Guide to making friends in NYC after relocation

We can all agree that making friends as an adult is far from easy. It becomes even harder after moving to New York, which has more than eight million people. Sure enough, you’ll have no problem meeting new people. But making friends in NYC after relocation is as complicated as finding an apartment in the city. For some people, the adjustment period after arrival can be quite long and straining. On the other hand, some people fit into big city life immediately. Once you settle in, you’ll want to learn everything there is to know about NYC. Where to eat, how to navigate public transit, and where to catch a cab. But also where to meet new friends! Luckily, you’re in the right place. Our team at U.Santini Moving & Storage is quite familiar with New York City lifestyle, and we’re here to advise you on how to expand your friend network in the big city.

Before making friends in NYC, become friends with yourself

When it comes to making friends, confidence is key. Confident people inspire others to be more comfortable in their own skin. Being positive simply radiates good vibes and energy toward those around you. So who wouldn’t want to be around positive people? A positive mentality begins in the mind, so you need to be confident about who you are first. The first thing to avoid is comparing yourself to others. Instead, compare your present self to your past self, and observe your progress. Look how far you’ve come, and work towards the future. Keep in mind that you are the one who forges your path. And the one person who can change your life is you, not others.

The next step is getting your body in shape as well. We often fail to dedicate ourselves to working out, primarily due to the lack of free time in our daily lives. However, a tight schedule shouldn’t stop you from working out. Once you settle in with the help of long distance movers in Brooklyn, maintain a routine by working out for at least 30 minutes every day. This is enough to help your body get rid of toxins, and get in shape. Eventually, you’ll become both mentally and physically stronger.

To fully dedicate yourself to discipline, change your eating habits as well. This doesn’t mean completely abandoning unhealthy food, of course. However, when you consume products that are good for your body, you will feel good about yourself. And, don’t worry about the availability of healthy food. New York City is full of healthy eateries and gyms where you can meet like-minded people!

Be your own, authentic person

We’re always swarmed with suggestions on how we should live our lives, look, or behave. The best thing to do is see these things as suggestions, not musts. Knowing what we want from ourselves, and acting on it, is the best approach to making friends after your NYC relocation. To begin, you must know how to set boundaries, and get to know your interests. What do you want from life? How would you like to be treated?

These questions are very important when it comes to knowing your boundaries and helping toward making healthy friendships. It’s also worth noting, that honesty is the best policy. When you’re uncomfortable or need help, be honest with yourself and those around you. This will give you a piece of mind, and make others comfortable around you, inspiring them to be honest too. Stick to your values and beliefs, and people will respect you.

Opting for a co-living apartment is a great way to make friends

The best way to make friends is to spend a prolonged amount of time with people and work closely with them. Once moving and storage Brooklyn experts relocate you to NYC, consider opting for a co-living arrangement. This essentially means sharing a living space with a group of other people. The good news is, New York City is full of 3-story brownstone buildings, so this option is widely available. If you opt for this arrangement, you may share the space with up to 15 people.

The whole point of co-living, besides affordability, is the fact you’ll meet people from all branches of life. Artists, tech experts, entrepreneurs, and so much more. In most cases, you can choose to have your own room or share a room with someone else. For reference, a single room costs between $1200 and $2000. A shared room will cost roughly $800.

Socialize after your NYC relocation and say yes to social events

While living in a big city, you’ll have two major groups surrounding you. These are your roommates and your coworkers, both of whom have friends and lives of their own. If you get invited to go out by either your roommates or colleagues, don’t hesitate, and go for it! Friendships are born through social connections and sharing experiences with each other. The people who invited you may also bring their own friends, thus increasing the chances to expand your social network and make new contacts.

The important thing is to be socially active, without straining yourself too much. Make a deal with yourself and accept 2 out of 3 social invites, without backing out last minute. Canceling plans could make you seem flakey and unreliable. And besides, you don’t have to stay out all night. Sometimes, showing up is the most important part.

Make friends in NYC after relocation by relying on online apps

One of the fundamentals of finding friends in NYC after the relocation is looking for like-minded people. No matter what topic you’re interested in, there’s a group for that already. And, it is very likely that you’ll meet these like-minded people on the internet. These days, nearly everything is done online. From shopping and booking professional office movers in NYC, to making friends. A few good platforms for meeting friends in NYC and engaging in social activities are Eventbrite and Meetup.

They’re both great because you don’t have to plan anything or prepare, but simply join in. The activities listed are mostly free, and the categories are endless. From book clubs to gardening groups to chess clubs and comic book collectors, there’s something in NYC for everyone’s interests. No matter how niche your interests are, you’ll definitely find someone who shares them. And, after all, talking to like-minded individuals is always the easiest!

Take the initiative and organize gatherings

So, you want to explore the city and socialize, but your coworkers or roommates don’t usually do that. What do you do? In this situation, it would be a great idea to consider making the first move. Most people feel very flattered when we invite them out. Showing interest in spending time together is a social compliment and a sign of care for the other person. Don’t be afraid to suggest checking out a new cafe, or stopping by a bar after work. You don’t have to go big and flashy either!

Karaoke night for your entire office is by no means mandatory. If there are two or three people you feel you can connect with, that’s more than enough! Ask them if they want to spend some time together, or grab lunch on your break together to get the social gears into motion and get to know each other better.

Initiate and maintain contact around mutual interests

Once you’ve spent some time hanging out with your colleagues or roommates, think about who you had the most in common with. Did anyone mention any topic which strikes your interest, like hiking for example? If they did, and that’s something you both enjoy, suggest going for a hike together sometimes. Think about what your interests and hobbies are, and whether or not people from your social circles mentioned any interests you might share.

The old saying that birds of a feather flock together is definitely true. Sometimes, mutual interests can spontaneously pop up when you least expect them. Perhaps someone mentioned they just relocated as well, commenting on the moving prices. Since you’ve recently moved, a conversation might spark regarding moving quotes in Brooklyn. From that point on, who knows what other areas of mutual interest you might discover!

Help people in need by volunteering at the Bowery Mission

As we’ve already established, a good way of making friends in NYC after your move is by joining up for a common cause. And what better cause is there than helping and supporting those in need? The Bowery Mission is a project aimed at helping all New Yorkers flourish, by overcoming homelessness and marginalization. It exists since 1870 and has over 1700 volunteers. These amazing people donate their free time to mentor youth, cook and serve meals, and teach skills to the underemployed.

A lot of young professionals in their 20s and 30s frequently help in the downtown Manhattan branch of the mission. There really is no better way to do a good deed, and meet new people along the way. Don’t do it just for the sake of meeting people though! Your selflessness, compassion, and will to contribute to your community should be your main motivators.

Bring out your inner nerd at the Secret Science Club

When it comes to the interests of young people, science and science fiction are usually quite high on the list. Showing interest in advanced knowledge will probably label you as a nerd. But you know what? Even nerds are a social group of like-minded individuals who share the same passion and dedication. So who cares what others think?

If you consider yourself to be on the nerdy side, then you definitely need to check out The Secret Science Club! It’s located at the Bell House in Brooklyn, and it is the haven for all things science. Here, you can participate in free, monthly lectures, concerning topics such as black holes and neuroscience. The club has over 300 other self-proclaimed nerds, who love sticking around for discussions after the lectures. It truly is the perfect place to discuss those quirky science ideas that keep you up at night.

Explore your artistic side in an improv class

As we’ve already discussed, making friends in NYC after relocation is partially based on leaving your comfort zone and exploring new things. One of the ways to always find yourself in a new situation every time, and have fun along the way, is by taking part in an improv class. This means that everyone involved will be in a brand new situation every time. Besides, good entertainment is one of the reasons for moving to NYC. The key to improv is working quickly with your partner and maintaining a fluid conversation, at all times.

Improv carries with it a couple of positive things. Mainly, you’ll become more comfortable with yourself and those around you. And secondly, you’ll have a chance to communicate and mingle with other improv fans. New York City is full of improv places, which offer drop-in classes on Saturdays, like the Magnet Training Center in midtown Manhattan.

Take it slow, and making friends in NYC after relocation will become a piece of cake!

Now that you know when, where, and how to work on your network of friends, you can put everything you’ve learned into practice. Undoubtedly, making friends in NYC after relocation is done, may seem intimidating. As a working adult, you may find it very challenging to make new friendships and maintain them, on top of balancing your work, private time, or trying to find a roommate. What’s important, is to be yourself, open, and approachable. At the same time, you have to respect both their and your time as well. So make conversations with people you know you’re compatible with. And if you don’t meet the right people immediately, don’t despair. They’re surely out there. Take your time, and you’ll forge unbreakable bonds in the wonderful New York City.