Moving to a new place is an exciting new adventure, but it can also be quite challenging when it comes to meeting new people and making friends. Even though you may be thrilled about the prospect of a fresh start, it’s perfectly normal to feel apprehensive about establishing a social life in an unfamiliar location.
While moving for a new role or to further your career is nothing new, with the rise in remote working, you may find that making those in-person connections harder than ever. The good news is that with some determination and effort on your part, there are plenty of effective ways to get yourself out there and connect with like-minded people.
Attend events or classes
Getting out in your community and attending events is a brilliant way to start meeting people. Keep an eye out for local events like farmer’s markets, music festivals, craft fairs or street food events happening in your area. These types of outdoor events tend to draw big crowds and are a great way to start chatting with others and striking up new friendships.
Consider signing up for a class or joining a local gym as well. “Exercising is a great activity for sparking new adult friendships for several reasons. You are likely to see the same fellow gym-goers who attend workout classes or exercise at the same times as you do, which makes it easy to start building rapport”, explains the team at Wickwoods, “Gyms also attract a wide variety of people of different ages, backgrounds and personalities, giving you a diverse pool of potential friends to connect with”.
If sport isn’t your thing, check community centre or library notice boards for adult education classes, or search sites like Eventbrite for opportunities. A cooking, art, dance or language class is a great way to meet like-minded individuals. Or you could sign up for a cause you feel passionate about. Findings from the 2018 Scottish Household Survey found that 48% of adults in Scotland have volunteered, providing a great opportunity to meet people from all walks of life.
Joining a local club or community group is another excellent opportunity to expand your social circle. Search sites like Meetup to find local groups related to your interests, be it hiking, reading or even singing in a community choir. Don’t be shy about introducing yourself and becoming an active member. The more regularly you participate, the more you’ll get to know fellow members.
Get out and explore
Getting to know your new surroundings is an important first step to connecting with your community. Take some time to explore the area, either on your own or with any family members who made the move with you.
When you’re new to a town or city, it can be helpful to take a walking tour or stopping into the tourist information centre for recommendations on activities and special sites to see. Whilst they may be more designed for tourists, they can help to familiarise you with the key attractions of the area and help you identify any spots you may want to visit again in the future.
Go for a walk downtown to get a feel for the layout, scope out popular shops and restaurants, and make note of any interesting landmarks or architecture. Or pop into the local coffee shop and strike up a conversation with the barista to get an insider’s view on where to check out and what to avoid. It will help you to get your bearings in your new area and give you a sense of the culture and rhythm of your new home. It also gives you a topic of conversation for the next time you grab a coffee.
Become a regular at places you enjoy like a particular cafe, pub, yoga studio or bookshop. When you frequent businesses regularly, you’ll start to see familiar faces and have the opportunity to introduce yourself to other locals who are also regulars. Getting comfortable with your new surroundings will make the area feel more like home and give you conversational starting points when you meet new people in your community.
Turning acquaintances into friends
Once you start regularly seeing familiar faces in your community, take the initiative to turn those acquaintances into deeper friendships. If you see someone repeatedly at your local café or gym, spark up a conversation and suggest grabbing coffee together.
For people you’ve chatted with a few times but want to get to know better, invite them to do something fun outside of where you met, like going to see a new exhibition or attending a community event together. It can feel less intimidating if you make it a group outing and invite a couple acquaintances to join, plus it widens your network.
After you’ve got to know your community better, consider hosting a board game night, a potluck dinner, barbecue or movie night at your home. This is a great way to bring acquaintances together in a casual, comfortable environment where friendships can grow.
The key is to follow up with people who interest you and make plans after suggesting meeting up. Studies suggest that it takes around 50 hours of time together to turn an acquaintance into a friend, so remember that lasting friendships won’t appear overnight. Maintaining contact and putting effort into blossoming friendships will ensure they take root.
Making new friends and establishing a social network when you move to a new place requires effort but reaps valuable rewards. By exploring your new hometown, pursuing hobbies and putting yourself out there to chat to others, you’ll make lasting connections. Though it can feel vulnerable and intimidating at first to move to a new location where you don’t know anyone, actively introducing yourself to neighbours, chatting with seat mates on the bus or sparking a conversation with fellow regulars at your favourite places will get easier over time.
