If you're looking for a fresh start, moving to a new city [1] can help you spread your wings and truly find out who you are — especially if you make the move by yourself. But moving by yourself can be stressful, beyond the logistics of packing and shipping your stuff [2]. Finding yourself in a new home without your friends, family, and familiar surroundings can feel like a risk. Moving for a new job [3] or to go to school can make the adjustment a bit more manageable, but no matter what your situation is, it can be hard to feel at home when you're alone in a new city.

The best thing you can do to ease your transition is to put yourself out there and make the most of every opportunity, while also making time for yourself [4]. Whether you're taking up a new hobby or exploring the things that make your new metropolis unique, the following 14 tips will start making that strange new place feel a lot more like home.

Maintain Your Relationships

Just because you've moved somewhere new, it doesn't mean you shouldn't hold your old relationships close. In fact, keeping in touch with your friends back home is a great way to ensure you're not lonely in your new city. Make regular dates to chat with your best friends and family, whether it's on the phone or via video.

Don't Rely on Your Phone

It can be hard to make friends in a new city, but if you have your face in your phone at all times, it'll be near impossible. If you're out getting a coffee at your neighbourhood cafe or just walking around doing some exploring, try not to rely on your phone too much, and keep yourself open to face-to-face interactions.

Explore Your New City

Get the lay of the land, whether it's in your particular neighbourhood or the city as a whole. Take some time to let yourself be a tourist in your new home, checking out all of its famous landmarks and iconic features. Knowing your way around can really help with your sense of belonging.

Foster Relationships With Coworkers and Classmates

Whether you're moving to a new city for work or for school, try to form relationships with your coworkers or classmates. Strike up a conversation in the lunchroom, or invite your desk neighbour out for a drink after work instead of heading home for another night spent binging your favourite Netflix shows for the millionth time. (Of course, there's no shame in that every once in a while!)

Consider Getting Housemates

Depending on which city you move to, having a housemate may be a necessity. Having housemates can not only help you save money on rent, but it can also be a great way to meet new people. You may or may not find a housemate who becomes your best friend, but either way, it will give you another avenue to meet new people and start building a community.

Take a Class

If you're looking for people with similar interests, consider taking up a new hobby or taking a class in something you've always wanted to learn or improve on. Embroidery, photography, knitting, cooking, writing — these are all great hobbies that you can probably find a class in where you can meet like-minded people in a social environment and learn a new skill along the way.

Join a Sports Team

If sports are your thing, find out whether your new city offers any recreational leagues or drop-ins for your favourite sports. Check out a yoga class, play some football on the weekend, and you'll soon start to make friends with the people you're seeing once or twice a week.

Use Meetup Apps

While you may have only considered apps for your dating life, there are lots of online meetup groups and apps that are great for meeting new people and making new friends. Check out which ones are available in your new city, and find a meetup that sounds interesting to you.

Ask Friends For Connections

Even if you don't know anyone in your new city, your friends might! Ask around, like on social media, and see if your friends know anyone you could meet up with when you get to your new home. You'll already have a friend in common, so it might be an easier way to meet people if you're intimidated by meeting people on your own.

Check Out Local Galleries

It's OK to have some alone time in your new city, too! Take advantage of your new surroundings and explore what makes your city unique, like the local art or music scene. Whether you talk to anyone or not, just being surrounded by people and knowing that you can enjoy time to yourself can help you feel more at home.

Make Your New Place Feel Like Home

At the end of a long day at work, Uni, or just spent exploring, it's important to have a home to come back to. Do whatever you can to make your apartment or house feel like your home, like filling it with photos of your friends and family or decorating it just the way you like it.

Adopt a Pet

Like decorating your new apartment, getting a pet can help you feel more at home at the end of the day. It goes without saying that you should only get a pet if you're ready to take care of one, but having a furry friend to cuddle with when you're feeling lonely can really help.

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

If you've moved to a new city all by yourself, congratulations — you've already basically accomplished getting out of your comfort zone! Continuing to do so will open you up to more opportunities to make the most of your new city and meet new people. Say yes to that invitation to join your coworkers for drinks, or go have a meal in a restaurant by yourself. Whatever will help you grow and make the most of your new life, say yes!

Don't Be Hard on Yourself

One of the most important things to keep in mind about moving to a new city alone is that it might take time — and that's totally OK. Make the effort to meet people, while also giving yourself the alone time you need, but don't be hard on yourself. You might not meet your new best friend on your first day in your new city, but you'll eventually find your people.