Moving Mondays: 10 Ways to Make a New City Feel Like Home

So you’ve made it to your new city. You’re in your new apartment. The move is done. Now what?

I’ve been there. After the excitement and stress wears off, reality starts to set in. Sure, you are in your new city. But how do you make it feel like home?

Well guys, it takes some work. But trust me, it’s worth it. I’ve tested these tips myself in two different cities. I’m not here to tell you this is an easy process. Just remember to be patient with yourself after a move. I hope these tips help as you settle into your new city!

So let’s dive in. Here are the 10 best ways to make a new city feel like home.

---

1. Go Explore

Sure, you might get lost at first. But you need to figure out the layout of your new city.

Go for a drive, take a walk, study GoogleMaps. Do whatever you need to do to familiarize yourself with your new city. Start learning the major roads. Discover different neighborhoods. Really try to get a feel for the city.

If your city has public transportation, learn the routes. Get a transit card and take the bus or subway somewhere.

Once you don’t feel like a visitor and actually understand how to navigate your city, it will start to feel more like home.

---

2. Establish a Routine

This doesn’t mean you need to get stuck in a rut. But it’s helpful to establish routines early on.

Try out a few places, but once you find a grocery store you like, stick to it. Try to go around the same time on the same day every week. You will soon learn the aisles and have a solid shopping routine. You might even start recognizing people who also shop around the same time. Who knows, you might meet people this way. Even if you don’t, having your local grocery store makes your city feel more like home.

And this doesn’t just apply to grocery stores. Find a coffee shop, bar, or gym and make it yours. Set up a routine around these places. Once you have a routine, your new city will feel more comfortable and familiar.

---

3. Meet Your Neighbors

Ok, so it’s not always as simple as meeting people at the grocery store. (But hey, you never know!)

The main thing I’ve learned about making friends in a new city is that you need to say YES. And this can be challenging (introvert alert). But if you don’t want to feel isolated, you need to be open to any opportunity to make friends.

So how should you go about this? I’ve also learned that its hard to make friends as adults. In school, you have so many opportunities to meet people. But in the adult world, it’s tough! Especially when you are in a new city. So here are some suggestions:

• Join a MeetUp group: This site is perfect for anyone looking for their new tribe. There are groups for just about any hobby (sports, board games, pets, happy hours, etc). And if you can’t find your ideal group, start a new one! Yes, it can be uncomfortable at first, but MeetUp is a safe and fun way to meet new people in a group setting.
• Connect with Coworkers: This is probably so obvious, but it shouldn’t be overlooked. Don’t forget about your coworkers. Go to those work happy hours. Eat lunch together. Especially if you relocated for your job, they might be your first friends in your new city.
• Reach Out: That friend of a friend who happens to live in your city? Reach out to them! Especially if you move to a big city, chances are you know someone who lives in your new city. Even if you don’t really know them, it can’t hurt to make that connection.
• Volunteer: Find a local organization you want to support and become a volunteer. This is a great opportunity to meet like-minded people in your community. (And you are giving back to your new home!)
• Find a Sports Team: If sports are your thing, join a team. You can find sports groups through MeetUp but also look for information at local parks or gyms.

---

4. Unpack (And Then Unpack Some More)

As important as it is to make your city feel like home, you also need to make your personal space feel like home.

And trust me, it can be a lot at once: unpacking, starting a job, meeting new people, figuring out your city, etc. But try to make unpacking a priority. After a long day, you want to come home to a space that is comforting and feels like home.

If possible, give yourself some time to unpack before you start your new job (or school or whatever it is that caused you to move). It’s overwhelming to learn a whole new city and come home to boxes.

Get settled into your new place so you don’t feel like you are on a trip or vacation. When you are not living out of suitcases and boxes, your new place will feel a lot more permanent. And once the unpacking is done, you can spend more time making your city (and not just your apartment) feel like home.

---

5. Get in The Know

Follow local Twitter and Instagram accounts. Read local blogs and sign up for local newsletters. This is a great way to learn about upcoming events and feel connected to your new community.

A few of my favorite follows for big cities:

Thrillist

TimeOut

Eater

The Infatuation

Even if you are moving to a smaller town, I’m sure you can find an Instagram, Twitter account, or blog dedicated to the happenings in your city!

---

6. Yes, Do The Touristy Stuff!

Come on, you know you want to. I’m really not sure why people avoid tourist attractions. Ok, I get that these are crowded and sometimes overrated. But they’re popular or famous for a reason. And when you are moving to a new city, you need to check these out. At least once!

The tourist attractions probably won’t become your regular hangouts. And most likely you won’t meet locals here. But if you move to Seattle you need to check out the Space Needle and Pike Place. And if you move to NYC you have to go to Times Square and the Statue of Liberty. You get the idea.

---

7. Find Your Local Hang Out

Ok you’ve done the touristy stuff. Now it’s time to find YOUR hang out.

And this might take some time. Try a few places and see what sticks. Once you find a place you like, become a regular. No, I’m not saying you can’t try new things later. But as we discussed earlier, it’s easier to meet people if you have a routine.

And I’m not just talking about bars. Find your coffee shop, gym, yoga studio, park, etc. Think of a place you hung out in your old city and find something similar. Once you become a regular somewhere, you will start to feel more like a local.

---

8. Root for the Home Team

Full disclosure, I’m really not a sports person. But there is just something about sports that really brings a community together. And so many sports teams are a huge part of their city’s identity.

So I probably shouldn’t be the person giving any advice about sports. But here goes. Check out a game in your new city. If your town doesn’t have a professional team, go to a minor league game. And this doesn’t mean you are cheating on your actual team. It’s just a great way to feel a little more connected to your new home.

---

9. You Do You

This one is SO IMPORTANT.

It’s really easy to get swept up in the excitement of a new city. New opportunities, adventures, and people are all around you. And it can feel like you have to try all new things all at once.

Yes, it’s important to try new things and stretch yourself. That might even be why you moved in the first place. Just don’t forget to do the things you love.

When I first moved to Seattle, I felt like I lost my identity. I didn’t know who I was in that context. But then I made time to do the things I love. I started running, working out, and cooking. And once I found time for my hobbies and passions, I started feeling more like myself. And some of these hobbies connected me to my city (I joined a running club from MeetUp!)

So try new things but don’t forget the things that make you, YOU.

---

10. Give Yourself Time

Be patient with yourself. Adjusting to a new city takes times.

It can take 6 months to a FULL YEAR to feel adjusted to your new city. This doesn’t happen overnight.

Be kind to yourself. Don’t stress if you haven’t found your community in the first few weeks (or months). Relax, even if you get lost or go the wrong way on the metro. If you get overwhelmed, remind yourself that you are still learning. And be proud that you stepped out of your comfort zone to move somewhere new.

Also, don’t overlook self-care. It can feel like you have to do everything at once (meeting people, finding a new gym, learning about your city, etc.). But make sure you take care of yourself too. Do a facemask, binge Parks and Rec, cook a new recipe, or whatever it is that you enjoy. Make time for it.

---

I hope you enjoyed these tips. Make sure to check out more of my Moving Mondays series.

Now I want to hear from you! What have you done to make your new city feel like home? Let me know in the comments!

If you liked this post feel free to share it or pin it!