Starting over in a new city can be challenging, especially if you have a chronic illness. Whether you’re moving there for travel or other personal reasons, let’s look at how to settle in and explore while living with a long-term condition.
Before shifting, speak with other residents.
Local Facebook groups are ideal for this purpose. Use them to plan your trip or move and ask questions like, “Can anyone recommend a good local doctor?” Where is the nearest emergency room? Inquire about other relevant amenities, such as the gym, yoga classes, or support groups for your condition. This can really help you get a feel for the place and reduce worries about things like locating a good medical team or a health centre that will prescribe your medication.
Find the ideal house.
With a chronic condition, there may be additional requirements to consider, such as a downstairs bathroom if mobility is an issue or an easy-to-maintain garden when spoons are scarce. Look through the listings in your area.
Plan ahead of time for moving day.
Moving to a new city can be both stressful and exhausting. Take care not to take on too much and rely on friends and family for assistance. If you’re moving a long distance, could you use a shipping service to avoid worrying about large items? If you won’t be moving for a while, could you pack your boxes one week at a time to keep things from becoming too overwhelming? Always keep anything vital—such as your medications and paperwork—on you at all times, just in case it gets misplaced by movers and shipping companies.
Try to make new friends.
Making friends in a new city can be difficult if you’re moving far away permanently. We don’t think about making new friends as adults because many of our old ones are still with us from school or previous jobs. Again, social media is fantastic for this. Joining Facebook groups is great, but they don’t have to be local; if you’re already in some for your hobbies and interests, explain your move and ask if anyone is local. Twitter is another excellent platform for this. If you’re feeling brave, say you’re new to the neighbourhood and would love to meet for coffee if anyone is nearby. Who knows? You might just make a new best friend!
Moving is always stressful, even if you don’t have a chronic condition or disability. I hope these suggestions have sparked your interest in taking a trip or settling down in a new city. All that remains is for you to explore and enjoy your new surroundings!