Switching to Big City Living: Our 5 Tips

Are you making the move from a small town or suburb to a big city in 2016? If so, prepare for lots of excitement… and, of course, lots of changes! Moving to a bigger city than you’re used to is an experience best enjoyed when you know what to expect and how to make the most of it. In today’s blog, we will be looking at five ways to embrace the change and make the switch with ease.

Prepare to downsize

One of the biggest changes you will have to embrace when moving into a big city is, typically, a lack of space. What you gain in convenience, atmosphere and proximity to work and entertainment, you often lose in spacious bedrooms and living spaces. But that’s okay! The important thing is that you know this ahead of time and make the necessary preparations for downsizing. This means getting rid of furniture, clothes, and other items you don’t use as frequently and may not have room for in your new space. It also means learning to live with less—consider consolidating your shoe collection, for example, or investing in hidden storage options. These changes will make it easier for you to adapt to big city living in a more comfortable way.

Take public transportation

Many people move to the city because it’s closer to their place of work. Even if you can use a car in your commute, you may want to consider taking public transportation instead upon arrival in your new city. This is practical, since you’ll be saving on gas and, likely, the time it would take to navigate your way through traffic. It’s also a great way to familiarize yourself with your new home and get to know the streets and landmarks you’ll be passing through every day.

Find your new local “spot”

Everyone has a favorite place to relax, catch up on work emails or enjoy a great meal in their hometown. Once you move to a newer, bigger city, you’ll be faced with plenty of options to mark as your new “spot” to spend time in. Get to know your immediate area and find a place that suits your interests, whether it’s a coffee shop, local park or other spot.

Meet new people

In a big city, it’s easy to feel isolated—even with all those people around! The key is to actively search for ways to meet new people. In addition to meeting new people at work, you can forge relationships with neighbors in your building or join a local club or class that offers you even more social opportunities. Whether you love to dance, garden, write, sing, act, read… whatever it is you like to do, you can be sure others in your area enjoy it, too! You just have to look.

Enjoy the change

Finally, to make a successful switch into big city living, it’s important to enjoy the change as much as possible! Even if you miss your suburban home, remind yourself to think about all the positives of living in a bigger city: convenience, proximity to work, social opportunities, great food, and much, much more. Once you do this, learning to actually love your new home won’t be a challenge.

We hope that these tips make your move from small town to big city a little bit easier!