Adjusting To A New City

By Author: Emma-Jane
Total Articles: 5
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After weeks and months of indecision, you’ve finally taken the plunge and decided to move to a new city. It might be for an internship or for study. Or just to discover brand new and exciting opportunities.

But moving to a new city alone is really tough. It can provoke feelings of isolation and disconnection – after all, you don’t know anyone in this unfamiliar town. In fact, it’s totally normal to feel that way.

But change is good. Change gives us the opportunity to grow and get out of the rut we may have unknowingly settled into. That’s why millions of people move cities every year. And if they can do it, so can you.

And to help you get comfortable in your new city, we’ve put together a couple of surefire methods for you to quickly adjust.

Explore

The first order of business is getting out there and exploring! You’re not a local yet; for now you’re essentially a tourist, so act like one!
Do some research online, find the best spots and make the most out of your new city. By exploring and taking in the sights, you’ll also be familiarising yourself with your new home ...
... as you go.

Whether it’s getting to grips with public transport, or simply working out the best walking routes. After all, the better you know your new city, the more comfortable you’ll be.

So get out there and discover your new favourite café, museum or bookstore. Find the places that make you feel comfortable, and you’ll adjust quickly.

Reach Out

Moving somewhere new is a daunting prospect. You’ve left behind your friends and family – you can still keep in contact with them, but it’s not the same.

So that’s why reaching out to anyone and everyone is key to adjusting to a new city. Put yourself out there – chat with your neighbours, waiters, even people on the street.

You never know who might join your new circle of friends. So invite people out for a coffee or lunch break.

You won’t hit it off with everyone, and that’s okay – trying new things and meeting new people is rewarding all on its own. Plus, it’ll get easier with everyone you talk to.

Think of it this way: if you don’t get yourself out there and meet new people, you won’t ever find your new best friend.

Embrace Imperfection
It’s easy to wait around for perfection – the perfect new friend, the perfect moment, the perfect activity. We all want things to be controlled and ordered. But life doesn’t work that way, and nor should it.
So take a chance and start embracing imperfection. Try an activity you’re not sure whether you’ll like, because maybe you will. Meet up for a coffee with someone you didn’t immediately click with – it might just take a few meetings to get them out of their shell.

The point is that, if you let it, life leads us in unexpected directions – and sometimes those directions prove more interesting and life-affirming than anything you’ve previously planned.

Learn To Say ‘Yes’

It’s easy to say ‘no’. To say that you’re too busy, or not interested, or, frankly, that you’re too nervous. But the key to thriving in a new city is saying yes to new experiences.

You’ve come to a new city to experience life from a different perspective, so why not do that in your personal life too?

By saying yes to everything – from book club invitations, to skydiving, to a karate class – you’ll be putting yourself into unfamiliar and unexpected situations. And that’s a good thing!

Saying ‘yes’ means you’ll be meeting people you wouldn’t have otherwise met. And you might just learn something new about yourself along the way. You’ll find it’s not as scary as you first thought. In fact, it’s exciting!

Do Things Alone

Of course, we all know there’s a bit of a taboo around doing things alone. But why should there be? It’s good to spend some time in your own company. We all need a break from other people sometimes.

So get out there and fly solo – go to the cinema, treat yourself to an expensive meal, or browse books in a bookstore.

And there’s always something to be said for mindfulness. If you don’t already, learn to feel comfortable in your own skin and in your own company. Or if you’d prefer, put some earphones in and throw on a podcast or your favourite tunes.

It can be rather exhilarating when you eat out at a restaurant on your own. And it’s easy to get into a good book while sitting alone in a coffee shop. Being alone has a freedom that many people take for granted. You can do whatever you want to without needing to compromise.

Don’t let being alone restrict what you do. If you’re able to do things on your own, you’ll feel comfortable wherever you are.

On The Other Hand…

Of course, moving to a new city might not be for you and that’s ok. Fortunately, if you still want to gain work experience, there are other viable options.

Remote internships are a great way of gaining valuable experience, all from the comfort of your own home. You’ll be doing the exact same job, putting in the same number of hours, and getting the same exact experience to put down on your CV.

And you’ll meet new people from all over the world too.
So while you won’t get all the benefits of moving to a new location. Instead, you’ll remain comfortable in your own home while getting an amazing international experience.

After all, employers always look favourably on internships with a foreign or multinational company; it means you’ve got some unique life and work experience that’ll make you stand out from your competitors.
And, you can always move to a new city later in life.

Overall, whether you’re interning abroad from your own home, or you’ve dived straight into a new city, you’ll be able to adjust in a way that suits you.