Making Friends after Moving to
By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group
Have the Right Mindset
Making new friends after moving starts with having the right mindset. It's easy to shy away from getting out there and chatting up strangers. Doing so requires effort and the ability to step outside your comfort zone. Most people are naturally anxious to some degree when talking to new people. However, if you want to build up your social circle, you need to overcome your fear and get used to communicating with people you have never met before. After the movers have left and you have had a chance to unpack a little, introduce yourself to your neighbors. Bake some cookies for them or bring them a bottle of wine and get to know them. If your kids go to the same school, offer to carpool.
Volunteer and Attend Local Events
Volunteering is a great way to meet people. You'll meet people who are passionate about helping others and are looking to make a difference in the world. You can volunteer for a local charity, school, fundraiser, or community organization.
Attending local events is another way to meet people in the area. Attend local barbecues, garage sales, wine tasting events, after-school sports events with your kids, and so on.
Find Your Passion
After the dust has settled from your move, find a hobby you love and meet others who share your passion. If you're into weightlifting and fitness, join a gym. If you like playing sports, hang out at the local tennis or hockey court or a sports arena and find people you can play with. If you like playing chess, join a chess club or play in a local chess tournament. If you're a religious person, join your local church, synagogue, temple, or place of worship. You can also join a faith group and attend a Bible class. If you're into motorcycles, see if there is a motorcycle club or riding club. Even if you don't have any particular hobby, you can always find a group or class you can join. Dance classes, yoga classes, cooking classes, and meditation classes are some examples.
If you don't know about any classes in your area, use Meetup.com. You can find all kinds of local meetups, such as reading clubs or groups where people share business ideas. If you can't find something you are interested in, don't be afraid to start your own group!
Network
Networking is a great way to build new relationships. See if some of your old friends have relatives, friends, or acquaintances in your new city. If you have a new job, get to know your coworkers, invite them to hang out, and tell them to invite their friends to join. Or, find business associates in your new area using social media, such as LinkedIn.
Hang Out at the Right Places
When moving to a new city, it can take some time to find venues that you are comfortable frequenting. However, once you do find the right places, you can become friends with the regulars. This is not limited to coffee shops and pubs, though they are certainly places where you can meet people. You can also try dog parks where you bring your dog or playgrounds where you bring your kids. These are good places to hang out where you already know that you have a common interest with the other people there.
If you are getting ready for a long-distance move, let A-1 Freeman Moving Group help make it less stressful. We can take care of the heavy lifting so that you can concentrate on the important stuff…. like making friends in your new town. Contact us today!
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