Moving to a new place is unnerving and exciting at the same time. The opportunity to start afresh v/s the anxiety of going to an unknown place with no family and friends can be very intimidating. The idea is scary, daunting, and challenging. Stepping out of your comfort zone and moving on to new horizons is what you should aim at. Give yourself a chance to get out there and discover yourself. Reminisce the reasons why you made this important decision.
Jump Ahead To:
Get going with a positive attitude, and you will see the whole experience in a new light. Moving alone is much simpler than with a family. However, most of the requirements remain the same. You should prepare well before diving into the complexities of the moving process. Here are some tips for organizing your move :
Research your new city well
Make a detailed questionnaire on the research of the new city that you plan to relocate to. According to your budget, the cost of living, good areas to live in, weather and climacteric conditions, public transport, etc. Proper information and awareness will help you feel familiar with the city and also help you make many decisions practically.
Also Read: Things to do Before Moving to a New State
Look for a suitable house
Search for houses as per your budget. When deciding upon choosing a neighborhood, make sure you are well aware of the crime rates in that area. Since you will be living alone, safety should be an important concern. Ideally, the rent or mortgage of your house should not exceed 25% of your salary. You can also move into temporary housing, to begin with, then take your time finalizing your permanent address.
Shed the weight
Try moving as light as you can. Carry along items that bring joy to you or are useful. This will ease your moving process and save on moving boxes. Get appropriate packing materials in advance for the moving day.
Also Read: Where to Donate Furniture
Fix a moving date
Fixing a date will help you prepare well with the countdown process. While fixing the date, keep in mind the starting date of your new job, lease agreement, or any other schedule.
Prepare a calendar
A moving calendar will keep you aware of things to be done. Assign mini goals and organize them according to priority and significance. Give real-timeframes for difficult and complex tasks. In a briefcase or folder, organize all your important and necessary documents, like financial records, house lease papers, car documents, medical records, etc. Make a note to change your address, get your car serviced, transfer utilities, and cancel subscriptions.
Budgeting the move will help you decide if you can hire moving services or need to DIY the move. If you have heavy furniture, big gadgets, etc., to move, you might need extra movers and professional service. Also, consider the cost of packing materials, travel expenses, post-relocation expenses. Since you are moving alone, remember you might not have enough help to move your belongings. At times, professional help makes the entire experience smooth and favorable. Of course, it eventually will depend on your budget.
Also Read: How to Calculate Moving Costs
It’s time to set the ball rolling. Find well-experienced and reputed movers to help you move. If your move is a DIY, call your close friends and family to help you pack and load your truck. Begin to pack as early as possible. Pack items with better protection, label boxes well, pack your valuable items separately, and carry them with you. Prepare a special box with essentials required along the way on the road. Be prepared before the movers arrive, so you are mentally relaxed on the big day.
Also Read: Cheapest Ways to Move Out of State
Until now, you have been busy with the relocation, settling down, setting up your new home in the new city. After this storm will be a quiet lull in the city where you do not know anyone. The real challenge has begun now!
Let’s begin the journey in the new city with some tips and tricks:
You have shifted to this neighborhood after a lot of research. Spend some time strolling around the lanes and by-lanes to get to know the place in and out. It will also help you get well acquainted with neighbors, local grocery stores, and the availability of other utilities. You can also check out the nearest train and bus service. Feeling your way around the neighborhood will make you feel at ease with the new city.
Behave like a tourist in your new city. This allows you to fall in love with the city and might not happen once you get busy living here. Walking is a great way to explore the city. Public transportation to get around will be an excellent way to explore. This way, you’re killing two birds with one stone, exploring both the city and its public transport system.
Developing a routine will give you a sense of security and fulfillment. It will make you feel at home, even in these new surroundings. Staying engaged during the day, be it cooking, reading, or walking, will help. And soon, with new friends, your life will be back on track.
One thing that keeps us happy and most of the time glued to the same locations is our social bonding. The exciting and intimidating thing about the new city is building a brand-new social life, picking up almost from a clean slate. Try to form and build good relationships with your coworkers or classmates at the workplace/university. Strike up a conversation during lunch hours, or invite colleagues out for a drink after work. Be more open to invitations, get out there, and try to go to every place you are invited to. Remind yourself that you are in the process of knowing as many people as possible from whom you may choose to continue meeting later.
It can sometimes be terrifying to hang out on your own but remember, significant fun events are a great place to strike friendships. Join a book club. Visit networking events, or attend meetups hosted by organized groups. You’ll be pleasantly surprised how willing people are to talk to you, and even more so when they come to know that you’re new to the city.
These days, many online apps are handy grounds to meet new groups of people with similar interests. Enquire about the most commonly used platforms, and register yourself. Besides, ask your family and friends for their connections in the new city. They might know people whom you could meet and mingle with.
In your new city, try to join a sports team if you are into playing games, join a class that teaches art, yoga, craft, or anything of your liking. These closed groups bring people of similar tastes and hobbies together. It might be an excellent place for you to make new friends.
Moving to a new city shouldn’t forbid you from keeping in touch with your old friends. Fortunately, these days connection with each other is just a matter of picking up your phone. Connecting with friends and former neighbors will help you cheer up when you feel sad and lonely in the new city.
It is a common saying that if you have learned to move and live in a new city, you have the confidence to do the same anywhere in the world! Once you have moved and now settled in the city you call home; you will realize how this move has changed you. How you have learned so much and grown mentally exploring this option.
When you overcome intimidating or difficult situations, it makes you a much stronger person. This will boost your confidence and make you well aware of your capabilities. Now the world is an oyster, for the new you!
Living with no one to look out for puts you on a learning curve. It needs grit and courage, patience, and willpower. Achieving all this will give your mental strength with a higher level of maturity. This will help you become more inclusive, give you better ideas on life, and improve your way of living. You will meet new people, learn about their different cultures and beliefs, new ways of living and interests. These experiences will make you open-minded and tolerant. From here on, every success will increase your self-esteem, and every hurdle will enhance your self-growth.
We sometimes get too comfortable in our surroundings and daily routine. A move alone to a new city can unleash the new you. Since you are all alone, it’s time to discover your strength and vulnerabilities.
When moving alone to a new city, how do I look for an apartment?
Make a detailed questionnaire on the research of the new city that you are planning to shift to. Proper information and awareness will help you feel familiar with the city and also help you to make many decisions practically. According to your budget, make a note of good areas to live in, gather information on weather and climatic conditions, public transport, etc. When deciding upon choosing a neighborhood, make sure you are well aware of the crime rates in that area. Since you will be living alone, safety should be an important concern.
Ideally, the rent or mortgage of your house should not exceed 25% of your salary. You can also move into temporary housing, to begin with, then take your time finalizing your permanent address.
Once you’ve shifted, walking around will be a great way to explore the place. Move around the lanes and by-lanes to get to know the place in and out. It will also help you know your neighbors, local grocery stores, and the availability of other miscellaneous utilities. You can also check out the nearest train and bus service stations. Learning your way around your neighborhood will make you feel at ease with the new city.
How to overcome loneliness when shifting to a new city?
It is not easy to move to a new place and quickly form a social group. Time is the most important factor, so give yourself and the city time. These are a few options:
Conclusion If you feel that the right thing to do is move alone to another city at this stage in your life, do so with an open heart and clear mind. Keep up your hopes and aspirations. Nothing will be easy, but it is not impossible. The big step, if needed, will change your life for good and make you a much more mature person. You will discover a different you on the other side, which is adjusting, communicative, and above all, more confident. Let’s get going and hit the trail!
Alex Sherr is the founder of My Long Distance Movers, a blog that provides moving information and resources for people who are relocating. He has more than two decades of experience in the moving and relocation industry, and he is passionate about helping people relocate smoothly and efficiently. When he's not writing or blogging, Alex enjoys spending time with his wife and two young children.
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