Guest Post: 5 Tips for Adjusting to Life in a New City

Good morning, everyone! I am happy to have Ashliegh from The Darling Daily guest post for me today! I’m actually obsessed with this post as this subject hits close to home. I’ve moved to four different cities over the last six years, and I wish I knew these tips when I was constantly relocating!


If you’re digging this post, make sure to check out Ashliegh’s blogFacebookTwitter, Instagram and Pinterest pages! 

Hey Darlings! I’m Ashliegh, the blogger behind The Darling Daily. My blog features classy fun, fashion, beauty, recipes and more! I am a recent post-grad and sorority woman, with a passion for bargain shopping, reading classic literature, and living life to my personal motto, “high heels, high standards, pearls everyday.”

Since graduating this past May, I’ve transplanted from the flat farmlands of Ohio to the mountainous area that is Northern Virginia. Mind you, I don’t know anyone in this area except for my boyfriend and his parents. As much as I’d love to be BFF’s with my boyfriend’s mom, I’ve been on the hunt to find some new friends to hang out with! Here are five tips for adjusting to life in a new city!

1. Be friendly to everyone.
This should be a given! Kindness goes a long way with people.  Put on that beautiful smile of yours and chat up the cashier at your new favorite boutique or another coffee drinker at the local coffee shop. You already have something in common since you’re at the same store! 

2. Enjoy some time for yourself.
If you’re new to a city that you don’t know a lot of people in, chances are you’re going to be spending quite a bit of time by yourself and that’s ok! Spend this time for self-reflection and working on your hobbies or learning a new skill. 

3. Reach out and join a club.
Being bloggers, we love making new connections. I’ve recently done some research to find local bloggers and blogging groups and plan to meet up with them. I also joined meetup.com and found a few 20-something groups on there. I was able to plan a meet up at the local horse track and casino that had a great turn out! I’ve also been looking into women’s groups and service organizations like the Junior League and alumnae groups through my sorority. It can be intimidating to put yourself out there but you might make some great connections and new friends!

4. Explore!
Who knew that sketchy hole-in-the-wall restaurant had the best pizza in town? Or the adorable local coffee shop hosted a weekly networking night? The options are limitless in a new town to find new things to do and people to meet. Through exploring, you could even find out about more events if you check out the community bulletin boards commonly found at coffee shops, restaurants, etc. 

5. Take up a new hobby.
While I’ve had extra time to work on my blog more, I’ve also taken up a few new hobbies. I’ve been cooking and baking up a storm in the kitchen and also purchased a DSLR camera. It’s been fun learning photography and even building a fun skill like food photography and styling. I would even consider finding the cutest winery in the area a hobby, right Alicia? 

I hope if you’re moving to a new city that you find these tips helpful. Even if you’re not, you could apply these tips to make some new connections and discover newfound skills!

Feel free to drop by my blog or give me a shout out on Facebook or Twitter

Leave a Comment

9 Comments

  1. Love these tips! I might be making a major move soon (it’s between two cities) and these tips will definitely come in handy <3

    Posted 7.9.14 Reply
    • Ashliegh wrote:

      I’m glad you found this post useful! Making a major move can be hard! I wish you the best of luck!!

      Posted 7.9.14 Reply
  2. Ashliegh wrote:

    Thanks so much for hosting me today, Alicia! I’m so glad you enjoyed the post!

    Posted 7.9.14 Reply
  3. I love all these tips!! I just moved, but it’s never easy!!

    Posted 7.11.14 Reply
    • Ashliegh wrote:

      Agreed! Best of luck with your recent move!!

      Posted 7.15.14 Reply
  4. Lix Hewett wrote:

    I can’t imagine actually chatting up someone at a coffee shop – what if they’re working??!!! Social anxiety is awesome, lol. Though I did have to tell a fellow coffee-drinking laptop-using Starbucks person that I was fine and it was normal for me to having a weird silent crying-or-laughing meltdown in front of her. I’m sure that made me look Sane. (I’m not sane, whateeeever.)

    Making friends is so haaaard. And socializing at meet-ups is hell on me. But they are good tips! I just need to be careful.

    Posted 7.11.14 Reply
  5. aSparkleFactorStephanie wrote:

    This is all great advice. Moving to a new city is really scary and stressful… having a positive attitude and putting yourself out there is definitely an important thing that can be hard and intimidating. Great tips!! I’m sure you’ll make tons of friends in no time.

    x Stephanie from A Sparkle Factor

    Posted 7.14.14 Reply
  6. Lauren Cox wrote:

    Great advice! Really enjoying your blog and welcome to Virginia 🙂

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    Posted 7.28.14 Reply