Self Improvement

Moving to a New City? Follow These 5 Steps

posted on April 5, 2013 | by Amanda Holstein

Moving to a New City? Follow These 5 Steps

1. Live with a roommate, ideally a friend of a friend.
I’ve found the best roommates to be those who you know through a mutual friend. There’s no pressure to hang out all the time since you’re starting off as roommates first, not friends. If you become close friends through the process, that’s just an added bonus. Plus, living with someone you don’t already know can expand your circle of friends and your experiences. You can meet their friends, join in on their world a bit, and be able to make more connections in this new city. I wouldn’t recommend living alone if you don’t know many people in the city because it can be isolating. Although roommates can really suck at times, they’re a great way to get to know new people and experience new things.

2. Location is more important than quality when it comes to your apartment.
Do your research on what neighborhood you want to live in. Don’t just look online, but ask people who’ve lived there and try to get a good sense of the different areas and what they offer.  Location is super important when you don’t know many people (or anyone) in a new city. You’re going to spend most of your time out of your apartment anyways, so I say choosing your location over the actual quality of the apartment is most important when living somewhere new.

3. Say yes to everything.
As I mention in my Friend Dating post, it’s super important to say yes to everything. Whenever you’re invited somewhere, try to push yourself to go as much as possible. You never know who you’ll meet or what new connections you’ll make. You might even find a new hobby you never thought you’d enjoy, like Ultimate Frisbee or Zumba!

4. Put effort into your bedroom.
I remember thinking when I first moved to San Francisco that there wasn’t much point in putting effort into my apartment because I wasn’t sure how long I’d be there. But once I realized my bedroom was really my only personal space, I needed to love it. It’s the only place that’s truly yours, so make it feel like home. Plus, those first few weeks you’re going to feel super homesick, like 5th grade sleepover homesick, so putting the effort into your bedroom is totally worth it.

5. Remember, nothing’s permanent.
If you’re worried moving to this new city is a big mistake, just remember that nothing’s permanent. If you realize after some time that the city is not for you, then you can move again. You’re not stuck there. The time you spend there is worth it, even if you don’t like it, because at least now you know that this isn’t the city for you. This rule also applies to when you’re feeling lonely or don’t have that tight circle of friends you had back in your last city. That feeling of loneliness isn’t permanent; it’s only temporary and you’ll get through it.

How was your experience moving to a new city?

image via The Everygirl / Sfgirlbybay