January 21, 2022
In 2018, I was in a year of transition. I would be graduating college, moving out of my student apartment, starting a career, and moving from Texas to Michigan.
While I never planned on moving away, especially as far as I did, when my boyfriend accepted a job offer in Michigan, I knew my life would be turned upside down.
As a well-organized, Type A personality, I thought I was ready for my year of transforming into a real adult. I visited Michigan before moving, accepted a job offer, researched things to do, and sent all my furniture to our condo. But no amount of planning could have prepared me for the adjustment ahead.
While the changes I faced throughout the years were exciting, I learned that change required hard work and effort, so as you prepare to move and face a transition of your own, I am here to share some helpful tips from what I’ve learned.
Moving away from friends and family was the hardest part of the transition for me. I kept a tight-knit circle of friends and always lived close to my family, so being a 24-hour drive away from everyone I loved was extremely isolating at first.
If you’re like me, trying new things can be daunting, but when you move to a new place, it’s essential. When I realized that my coworkers weren’t necessarily going to be the same people, I spent time with on the weekends, I had to think of other ways to meet people. Some ways I met friends were:
Overall, to meet new people, you have to put yourself out there. I know it’s not easy, and it doesn’t come naturally to everyone, but it’s the best way to make meaningful connections in your new town. By enrolling in exercise classes, making an effort with coworkers, and networking on Bumble BFF, I established a great group of friends that are an essential part of my inner circle today.
When I moved to Michigan, my whole world felt chaotic. I no longer had my weekly school schedule or extracurricular activities, my social calendar took a nosedive, and the places that were familiar were left in Texas. I liked my routine back home, and life in Michigan felt unfamiliar, my condo didn’t feel like home, and I was struggling to adjust to a full 40-hour workweek.
It’s important to remember that when you move to a new town, an essential part of the transition is becoming familiar with your surroundings and creating a new routine that feels comfortable.
To find my flow, I started by adding small changes to my day. I created a gym schedule, added a morning coffee stop to my commute, and tried new restaurants and recipes.
Over time, my routine became part of my everyday life, and the chaos around me found balance.
Getting to know your new city is an important aspect of moving. Not only does it help you determine where the best restaurants and activities are, but it also helps you feel safe and secure.
Spend time exploring everything that your town has to offer. Visit the park, shop at local stores, try new restaurants and bakeries, and attend city-sponsored activities like the farmer’s market or music in the park. All of these things combined will help you love where you live, and the anxiety you may feel from moving to a new place will slowly start to dissipate as the world around you starts to feel like home again.
Consider joining local Facebook groups or looking at your city’s website to stay in the know. Through the sites, you will find news, activities, and events (and you may even meet a friend or two)!
Moving can be difficult, and the change may cause some stress and anxiety, but if my move taught me anything, it’s that I can do hard things, and so can you.
Instead of comparing your new space to your old space, look at the opportunities you have to mold your life into the one you want. Moving to a new place opens a new chapter of your life, and it’s up to you to fill in the pages.
Utilize the resources around you, ask questions, say yes to new adventures, and above all, lean in.
Written by Miranda Ferris, Let’s Detroit
