Maybe you have a new job that takes you to a new city or maybe you just want to move
out of your old city. Depending on your circumstances you might find yourself having to start a
new life in a new city. When you find yourself in a new city you are unfamiliar with, it
can be tough knowing where to start so this video will go over 10 tips on how to start
a new life in a new city. 1. Use your network to see if someone you
know lives there. Even if you are in a new city, there’s a good chance you might know
someone. Use your network and ask if any of the people you know are living in that city.
If no one in your network lives there, see if a friend of a friend lives there. The reason
why you want to know someone that lives there is because making friends as an adult can
be hard. If you can get started by knowing someone, you can build your community easier.
If you start out without knowing anyone, you would have to hang out with a lot of people
in order to find the ones you click with. Instead, if you know someone, even if your
interests might not align, they can introduce you to other people who you might get along
with. Meeting new people through friends can save you a lot of time and stress. It’s
efficient and you won’t be worrying about not knowing anyone.
2. Don’t wait for the perfect opportunity. When you move to a new city, you will have
expectations for how things are supposed to be and how your new life will look like. Instead
of trying to focus only on your master plan, you should be more open to all the unexpected
opportunities and say yes to some of them. You shouldn’t be picky about opportunities
because you might even find something enjoyable or meet someone interesting. Unless you are
really busy, you should try to attend as many events as you can. Don’t worry about whether
or not you will enjoy it. Just attend and if you don’t like it there, you can leave
after a while. Whenever you say yes to an invitation, you are opening yourself to new
experiences and new people which will inform you about how things are in this city.
3. Be a regular and establish a routine. During your first couple of days, everyday brings
a sense of discovery and surprise. You will most likely be exploring the city and trying
new things. Trying new things is great and all but at some point you will need to settle
down and be a regular at some places. As humans, we all like things that are familiar to us.
That’s why everyone has a go to restaurant or a go to bar or a go to coffee shop. When
you start life over in a new city, you will need to find your go to spots as well. There
are 2 reasons why you want to be a regular at some places. The first reason is that you
establish a routine which can make you more productive. For example, if you are picking
a go to coffee shop, you can optimize it so that you pick one that’s close to you to
save time. The second reason is that by becoming a regular, you will get to know the people
working there. You might be able to get some special deals or make some friends this way.
4. Leave your wallet at home. When you first start over in a new city, you might find yourself
spending a lot and maybe even going over your budget. Going out to eat and drink can be
very expensive but the good news is that there are other ways to have fun without spending
money. You can go to the park to exercise or you can attend some free events that spark
your interests. Find something free that sparks your interest and go for it.
5. Recreate yourself. If you are starting a new life in a new city, you have the perfect
opportunity to recreate yourself. You have a completely fresh start and no one knows
how you usually act in a new city. Do you want to be seen as an outgoing person instead
of the shy kid you used to be? Do you want to be known for your work instead of your
family name? By moving to a new city, you can recreate your identity since no one knows
who you were back then. It’s a lot easier to recreate yourself when you start a new
life in a new city because no one really knows you. If you tried to recreate yourself back
where you used to live, people might think you are acting out of character but things
are different when you have a fresh start. You can show people whatever side of yourself
that you want without being judged too harshly. 6. Stay connected with your friends and family
back home. One of the hardest parts of moving to a new city is leaving behind the people
you are close with. Even if you are introverted, having friends and family readily available
to connect with is important to your happiness and mental health. You need to be ready to
put in the extra effort to maintain a long distance relationship. When you are starting
a new life, you will often find yourself alone. If you want some company, you are going to
have to call up your friends and family back home. Having someone to talk to will help
keep you sane. 7. Give yourself a year to acclimate. When
you move to a new city, there will be moments where you doubt yourself. You might start
thinking that moving was a terrible idea and come up with all sorts of reasons to justify
why. Moving is not easy and adjusting to a new city can be painful. Whenever you have
those doubts, remind yourself that you are still transitioning and that you should wait
a year before making a judgement. 8. Don’t be afraid of doing things alone.
Doing activities with people you know is fun and all but there will be times where no one
you know is free to hang out with. If you don’t want to stay home, you should go out
alone. Doing things alone can be satisfying and empowering. You can also meet new people
if you carry yourself well and you are naturally curious. If you are worried about being alone
out in public, just muster up some courage and go for it. The first few times might feel
strange but if you keep doing it, you will eventually grow into your own skin. Doing
things alone can help you be more comfortable with who you are.
9. Avoid chains as much as possible, specifically restaurants. You will never experience new
places or tastes if you keep going to places you have already been to. Why would you go
to McDonalds in your new city when you have been to McDonalds a million times before back
in your old city? You are doing yourself a major disservice by going to a chain instead
of a local place. While you are settling into your new city, you should put a ban on places
you are all too familiar with and fire up your inner adventurer. You need to be open
to try all kinds of new things. After all, it kind of defeats the purpose of moving to
a new city if you are just going to do things you could have done in your old city.
10. Master the practicalities of getting around. This one is kind of a given but I decided
to include it in the video. The first order of business whenever you move to a new city
is to know how to get places and where all the important locations are. There are many
questions that need to be answered like where is the nearest grocery store? And how do I
get to work? And Is it more cost effective to get a car or take public transportation?
Do the research and figure out how to get around. While you are at it, you can also
walk around to explore the city. Walking around allows you to see all the small details and
experience the place in a different way from taking public transportation or driving.
Starting a new life in a new city can be tough. If you use the tips mentioned in this video,
your transition into your new life can be easier.
Which tip was your favorite? Leave a comment below and check out the video shown on the
end screen about how to start over in life if you want general information about starting
over in life.