Regardless of whether it’s the heart of London, downtown LA, the streets of Paris or the bright lights of Hong Kong, city living is non-stop.
With traffic at a standstill, people everywhere and so much noise you can barely hear yourself think, living in the heart of a metropolis can be pretty intense, but there are ways to make life a little easier.
If you haven’t already, try out these survival tips to keep you sane in the city.
Get Your Bearings
When you first get to a new city, it’s very easy to learn the way to work and the way back to your house and leave it at that, but it’s worth your while to find out a bit more.
Getting a proper understanding of where you live, how to get around, what shortcuts to take and what places to visit will vastly enrich your city living experience and save you time, money and hassle.
If it means following your phone maps around for a while, so be it. Get to know your base.
Avoid the Rush
If you can help it, at least. Travelling any time between 7am and 9am on the morning or 5pm and 6pm on the evening will stick you right in the middle of the city’s most intense period.
If you can’t avoid it, make sure you’re prepared. Set off early, anticipate delays and be ready for a lot of people. If you can be more flexible, dodge the rush to keep your daily stress levels at bay.
Get Savvy with Spending
Everything’s more expensive in the city, so it makes a lot of sense to get wise with where you’re spending your money.
Save money day-to-day with homemade lunches and skipping the morning coffee shop visit. A DIY attitude can save you thousands over the year.
Find the best places to shop in the city, the cheapest bars and the most cost-effective ways to get around. Bettering yourself financially will take a huge weight off your mind and add weight to your bank account.
Explore & Expand Your Horizons
Once you’ve been settled for a while, it’s easy to get comfortable with familiar haunts and a set routine. It’s also easy to forget you’re living in a city with so much to offer, and plenty that you’re missing out on.
Cities are hubs of entertainment, culture and new activities for you to enjoy, it’s just a case of going out and exploring what your city has to offer. Try not to get too comfortable, expand your horizons and enjoy a more diverse living experience whilst it’s available to you.
Master Transport
For many, city life means the hustle and bustle of public transport. If that includes you, make sure you’ve considered all the options available and chosen the best suited to you. Of course, you can take matters into your own hands. Can you walk more to save money? Would a bike help you beat the traffic?
Would, in fact, a little city car remove the stress of going from A to B? With the rise of smaller, city appropriate vehicles, people are getting back behind the wheel and avoiding the crush of the train or bus.
Fords of Winsford offer a range of affordable city cars, with sub-£100 a month finance deals making them perfect for a city budget.
Enjoy the Madness
If you don’t sort of enjoy the business of city life, then why are you really there?
Every so often, try and take a moment to take in what’s around you, whether it’s the heartbeat of the city during rush hour or the bright lights and sounds of the night time.
If you can’t appreciate the vibrancy of where you live, then it’s time to move away.
Escape to the Country
Speaking of getting away, it’s completely understandable that you’d want a break from the craziness of the city every now and again.
If things ever feel like they’re getting too much, booking some time away in the country is a great way to relax and recharge the batteries, meaning you return to normal life refreshed and ready to take on the madness once again.
However you choose to deal with city life, just make sure you enjoy it!