to outdoors
- Healthcare
Source: Unsplash
Tips Before Moving to a New City
Before you pack your bags and get on the road (or in the sky), you’ll want to perform a few pieces of due diligence so that you are ready to start your new life in your new place.
Some of the most important things to cross off your list include:
Find your neighborhood: Once you know where you want to be, you can get more granular and choose the neighborhood that you desire. By narrowing down the area you want to be in, you’ll make it easier to find a place to live. You can use tools like Google Maps, Walk Score, and social media forums to learn more about the distant destination.
Find a place to live: While you don’t necessarily need to have a place to live in as soon as you arrive, it can make the transition less hectic. If you’d rather not shack up in an Airbnb, hotel, or with a friend, then you can leverage platforms like Zillow or Apartments.com to locate the place that you will call home. These tools make it easy to filter by price, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, neighborhood, and more.
Pack: Depending on your mode of transportation and accessibility in your destination location, you’ll pack accordingly. Either you’ll need to ship your items, drive them yourself, or rent a moving truck. Of course, driving your own belongings will be the most cost-effective option, but it’s not always possible.
Forward mail: It’s always a good idea to forward your mail to your destination. This helps to ensure that nothing important gets lost or forgotten. Or, alternatively, you can select paperless billing or communication for most things these days. It’s a win-win: You can help protect the environment by reducing waste and also forgo missing any important communications.
Plan a budget: The cost of a move can add up quickly. If you’ll feel more comfortable having a budget ready, then here are some costs to itemize:
- Cost of movers
- Cost of transportation (airplane, train, gas, etc.)
- Apartment security deposit
- Apartment application fees
- Home furnishings and electronics
- Intermediary accommodation (i.e., temporary Airbnb or hotel)
Source: Unsplash
Tips for When You’ve Moved
When you’re in the midst of preparing for a move, you barely have any time to really think about what you’ll need to do or want to do once you’ve begun to settle down.
This is typically when the emotions bubble up and hit, sometimes all at once. You may feel immense excitement, adrenaline, fear, sadness, yearning, or even a confusing mixture of it all.
Because of the amount of change that’s all happening at once, it’s beneficial to have somewhat of a game plan and keep these tips in mind so that you can begin to establish yourself in your new environment.
Spend time outside: Spending time outside offers so many upsides. Not only do you get your dose of Vitamin D and boost your endorphins, but it’s the ultimate way to explore your surroundings. It’s also a solid way to meet potential friends and become acquainted with your neighbors. You never know who you will run into or what you will find when you roam around (aimlessly or with a specific endpoint in mind).
Have realistic expectations: It takes some time for the dust to settle when you make a small or big move. The first thing you need to realize is that the courage you’ve taken to make the move is a feat in itself. Celebrate this small win, and then set realistic expectations. There are bound to be some ups and downs throughout the process as you create a new routine and make friends. When you treat yourself with compassion and have patience (as well as a positive outlook), you can attract the best results in due time.
Introduce yourself to neighbors: Whether you consider yourself to be an introvert or extrovert, introducing yourself to neighbors is entirely doable. Approach the endeavor with a mindset of having everything to gain and nothing to lose. You could end up making a new best friend, or even falling in love!
Stay in touch with old friends: The adrenaline and commotion of taking all the steps to settle down can be exhausting and enthralling. Don’t forget to keep in touch with the friends you left back in your home city. This is often a surefire way to prevent feelings of loneliness. But, if you do ever feel lonely, remember that it is temporary and understandable. Plus, you do possess the power to step outside and meet new people!
Join organized groups: Wherever you may be, there’s likely to be organized groups that you can join. You have options to volunteer for a nonprofit organization, join a sports club, sign up for a gym or exercise classes, or whatever else you may enjoy spending time doing. Doing things you love will make it easier to connect with people with similar interests and break the ice.
Have an open mind: What would happen if you said “yes” to every invitation, offer, or experience? Well, maybe saying yes to absolutely everything isn’t always feasible, but approaching life in your new town or city with this kind of attitude can pave the way to great opportunities. With an open mind, you’re more likely to meet new people, try new things, and learn more about yourself.
Make Your Move
Moving to a new city is an adventure waiting to happen! For whatever reason you make the leap of faith, move forward with some planning, a lot of patience, and feelings of positivity.
You’ll need to put in some effort upfront to find the right place, meet new people, and develop your new routines, but once you have a strong foothold, you’ll have so much to gain!