Everybody comes from somewhere, whether you grew up in the central belt, spent your childhood on an island, or have lived in a tiny community for as long as you can remember. No matter where you come from, moving away can be hard. I personally moved from the Scottish Highlands to central Glasgow for university, and oh boy, it was a huge change.
Adjusting to any move is difficult, but it can be more challenging if you’ve spent your life in a rural area. The city can be a vibrant, exciting place, but there’s no harm in missing home: the vast expanse of nature, the people you’ve known all your life, and the quieter way of living.
When I arrived to Glasgow I was incredibly homesick, not just for my family and friends, but also for the familiarity of home and the quiet evenings where the only sounds you could hear are the birds cheeping away. I couldn’t hear any birds when I first arrived, and it took me a while to find the places where you actually could. I also found it really hard to deal with the hectic nature of the city, I couldn’t cope with the constant buzz of traffic, people and construction. However, slowly but surely, I learnt some tricks to enjoying my new city life.
Here are some of my wee tips on how to adjust and keep your cool when moving to a big city. If you’ve lived in a city all your life, stick around too, maybe you’ll find some ideas to incorporate more rural magic into your day to day life.
Tip 1: Find your Green spaces
In almost every city, nature can be hard to come by. When I first moved away, I found it so hard walking on concrete day after day, week after week. It can seem silly, but when people say “touching grass” is important, they’re not lying. Being able to ground yourself in nature or a green space is key to regulating your body and mind.
For me, parks became something genuinely useful for getting time in nature. Exploring different green spaces also helps you get to know your area better. Glasgow Green was the first place I found, turned out to be a great place for a run. The Botanics in the West End were a later find but are just beautiful, I love grabbing lunch on Byres Road and heading over to sit amongst the trees while I eat.
Parks can foster a sense of community too. There can be parkruns, outdoor yoga classes, and they’re a great place to meet a friend for a walk. Don’t be afraid to use these public spaces to your advantage, they’re here for everyone’s use.
TIP 2: gET OUT OF THE CITY
This might seem like an odd tip to include in an article about adjusting to city life, but it’s an important one.
Cities house so many people, but they don’t stay there all the time. There are buses and trains constantly leaving in every direction. If the busy environment starts to get to you, or you can’t stand looking up and seeing nothing but buildings for one more day, don’t be afraid to hop on the next train out and go spend some time away. It can be a day trip, a weekend, or even just an afternoon.
My favourite way to spend a day off is jumping on a train with some friends, and going for a swim in a seaside town, or even Loch Lomond. If swimming or walking isn’t your thing, find a cute cafe or a bookshop you fancy visiting. Cities have loads of amenities and shops, but there’s no shame in leaving them behind in pursuit of something calmer.
Tip 3: Community Counts
Cities can feel pretty lonely. Even though there are hundreds of thousands of people surrounding you, it can still feel isolating.
One thing I noticed when moving to Glasgow was that nobody says hello on the street. Back home, everybody would smile and greet whoever they passed. Of course, in a city, you pass a person every two seconds, so that’s really not practical. Despite that, it did make me feel like nobody cared about anyone other than themselves.
I now know that’s not true. I’ve had strangers help me out more times than I can count, but it took a minute to figure that out. One way to help with this transition is to build your own community.
By the end of my first year of uni, I’d made a couple of friends, and I can’t tell you how lovely it is to bump into them on the street. A mid-pavement wee chat is unmatched, in my opinion.
I do acknowledge how hard it can be to make friends, but it’s important to make the effort. Join clubs and societies, go to that exercise class, ask your favourite barista how their day was. Don’t stop trying until you’ve found your own community. Your first friend is the hardest to make, but they’ll make your city stop feeling like the cold, lonely place you once thought it was.
A last reminder
Moving away is tough. It can feel like everything is out to get you, and like your life will never be the same. I’m here to tell you that’s not the case.
Get outside, make friends, and don’t be afraid to take breaks. One thing to remember: home isn’t a place you live, it’s a place you thrive. Don’t be afraid to move away. It just might be the making of you.