Moving somewhere new can be a very difficult, isolating, and eye-opening experience. Surviving alone in a new city requires you to be resourceful and emotionally resilient. It can be difficult living in a new city especially if it’s your first time away from home, your family, or school. However, these experiences are crucial for growing as an adult and beginning to build a life for yourself. As an International model, I live a life of new beginnings. It never gets easier, but I gain new tools in every city that I find myself in. Throughout this process, I have learned the value of real relationships, quality time, as well as what I like and what I don’t like.

If you are moving to a new city or even just thinking about it following these tips can help you make the most of this new chapter of your life:

Find Your People

If you are anything like me and find yourself needing more human interaction, it is more difficult to feel lonely when you’re constantly surrounded by so many people that are chasing the same dream you are. This is where I believe you should build a community within a group of people who have the same goals as you or will push you towards these goals. I personally looked to creatives, models, bloggers, actors etc. in the Fashion Industry since I moved to London to pursue my full-time career as a model. London actually had a lot of opportunities to meet such people. There are groups, meetups, and social activities surrounding any type of interest you can imagine, whether you’re looking for a gym buddy or a book club. I met some of my best friends through a Fashion Collective and we went out for dinners and parties 3-5 times a week. Not only did I feel more motivated and inspired but I also had the wonderful opportunity to network with brands, designers, and agencies. If I had never done this or moved to London, I would have never met the people I call sisters now.

Make Your New Place Home

Plan Properly

Don’t Hide Your Emotions

Feeling lonely? Does this move have you feel like crying out loud? Go ahead and do it! Stress levels and emotions are likely to be elevated during this significant transition of your life. Emotions are completely natural, so don’t try to shut them out and pretend everything is ok if you feel sad. Allow yourself to feel the emotion of sadness fully. Like everything, these feelings will pass, and expressing them fully will make it easier to move on from the emotions in a positive direction. Don’t feel stuck either. Know that you can always FaceTime your Best Friend or Mom and let it all out. Also, be sure to check out our tips for reducing stress to find some mental equanimity in this chaotic phase of life. Emotional awareness will be one of your greatest tools for moving, especially if you are doing it alone.

Explore Your New City

Don’t Compare Your New Life to Your Past

Keep In Touch

Just because you move to a new place, does not mean you disappear. Calling home to family or friends is a really great way of relieving some of the anxiety and loneliness associated with moving away. However, you want to be sure to keep the contact moderate. If you’re spending all of your time alone in your apartment on the phone with people, you’re spending less time putting yourself out there. Increase your chances of making a new, meaningful connection by opening yourself up to new interactions. I like to have a post-breakfast call with my Mom and a late night call with my besties, aside from that, I go out and enjoy my city. If I am really craving interaction, I will call someone important to me while on a walk. This way, you are not wasting the potential of what could be.

Find a Routine

As a self-proclaimed Type A personality, the biggest way I fought loneliness in a naturally overwhelming city was by creating and maintaining, a basic routine. Days in London were never boring and are hardly ever the same, so having a few small tasks that I could depend on every day made me more comfortable than I realized. Mundane things like my daily walk, my gym routine, where I get my post-workout smoothie… I took this stencil and drew it into my every move and it is now my recipe to settling in new places.

Find Your “Spot”

Having a “spot” (other than your apartment), can really help your city feel like home. I call this “finding your own central park”. There’s a sense of security in having a go-to place in town to escape the stresses of everyday life. Try and find a local coffee shop, bar, or bakery that reflects the character of your city. Order their most popular dish, people watch, and invite your friends to join you so you can make your own sitcom-worthy memories.

ALLOW IT

Allow the emotions, the ups, the downs, and allow the reinvention. A new city could mean a new you, or even new interests, hobbies, or friends, and that is okay! Never feel guilty for becoming an evolved version of you and enjoy 🤍