How to Cope in a New City

1. Be Social
2. The Internet Is Your Friend
3. Make Friends At The Workplace
4. Don't Forget About Your Own Interests
5. Stay In Touch

Being able to cope in a new city can be tough, regardless of whether you're single or are moving your whole family with you. A fresh start can be good though and can revitalize you in more ways than you can imagine. There are numerous things that you can do to make the experience and the transition as stress-free as possible:

Be Social.

You may be a bit weary about being outgoing and social when you arrive to a new city, but we're not referring to you becoming a social butterfly necessarily. Instead, we mean just being friendly with the barista at the coffeeshop, making small talk with people that you encounter at the supermarket, and so on. These interactions and the “small talk” that can accompany them can make you feel more at ease in your new city. If you happen to know someone in the city or know of a friend of a friend, try and get in contact with them.

The Internet is Your Friend.

Now, thanks to the internet, you can simply go online to sites such as tripadvisor.com or use your Foursquare app to look for recommendations on places to eat and things to do. And you never have to get lost thanks to Google Map. Visit sites such as Wikitravel and just do general Google searches to find out more information about your new city.

Make Friends at the Workplace.

You may be opposed to making friends at the workplace outside of a professional relationship, but if you're moving to a new city without knowing anyone, you really should try and get along with your colleagues as much as possible. Not only does it make the workplace a more pleasant experience, but they will also be able to help you in building your social life a bit and helping you to cope with any feelings of loneliness.

Don't Forget About Your Own Interests .

Your mind may be preoccupied with many different things when you move to a new city, but in order to cope, you can't forget about yourself. This means making sure to continue to pursue your hobbies, no matter what they are. If you're into playing recreational basketball, look online to see where you can join a league or play pick-up games on the weekends. If you were in a book club previously, look to see where you can join one in your new city. The point is to remember to keep pursuing what you love during your free time.

Stay in Touch .

Make sure to also keep in touch with your friends and family from back home. You shouldn't lose touch, especially when you've just moved to a new city, so make sure to text and call them regularly. It can help you to feel more “normal.”

Coping in a new city can be a challenge for anyone. The important thing to remember is that it will take some time for you to feel fully comfortable there, so feeling a bit lonely at the start is only natural.