11 Telltale signs it’s time to move to a new city

There are many sound reasons why people decide to move to a new city – a great job offer, a lower cost of living, milder weather, pursuit of love, educational opportunities, etc. Yet, sometimes, the only reason to move to a new place may be the need for a change of scenery or the desire for a fresh start – there may be nothing wrong with where you currently live or no specific reason to move to a certain city, but you may still be feeling out of place in your current area and wishing for a change; or feeling trapped and unable to progress; or feeling restless and constantly looking to the horizon. Either way, it may be time to move away.

But how to know if the time is right? How to know if the moment is ripe for such a life-changing step? Actually, there are a lot of signs that indicate so – you only need to know what to look for.

When uncertain, check for these telltale signs that it is time to move to a new city:

Your budget is tight

If you’re in a tight financial situation that doesn’t seem to be improving, your current city may not be the right place for you. Even if it’s a cool city that you like, there is no point living in it if you can’t afford to enjoy it – you will be better off moving to a place with a lower cost of living. Just make sure you find an affordable city with good job opportunities in your field.

See also: Should I move to a cheaper city?

Your career prospects are limited

Different cities offer different job prospects – you may have better employment opportunities (or better business opportunities) in another city or state.

So, if you can’t find a job in your current area, or you’re dissatisfied with your job (in terms of salary, employee benefits, working hours, work environment, work relationships, etc.), or you feel stagnating in your job and have no chance to improve your professional skills or expand your professional knowledge, or you don’t have the opportunity to advance in your career or establish a successful business of your own, you should consider moving to a new city.

See also: What to consider when relocating for a job

Your city doesn’t offer what you need

You may have moved to your current city for love, study, or work – you may have found exactly what you needed and been happy for a while. Yet, things change and now you may have different goals and different needs – or you may have already achieved what you wanted and may be now looking for new challenges.

If your city no longer offers what you need to grow as a person and follow your dreams, you should start looking for a new city that does.

You feel stuck in a rut

If you’ve reached a point where you’re living on auto-pilot and feeling trapped in your daily routine (you do the same thing day in and day out and the future holds nothing exciting for you), you need a CHANGE. And moving to a new place can provide that much needed change and help you reinvigorate your life and get a new perspective. You will face new challenges, get new opportunities, and meet new people – and you will have a chance to build a happier, more fulfilling, and more enjoyable life for yourself.

Related: Pros and cons of moving out of state

You’re haunted by bad memories

If you’ve been living in the same city for a long time, you’ll have accumulated plenty of memories in it – and if many of these memories are bad, it may be difficult to feel happy, confident, and relaxed in your current surroundings.

If every store, restaurant, and park in town reminds you of something or someone you don’t want to be reminded of and all you see when you look around are bad memories, then it may be time to move to a new place and start creating new memories.

You can’t stand the weather

Sometimes the climatic conditions in an area may result in too much troubles and cause people to consider moving to a different part of the country where the weather will be less of a concern.

Whether it’s too cold or too hot, too windy or too humid, if you hate the climate in your area, you won’t be happy living there. The weather can have a great impact on your health and psychological well-being – if you avoid going outside just to avoid the elements, if you suffer from allergies and fatigue in the sweltering heat or you’re sick and tired of blizzards, snowdrifts, and icy roads, if you’re dreaming of a white Christmas or longing for year-round sunshine, then it’s time to pack up and move to another city where the weather will agree with you.

Related: Benefits of moving to a warmer climate; What to know when moving to a cold climate

You complain all the time

Constant complaining about your living situation, your surroundings, your neighbors, and just about everything is one of the clearest signs you need to move to a new city.

If you’re always dissatisfied with something and every little thing about where you live seems to be bothering you, if you can’t stand the weather, the traffic, and the people, if you disagree with the local authorities’ decisions, city ordinances, and typical points of view in your area, you should really start looking for a place that will be a better fit.

None of your entertainment options feel fun

In case you have free time and don’t know what to do with it, or you’re constantly bored and would rather stay at home than go out to local bars or clubs, or you’ve been to every restaurant and every entertainment locale in town and never really enjoyed any them, or you can’t pursue your passions in your current area, then your city simply doesn’t have the entertainment options you need. Why not see what other cities have to offer?

You’re lonely in your city – or you want to experience life on your own

Everyone needs a support system and like-minded company – if you don’t have family and friends in your current city and just can’t seem to make new friends regardless of your efforts, you’ll likely feel lonely and isolated. Having no one to count on and no one to hang out with will make you sad, frustrated, depressed, and miserable. You need to move away – find a place where you will fit in and won’t feel like an outsider or move closer to trusted friends and loved ones.

On the other hand, if you’re still living in your hometown, being close to your family may be stifling for your personal growth – you may need to venture out and face the world on your own, find your true self and learn to stand on your feet. And there is no better way to achieve this than to move to a new city alone.

See also: How to deal with moving away from family and friends

You can’t think of a reason to stay

When you have nothing tying you to where you are (a great job, meaningful relationships, significant commitments, etc.) and you’re not in love with the city, there is no reason to stay put – you can go looking for a place where you’ll be truly happy.

Furthermore, if you find yourself reluctant to make long-term commitments in your current area or just can’t picture yourself living in your current city in the future, it’s also a clear sign that you need to move on.

You long to be someplace else

If you’re jealous of friends who moved away and are constantly asking them what it’s like, if you escape out of town at every opportunity, if you’re looking for new horizons, if you visit a city and like it so much that you’re sad to leave, if you’re drawn to a place and feel like you belong there, you have nothing to wait for – it’s time to start packing and go chasing after your dreams.

So, how to know when it’s time to move to a new city? Just listen to your inner voice and follow your gut feeling – it won’t lead you astray. (And once the time comes to make your big move, be sure you research your options, choose the right place to move to, and organize a safe and smooth relocation.)