By Hannah Slaton
Change is…well, hard. Whether switching careers, moving to a new city, or simply embracing personal growth, change never comes easy.
Relocating, in particular, is often an unavoidable change that eventually impacts us all at some point in our lifetimes. Whether it’s the obligatory step into adulthood from the comfort of your parent’s house or an international relocation for a dream job, moving can be one of the most exciting yet stressful human experiences we face. While relocating is not for everyone, I have found it to be a truly eye-opening experience and opportunity for self-discovery and perspective.
My own journey into “nomad” life began when I left home for college. Remarkably, I’ve managed to move an additional 14 times since! Frequent relocation was not something that was necessarily planned and some moves were less significant than others, but the desire to seek out new places and experiences has become a part of my identity over the last 13 years.
For those that may be contemplating a big move themselves or curious about the experience, here are a few important lessons I learned through my own personal transition:
- Patience is key. I—somewhat naively—expected to immediately hit the ground running when I moved, but adjusting can take a lot more time than you think. It’s normal to feel unsettled for a while. The change is equally mental as it is physical. Remind yourself often that it WILL get better in time if you take the right steps and keep an optimistic mindset. However, if some time has passed and you still find yourself struggling to see the light at the end of the tunnel, do not wait to seek out help. It can make all the difference in your experience.
- You HAVE to Build a Network: Rebuilding a social life in a new place, especially outside of the workplace, requires effort, but it’s essential. You have to actively seek out and invest time in forming new relationships. Resist the urge to self isolate even though it’s easier and significantly less uncomfortable than putting yourself out there. Start with a welcome party or outreach effort to get to know people in your neighborhood. When it comes to forming those in-office connections, make sure you hit those lunches, coffee breaks, after work happy hours. If apps are your thing, Hey! VINA and Bumble BFF are some of my favorites for meeting locals with similar interests.
- Make a bucket list. There is no better way to get acquainted in a new place than doing a little research and finding out all the things your new city has to offer. Hitting the tourist attractions, weekend excursions, or local events can help you feel more connected and present chances to meet new people. When the time comes to pack up again and make a change, you will leave feeling like you completely maximized your experience in that place.
- Seek out those things that bring you fulfillment. Explore hobbies, experiment, and fill the down time with things that invite happiness and joy. Finding things to look forward to can be a gamechanger when it comes to combating negative emotions.
- Don’t forget about your old friends. It is easy to get caught up in your new life and struggle to find time to maintain those connections you had before. Close the distance by keeping some level of consistency in reaching out to those important contacts in your life.
- Remind yourself that you are human. You’re not going to feel happy and excited all the time. Letting new people in is vulnerable and uncomfortable. Loneliness can feel consuming at times. But you are not alone!
Changes and challenges are all part of the journey, and each step is a learning experience. By integrating these strategies, you can ensure a smoother transition and thrive both personally and professionally in any environment. Happy moving!
About the Author
Hannah Slaton is a Senior Channel Marketing Manager at RingCentral. With over 10 years experience in marketing, she is passionate about driving strategic marketing initiatives that directly impact pipeline growth and enhance overall business success for some of RingCentral’s top channel partnerships. She currently supports the delivery of go-to-market plans inclusive of event marketing, digital campaign creation, sales enablement, and integrated communications programs for national distribution. Prior to joining RingCentral, Hannah specialized in email marketing as Senior Account Manager for Merkle, Inc. a global integrated experience consultancy based out of Denver, Colorado.
