4 Pieces of Advice for Adjusting to Living in a Big City

The big city draws people because of its diversity, business and career opportunities, better education, and more choices for entertainment and leisure. There might be other reasons that attract people to the city. The bottom line is moving to a big city takes a major adjustment. 

Photo by Donovan Kelly

Here are some things you can do to make adjusting to living in a big city easier.

Explore What the City Has to Offer

Photo by Deane Bayas

A big city attracts people from all over. This creates a melting pot that distinguishes a big city from a small town. After unpacking most of your things and settling down, go out and explore the city. Get lost, take random buses, alight at random spots, and take long walks. This allows you to discover all that a city has to offer. 

Visit museums, hang out at the parks, eat at different restaurants and bars, and go for nearby day trips. These give you a feel of the place and the different kind of people you might meet during your stay. This approach enables you to find affordable places to eat, get groceries, and buy clothes and other things that can save you money, because you’re not always going to splurge all the time. It also allows you to learn more about the city you’re in outside of Wikipedia and guide books. 

Join Local Groups

One way to adjust to big city life is to make new friends. You can do this by joining local groups and participating in community activities. You might want to pick up hobbies or interests you did back home. These can be cooking classes, yoga, spinning classes, martial arts, painting, writing and others. This allows you to connect with others that might share the same interests. Having something in common with others is a positive start to a possible friendship.

You can also join community events such as planning for parades, festivals and other events. Alternatively, try joining charity events so that you can do your part in helping those in need in your neighborhood. These allow you to connect with the big city you moved to in a meaningful way.

Stay in Touch with Your Roots

Adjusting to a new life in a big city can be difficult. One might feel anonymous because of the many things happening simultaneously and the many people one meets at work. You might feel lonely during the adjustment period. Shake off your loneliness by staying in touch with family and friends back home. They might’ve helped you pick out a place from the many Calgary Homes for Sale you saw online or actually visited. 

Talking to friends and family from home instantly boosts your spirits because of the familiar voices and stories you’ll hear. You might want to make plans for them to visit or introduce you to someone they know in the city. Having a common friend in the new city you’re in makes adjusting smoother.

Identify a Go-to Place

The hustle and bustle of the city is exciting, but it can also be tiring. You might want a place to relax and unwind in after partying over the weekend or a long day at work. Look for cafes, libraries, or just a quiet spot in a park. These are places where you can read your favorite books, sip a hot drink, or just think about things. These quiet spaces give you time off to refresh and get ready to take on the big city again.

Living in a big city has its perks and opportunities. However, it can take some time to adjust to its pace. The pieces of advice mentioned above can help you during the adjustment period.