At some point in our lives we experience the adventure of moving. Whether its across the globe for a job or even to a new neighbourhood within the city, people move from place to place all the time.

Personally, I love moving and find it quite exciting! I love having new surroundings and starting “fresh” in an environment that’s unfamiliar yet so inviting at the same time. Regardless if you LOVE moving or despise everything about it, moving can be a real shock to the system (especially if it’s a far one). It can take us out of our comfort zones, away from our circle of familiarity, and challenge our definition of “home”.

Having moved to a new city only a month ago, I’ve made a quick list of the top 3 things I’ve learned thus far in my experience. Although calling Kelowna home hasn’t been a walk in the park, these 3 tips have helped me in times of uncertainty while finding my new definition of home

1. take your time

This is probably one of the most frustrating parts about getting used to a new place. Learning all the streets, routes, one-ways, quickest way to work, where to get the best pancakes, what daycare to take your kids to and so on… Like how much better would it be if you could get a manual with all this stuff? Well until that happens, take your sweet time while getting to know this new place called home and you’ll eventually get there. In your spare time, go out and explore and make notes of what you see. Is this city family oriented? Are there inviting public spaces or sketchy places you want to avoid? What are the people like? In time you’ll be able to naturally flow from one day to the next without even thinking about it.

2. find likeminded people

Depending on what your definition of likeminded is, it can mean a lot of things. Likeminded in personality, interests, style, etc. If you don’t know a soul in your area and you’re an avid cross-fitter, try checking out the CrossFit gyms around town and you’re bound to find a group of people you can connect with. If you’re into coffee shop vibes and chilling out with a latte, scout out all of the coffee shops in the area and again, you’re bound to find one that fits with your personality. It doesn’t hurt to make friends with a barista either, just saying. Lastly, I recommend finding organizations that do day-trips to fun places (like wineries in the summer or mountains/ski hills in the winter) and go on a trip that interests you. Yes, by yourself. I’ve done this on a few different occasions and every time I’ve met a ton of new people and made friends I never would have met otherwise.

3. be yourself

I saved the most important one for last. This one is huge, people. Moving to a new place can mess with your head, for lack of a better term. What I mean by this is that in all the excitement of your new home and starting fresh, there is always pressure, to some degree, to fit in. Fitting in isn’t the problem, it’s conforming to the standards and expectations of your surroundings that can be harmful and may go unnoticed. No matter where you move to or find yourself, never stop being the unique, weird and quirky person that you are. You have a unique set of personality traits that should never be hidden away or suppressed. “It’s much easier to love yourself when you are being yourself.” (Dan Coppersmith)

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Have you moved to a new city recently? What was your experience like? Do you have any tips for adjusting to a new home? I’d love for you to let me know in the comments below!