You’ve finally finished unpacking after you’ve been brave enough to follow your heart or land that dream job and start a new life away from home and now you don’t know how to make friends in a new state? If you find yourself missing the old friends you left behind and the feelings of loneliness and intimidation start to settle in, don’t worry – it’s perfectly normal to have mixed feelings after long distance moving, but don’t let your courage leave you now because you’ll need it to get out of your comfort zone and explore the city and different ways to make friends.
Turn to Old Friends to Help You Meet New People
And we don’t just mean close ones, but acquaintances, ex-classmates, or even that friend you had in high school – ask yourself if any of them live in your city and explore the alumni databases and social media. If not, don’t shy away from contacting even the not-so-close old buddies to see if they can hook you up with some of their friends. Cast a wide net – there’s got to be someone!
How Long Does It Take to Make New Friends in a New City?
No one really knows. Whether you’re moving for love or you have some other reasons to move – meeting people in a new city is harder when you’re an adult without the social networks we had throughout school life. But, with a little effort on your side, it won’t be long before you’ve found someone akin! And if you’re in doubt, simply check some of the best moving away from home quotes and see all doubts vanish.
Hit It Up With Your Coworkers
Did you know that the more friendships we have at work the happier we are? Sounds about right, considering how much time we spend at work. Besides it being key to our long-term career success, it’s also one of the best ways to start friendships after moving state to state! Does your workplace have a company sports team? Consider joining or cheer them up on their next game. Does your company organize happy hours? Stop by and mingle. Maybe they will invite you to some of their activities, or show you some cool places in town, but don’t be afraid to take the first step. Maybe there are other out-of-towners in your company who are also wondering how to make friends when you move to another city.
Take up Classes
Now is the perfect time in your life to apply for that cooking class you were so passionate about, but haven’t gotten around to. There’s no better way to get to know someone than making lunch together! How about a photography class? Or you could learn to dance salsa! Whatever you’re interested in, it could be a good way to get rid of that post-moving stress and meet some people who share your passion! You can google courses in your city and choose the one that works best for you.
Get to Know Your Neighbors
Sometimes, what we’re looking for is not far away from us. Maybe your future friend lives right next door! So, greet your neighbors and talk to them. Asking them where the nearest store is or something like that could be a good icebreaker. Also, you want to become a regular at garage sales. That way you’ll definitely have a chance to meet new neighbors and stir up some conversation. And in case yours are a bit on the grumpy side, there are effective ways of how to deal with neighbors that complain about everything.
Invite Your Neighbors to a Housewarming Party
Perhaps some of your neighbors will come knocking on your door to welcome you to the neighborhood. But, you can throw a housewarming party and welcome them into your home, too! People love these parties and are happy to come and it’s a great way to get in touch with the community.
Join Local Events
Whether you’re in a bustling city or a small rural town, there’s bound to be some local events and meetings you’d like. This is one of the best ways to mingle. Browse services such as Nearify to check out what you might be interested in and don’t be afraid to go there, even alone. People are usually friendly and approachable at these events and you might even find some locals who would be happy to show you around the city.
Use Apps to Meet Up and Join Local Facebook Groups
Among many such apps, Meetup seems to be the most popular one. It covers thousands of cities and it can help you befriend people with shared interests. There are also other apps you could join to meet locals and make friends. Also, don’t forget about good old Facebook.
Still, put safety first and always organize meetings in public places during the day.
Put Yourself Out There
Many kind souls will invite you out and even if you don’t always feel like going – give it a shot! Get out of the comfort zone and just introduce yourself to people or ask someone to meet up with you. You’ll find that if you say hello first, most people will say hello back.
It’s Never a Wrong Idea to Join a Sports Club and Break a Sweat!
Sport is the best way to socialize while staying fit. This is how guys usually do it – they find someone who likes the same sport as they do and stay friends ever after! Easy, right? So, join a basketball or swimming team, or anything else you like. The gym will do, too, or you can just find a local workout buddy.
Find a Buddy for Your Dog and Maybe It’ll Return the Favor
Sometimes, you don’t even need to put effort into meeting new people as some happy accidents come along and do it for you. Like, when you are walking your dog in the park and your furry friend finds itself a doggy buddy and you and the owner just connect. And if don’t want to leave anything to chance, you can use Meet My Dog – an app many dog lovers use to organize playdates for their dogs.
Giving Back to Your Community is One Way of How to Make Friends in a New State
Volunteering is one of the best ways to give back to the community and it forges deep friendships based on shared beliefs. There are worthy causes everywhere, you just need to find the one closest to your heart. Explore which organizations operate in your city. This might open up the door for other meetings with fellow-volunteers. While you’re at it, you can use this chance to declutter and donate unwanted items you couldn’t find a place for after your move.
Cross-Country Moving Will Be Easier With Help From Long Distance Movers
Getting a fresh start in life far away from everyone you know is daunting, especially if you are moving out for the first time. Sometimes, we tend to stick to the things we know, but we don’t need to let go or forget about our old pals in order to make new ones and long-distance friendships are commonplace nowaday. So, throw a moving away party and embrace change. And for a stress-free moving, consider leaving the packing and heavy lifting in the hands of professional long distance movers. We can even ship your car for you.
