Plugging into a new city is no easy thang, that’s for sure!
Making friends and connections in a new place takes time, energy and effort.
I’ve had more and more people reach out to me for advice on how to plug into a new city, especially when you don’t have children or you’re an empty nester.
Now that we’ve moved to two states in one year, here’s what I did…
5 TIPS TO GET YOU CONNECTED
1. Hobbies
Whatever your hobbies are (cooking, gardening, reading, painting, etc), plug into them ASAP. For example, my hobby is fitness. So, I checked out what St Louis had in the area and plugged into a Pilates studio. It’s been one of the best things I could have done. It get’s me up and out of the house. I connect with new people. I get an awesome workout. I learn new things. I laugh, etc. No matter how I feel going in, I always feel better when I leave. What’s also great about a larger city is they tend to have more options, so I’m planning to try classes and workouts I’ve never done before. Which also helps get me out of my comfort zone. 😉
2. Faith
Before we moved, I researched the churches in the area and knew which ones we wanted to check out. Once we found one, we plugged into the classes, volunteering, attending regularly, you name it. We’ve already met a lovely couple that had us over for lunch.
3. Neighbors
Get to know them. Go introduce yourself and say hi. You’d be surprised at how much people like to “help”. It’s amazing how different states are and what you learn. 😉
Going for walks at night has been another great way for us to meet our neighbors. We always run into someone mowing their yard, playing with their kids or out for a walk themselves.
4. Try Something New
Get out of your comfort zone and try something you’ve been interested in, or at least sounds interesting. For example, I’ve always wanted to take a cooking class and a knives class, so those are on my list. I also have a list of experiences and sites I want to do so I get to know the city better. There’s even mediation with horses. 😉
5. Volunteer
God gives us all something that is near and dear to our hearts. Go online and find a few organizations that sound interesting to you and reach out. There is so much need out there, it won’t be hard. Once you find a good match watch out, some great things could happen. It could help you reduce stress, you might find a friend, learn a new skill, have fun, all while making a difference.
Volunteering is a great way to be social. Social interaction should not be overlooked, it improves mental and physical health, which means better brain function and lower risk of depression and anxiety.
Just a reminder to stay connected with your friends back “home”.
Caring connection is a core value of mine, so I make sure I have phone dates weekly. Yea, it takes work, but real friendship is too important not to pursue.
Thank you God for technology! It makes this all so much easier!
I hope you found this helpful.
Praying you enjoy plugging in no matter where you live.
Shine On,
Ali
