Moving to the big city, whether it’s New York, Berlin or Los Angeles, is an inherently exciting concept. Whether you’re Moving from the suburbs or a small town, whether you’re moving for work or study, the call of urban life brings with it an undeniable sense of excitement. You’ll be living right where the action is. And that can be both a blessing and a curse.

Before saying goodbye to your current town and hello to a new city, there are a few things to consider. Below I’ve created a list of things to consider regarding your new home and tips on making the transition a bit easier!

What To Know Before Moving to A Big City

City living is awesome, but it comes with a few caveats.

When you move to a big city, the world is on your doorstep. Galleries, theaters, bars, cafes, restaurants and picture houses are all just a brisk walk or taxi ride away. Gone are the days where you’ll have to climb into your car to get to anywhere worth being.

Urban living can afford you a much better quality of life. It’s easier to meet new people, make new friends and lead an active and exciting lifestyle when you live in the city. Not to mention access to better education and health care. Urban living is awesome, but it also comes with its caveats.

To protect your health, your wellbeing and your bank balance, you’ll need to be aware of:

1. Impatient Drivers

Whether you’re in a car or on foot, you’ll need to be wary of impatient inner-city drivers. Every day, you’ll be sharing space with stressed commuters, frustrated Uber drivers and antsy couriers. They’ll be trying to catch red lights at every turn and won’t always be mindful of their surroundings.

This can lead to the potential for collisions and injuries if you’re not traffic aware at all times. It’s also worth having a trustworthy injury law attorney in your contacts list. And when traversing the urban jungle with headphones on, make sure you can still hear ambient noises like honking horns and revving engines.

2. Tasty Temptations on Every Corner

Good health starts with a healthy and balanced diet. But when you live in a big city, there’s temptation on virtually every street corner. From street food vendors to fast food outlets, restaurants and take out spots, every day can prove a challenge if you’re trying to keep your diet on point.

That’s why it’s important to have a food plan and embrace meal prep. By all means indulge yourself every once in a while, but giving into temptation regularly won’t do your waistline or your bank balance any favors.

3. Be Mindful of Your Spending Habits

There’s always something to see and do when you live in a big city. And sometimes it’s free… But often it’s not. When you live in a big city, all the little costs like your Monday morning latte on the way to work, Friday night drinks and midweek trips to the movies can quickly add up.

Of course, you want to make the most of city living, but you don’t want to wreck your finances doing so. That’s why it’s important to draw up a household budget and actually stick to it. Whether you live alone, with a partner or as a family, budgeting is the easiest way to assure your financial wellbeing.

4. Stress

Even if you love urban life, cities are stressful places. City dwellers may not be aware of it but the “cognitive overload” that comes with city living can elevate your stress levels. As such, it’s easy to become frustrated and find it hard to balance your demanding life.

What’s more, over time stress can become chronic stress which can make your immune system less effective and make you more vulnerable to a wide range of illnesses. Make sure that you have measures in place to reduce your stress. Just a few minutes of mindfulness meditation can make a huge difference.

5. Be Mindful of Poor Air Quality

When walking through busy city streets, the polluted air you breathe can have a detrimental impact on your health. Air pollution causes a staggering 1 in 9 deaths worldwide, so it’s important to take steps to protect yourself.

Consider wearing an urban air mask especially when jogging or cycling in the city (where you’ll be taking deeper breaths). It might also be worth investing in an air purifier for your apartment.

6. Remember Cities Never Sleep

Finally, it can be hard to get the sleep you need when you live in a busy city. When we’re asleep our bodies carry out the routine repairs and maintenance that keep us happy and healthy, so it’s essential to get at least 7 hours of quality sleep every night.

The trouble is that light pollution, traffic noise and the cheers of revelers can all prove an impediment to restful sleep. You might want to invest in a sleeping mask and ear plugs.

I hope these tips for moving to a big city are helpful and useful for you!

The post 6 Things to Consider Before Moving to A Big City appeared first on TheUrbanRealist.