This article has been syndicated from Lifestyles by Lauren, an InfluenceHer Collective Member. Read the full post here.
After I graduated last year, I was super excited to start a new life in New York City, move into a new apartment, and start my dream job. I had interned in NYC two consecutive summers before graduating, and I assumed my best friends would relocate with me, so, I thought I had it all figured out. But, as life tends to happen, my move didn’t exactly turn out as expected.
My best friends all ended up going to other cities, including my roommate. Then I found myself living in the city alone for three months until my other roommate would move in. Work also wasn’t as expected, and I was often working late nights thinking what the heck did I get myself into? There were really two options moving forward: 1) Stay in my little apartment and watch Netflix all the time (so sad), or 2) Get out there and do things that I love.
Obviously, I went with the second choice. My message now is don’t stress out if you’re moving to a new city or don’t know anyone, because it WILL get better. Pinky promise. Here are some things that I did to help make NYC feel like home, and I’m hopeful that they will help you too!
1. Get out and explore your neighborhood.
I had lived in NYC before, but never in my current neighborhood. There were so many spots to explore and try out! I love those weekends with no plans where I could just walk around and discover cute places in my neighborhood
2. Sign up for a gym or take workout classes.
I decided not to join a gym my first few months until I knew which location would be best for me, so I opted to do ClassPass instead. If you haven’t heard of ClassPass before, it’s amazing! You pay for credits each month, and then you can sign up for different classes around your city. It’s such a better deal than paying for walk-in classes and a great way to meet new people.
3. Decorate your apartment.
This might seem like a little one, but making your apartment look like a home helps it to feel like a home. For me, this included lots of photos, cute throw pillows, and cozy blankets.
4. Attend events around your city.
Moving to a city means you’re a lot closer to exciting things like concerts, pop-up shops, openings, galleries, etc. Take advantage of this and go, go, go! I think I went to at least three events per week. Whether it’s a product launch, store opening, or happy hour, just get out there!
Read the full post here.