Moving can be a wonderful thing, and there’s no doubt that getting to see a different part of the country or even a different part of the world is a life-changing experience.
Whether you’re moving locally in Alexandria Virginia, or across the country, big moves are certainly some of the most major events in any life.
But sometimes, the joy and intrigue of moving to a new place can be overridden by feelings of stress, despair, and loneliness.
Feelings of loneliness are often the most common among young adults and singles who are moving to an area where they don’t know anyone – perhaps for the first time in their lives.
There’s a stark difference between living in a place with many friends, family, and a robust support system, and living in a new city where you barely know anyone beyond a neighbor and a few coworkers.
But if you’re moving and worried about loneliness – or have already moved, and are seeking some easy ways to deal with these negative feelings, this article can help.
We’ve put together some of the easiest, most simple ways in which you can help mitigate these feelings of loneliness, and begin to feel more at home – no matter where you have moved.
1. Get To Know Your Neighbors
Getting to know your neighbors is a great first step when dealing with feelings of loneliness.
If you walk into your building and you see a friend the moment you step in the door, it can really help lift your spirits after a tough day – much more than barely even making eye contact with a neighbor who you don’t even know.
A great way to do this is to simply go around and knock on doors – introduce yourself and talk a little bit about who you are and who you’re from, and learn the names, professions, and other basic information about your neighbors.
This is a great basis upon which you can form a friendship – and if you keep interacting and hanging out with your neighbors, you may find that some of them are a lot like you, and become fast friends.
2. Find Clubs And Organizations Where You Can Meet Like-Minded People
It’s easier than ever before to find organizations and clubs that are full of people with similar interests to you.
What are your hobbies? Do you like knitting? Disc golf? Swimming? Decide what you’d like to pursue, then turn to your favorite search engine to find some clubs and organizations dedicated to that hobby or sport.
You can also look at websites like Craigslist to get an idea of events that you may be interested in occurring in your new city, and local newspapers are also a great way to learn more about interesting clubs and organizations where you could meet new friends and acquaintances.
3. Go Out Every Day and Explore Your New City
This is very important – your new city will never feel like home if you don’t know anything about it.
Make a point to get out and explore your neighborhood and your city every day.
This can be as simple as going for a jog in a park you’ve never been in before, taking in a show at a new theater, or trying out some local cuisine you’ve never had. By exploring and learning more about your new city and neighborhood, you’ll become more comfortable talking to others about it, and it will begin to feel more like home.
4. Keep In Touch With Old Friends – But Make New Ones, Too
Given how easy tools like smartphones and the internet make it to keep in touch with friends and family, you’ll never be far away.
From Skype and video chatting to text messages and emails, your loved ones are likely only a click away. Make it a point not to lose touch with those back home who are important to you. Knowing that your old friends still care about you can really help you deal with lonely feelings.
However, you shouldn’t rely only on talking to the same people you’ve known for years. You’re in a new city, with all-new people who are certainly just as interesting, caring, and fun as your old friends – and you owe it to yourself to try to meet some new people.
5. Get To Know Your Coworkers
If you moved to a new city for a job, do your best to get to know your coworkers on more than just a surface level.
Chances are that if you’re in the same line of work, you’ve got some common interests, and a simple office coworker relationship can easily turn into a friendship if you make the effort to connect with your colleagues beyond a superficial level.
This has the additional benefit of creating meaningful relationships at your workplace, which can help mitigate feelings of loneliness and reduce professional stress.
6. Keep A Positive Attitude
There is a reason that you moved. There is a reason that you are living in a new city or town. Whether it’s because of a relationship, an office move, or a change in career, keep track of why you decided to move in the first place.
Your attitude is the most important aspect of this move. If you have a positive attitude and you believe that your new life in a new city will be just as good – and hopefully better – than the life you left behind, you will find that you prove yourself right.
On the other hand, if you continue to feel bad for yourself, miss home, and wonder about why you moved in the first place, you’re likely to fall deeper into loneliness and sadness.
So stay positive, and understand that these feelings of loneliness are temporary – with just a little effort and care, you will be able to make great new friends in your new city.
Conclusion
Loneliness is certainly not the only stressful and negative emotion associated with moving – moving can be an extremely stressful experience – but it’s one of the easiest ones to mitigate. Just stay focused on your goals, put a little bit of effort into meeting and befriending new people, and keep a positive attitude.
If you’re worried about an upcoming move in the Alexandria, VA area and are looking for professional movers to help ease your transition into a new city, call us today, or visit us online at www.1movers.com.
Our professional, full service movers can help you by providing fast, professional service so that you don’t have to stress out about the moving experience, and can focus on building your new life in Alexandria, VA.