How I Found Home Again: Tips for Feeling at Home in New City
A few years back, I got an opportunity to move to a new city for work. I expected the logistics to be the hard part, but I really missed the feeling at home in new city.
Finding an apartment, unpacking boxes, and figuring out local landmarks was challenging, but I could wrap it up in a few weeks. But once those were done, the silence settled in. It wasn’t that I missed a particular place; I missed the feeling of home.
It’s something we don’t talk about enough: how disorienting it can feel to be in a new place where everything from the smell of the air to the corner coffee shop is unfamiliar. Over time, though, I found small, gentle ways to root myself again and made myself comfortable to feeling at home in new city.
If you have just moved and are craving that cosy “this is mine” feeling, here are the things that helped me. These might help you too!
Steps I took to Restore the Feeling at Home in New City
Here are the 7 steps I took:
🛋️ 1. Make Your Space Feel Like You
The first few nights in my new apartment felt like I was staying at someone else’s Airbnb. It was too clean, too quiet, and too empty. So, I made it my mission to bring pieces of “me” into the space.
Here’s what helped me:
- I unpacked my favourite mug first, bought my favourite brand of tea and cookies. That one simple thing made mornings feel familiar.
- I printed and pinned up a few photos of friends and family, even if I didn’t frame them.
- I installed the same lights I used at my old place. The lights made me instantly feel connected to my old city, my home.
Your home doesn’t need to be perfect; it just needs to be yours. Start with small touches that spark comfort.
🌱 2. Create New Rituals
In my old city, every Saturday morning meant a workout at the gym and a walk to the nearby departmental store for weekly groceries. It was fun and it anchored my entire week.
After I moved, I felt unmoored. So, I created new rituals mimicking the rituals in my old city. Tiny moments that gave shape to my week. For example:
- I joined a gym. So, Saturday mornings were booked for a workout at the gym. I followed this up with a walk to the nearby departmental store.
- Sunday morning was now my farmers’ market stroll.
- Evenings included a short walk around the block with a podcast.
These rituals became my little companions. Over time, they stitched themselves into the fabric of my new life and made me feel comfortable and at home.
🧩 3. Bring Familiar Objects with a Story
One day, while unpacking a random box, I found tickets to the first movie with my girlfriend. I hadn’t meant to bring it. It just got stuffed in along with other stuff. But holding it made me smile. It reminded me of old times, of my old car, home-cooked meals and stories in my old city.
Don’t underestimate the power of objects with memories. Even small ones, a worn-out blanket, a keychain, a recipe card can offer a quiet kind of support.
🧑🤝🧑 4. Say Yes (Even When It Feels Weird)
I’m naturally introverted. The idea of meeting new people in a new city felt exhausting. But I also knew I couldn’t build connection from my couch.
I started small:
- I joined a remote worker meetup I found through an app.
- I said “yes” to a neighbour’s invite for coffee.
- I struck up a conversation with someone at the bookstore.
Not every attempt led to a deep friendship, but the small moments of connection made me feel less invisible.
🧘♀️ 5. Build a Comfort Corner
I created a tiny “comfort corner” in my apartment. It was just a cosy chair, a soft blanket and a warm light where I could read a book or watch a movie at the end of the day.
It was my reset space. A spot that felt safe when the world felt too loud or too unfamiliar.
If you’re feeling unsettled, build a little space where you can breathe. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Just somewhere you can be you.
📨 6. Stay Connected (But Let Yourself Grow)
There’s something comforting about texting your best friend from home when your new city feels overwhelming. But I also learned to balance it. Too much focus on what I had left behind made it harder to settle in where I was.
I scheduled regular video calls, sent voice notes and shared little updates with people I loved but I also gave myself permission to explore new relationships and experiences.
✨ 7. Let Time Work Its Magic
At first, I was frustrated that I didn’t feel “settled” after a few weeks. I kept thinking, Shouldn’t I feel at home by now?
But home doesn’t arrive overnight. It builds slowly in morning routines, in the way your new work colleagues say hello, in the sound of your upstairs neighbour’s laugh.
Give yourself time. Be patient. And remember: it’s okay to miss your old life while building your new one.
❤️ Final Thoughts: Home is a Feeling, Not Just a Place
Now, months later, I can walk down my street and smile. The flower shop owner waves. I know which park bench catches the morning sun. My apartment looks just the way I want it to look. It’s not perfect, but it feels like home.
And if you’re reading this, still in the middle of the shift, know that it will get better. You’re not alone. You’re building something beautiful, one cosy moment at a time.
