6 Tips for Meeting New People When You Move

Growing up I moved a lot. I had the typical story that most kids do. One of my parent’s jobs took us from city to city every three years. As an adult I never imagined I would still continue to face this issue, but now I have managed to acquire a spouse with a job that moves us from city to city. Meeting new people in a new city, as an adult is a whole new ball game that doesn’t really compare with the experiences I had as a child. In the end though, after three moves, I have found there are quite a few easy way to make new friends with similar interests. So, take a little advice and don’t hole yourself up at home.

1. Look into local chapters of your sorority or fraternity. This is the perfect way to meet people in a new city if you belonged to one of these organizations in college. Meting new people can be made easier when you have something in common. One tip though, when you are looking up local alumni chapters you may want to ask the median age of the group. Try to choose one you will also have age in common with the other members. My sister did this and ended up hanging out with a group of recent graduates. She was a little beyond that point in her life and needed a new age group of alumni. If you weren’t in a sorority or fraternity you could also look up alumni from your college in your new city. This works well if you went to a large public university, you may even be surprised at how small the world is.

2. Join a club that focus on something you are interested in. This is a great outlet for meeting new people for almost anyone. Gardening, book reading, artistic interests, sport leagues, intramurals, and even fantasy football groups are great way to meet new people. My fianc�© loves a game he picked up in Cincinnati called corn hole. It is slowly gaining popularity in Chicago and he has managed to find corn hole leagues in the city. He has a great time playing and has managed to meet quite a few fun people his own age.

3. Take an adult night class in something you have always wanted to learn. The local library near me offers very short adult night classes that range from calligraphy to local history. The age group is varied, but I have a great time and have met a varied new group of people.

4. Visit the local pub or coffee shop. This one seems obvious, but if you establish yourself as regular you can get to know the staff and even meet a few other new people who are there to be social as well. This one is not for the faint of heart and I suggest you use your best judgment in establishing relationships.

5. Volunteer in a local charity. I love meeting new people this sway. Volunteer in an area you enjoy. Whether you help cook at a homeless shelter or teach kids art, you can meet quite a few people this way. Plus, helping others is always a great spirit lifter. You might find there are people out there lonelier than you!

6. Join the local gym. Try working out at different times to meet different groups of new people. Joining a yoga class or any scheduled class is a great way to see the same group of people on a weekly basis.

Knowing how to meet people is only half of the battle. While moving to a new city can be stressful you can still have a good time and meet people with a little effort. Take the time to do an activity you like and everything else will fall into place.