Updated: 2/3/2020
Moving to a new city is more demanding than it might seem. Not only do you have to find a place to live, worry about moving everything and ensure you have a good job, you have to transition your whole health routine as well. Where are you going to go to the doctor? Will there be a gym nearby that you can join? How are you going to get new contacts without an eye doctor?
This guide will go through the basic health transitions you need to start after a new move.
Find Your Doctors
Finding a doctor—any type of doctor you need—can be done in one of three ways:
1. Personal Recommendations. Talk to your coworkers, neighbors or other people you know in the area about where they go. This is the best way to find someone you will like. People you know personally are bound to offer you truthful assessments of the doctor they see.
2. Doctor Referrals. Ask your previous doctor for referrals to someone they know and trust. He/she may know of friends or colleagues in your new city.
3. Online Search. Search online for doctors in your area. Make sure they have reviews. If you find one close to you with several positive reviews (up to 80 to 90 percent of their total reviews), it’s probably safe to say that’s a good doctor. If the doctor reviews are mostly negative or there aren’t very many to begin with, continue searching. You might also look at their website to get a feel for his/her style and areas of expertise.
We recommend using a search tool like ZocDoc. This is a great resource that can help you in this kind of search. When you go to their website, enter in what you’re looking for (a dentist, a primary care doctor, an eye doctor, etc.), what your zip code is and what insurance you carry. It will search for that dentist or doctor in your area and give you contact information and reviews.
Looking for just a dentist? If you have a plan with us, or a similar plan, you can use our provider search to search for a dentist in your area. The search will provide you with the dentist’s name, address, contact information and distance from where you are.
Final Considerations
Finding a physician you really trust can be hard for many people. Look for a doctor that has a clean office, short waits, a pleasant and helpful staff and is someone that you feel comfortable around.
Join a Gym
As important as finding a good, convenient and trustworthy doctor are, so is what you do to maintain your health every day. One such way is through exercise. When you move to a new city, a new exercise routine often needs to be established. This includes the place, but sometimes it can include the time of day you go, too.
Here are a few questions to ask to help you find a good, quality gym that is close to where you live and open to your availability.
Question 1: What Gyms Are Close to You?
Find a gym that is close to your daily routine—whether that’s by your work or your home. If you don’t pass the place every day or it isn’t convenient, odds are you won’t go.
Question 2: Where Do People You Know Go?
Not only can you get great recommendations on gyms in your area, you might be able to find a workout partner to help keep you accountable.
Question 3: How Much Does It Cost?
Know how much you would spend for a gym membership and look for something in that price range or below. There isn’t really an average cost for gym memberships. It will depend upon where you live and the state of the facility and equipment.
Question 4: Can You Go for a Visit?
Gyms have people coming and going to check out the facility quite frequently. Take the time to go and look at the place. Is their equipment well taken care of, is the staff friendly and helpful, do they offer fitness classes you’re interested in, is the gym really crowded (you’ll have trouble getting to your workout equipment if it is), etc.?
Question 5: What’s Their Refund Policy?
If the gym has a no-refund policy, you may want to keep searching or be absolutely sure you like the place before you sign up.
Locate a Good Grocery Store
One of the keys to a healthy lifestyle is a healthy diet, and that’s where grocery stores come in. Typically, this gets put off for several days as you’re unpacking and settling in, but it needs to become a priority so you aren’t stuffing yourself with fried chicken and pizza every day.
Large and Small Grocery Stores
If you enjoy shopping at both large and small grocery stores, look for both—ideally, that are close to each other. Most people, however, prefer going to one place for their grocery list. That’s where larger supermarkets come in. They have more variety so you’re sure to find the ingredients you need when shopping. Smaller grocery stores are limited in their products, which can sometimes be frustrating when you’re in a hurry.
Quality
Does the grocery store offer quality food and produce for the prices they’re charging? It may be easy to go for what’s cheap, but the cheapest food isn’t always high quality. Check out some of these grocery shopping apps for weekly savings and comparisons:
Customer Service
Are the employees in the store helpful and friendly? Look for a grocery store that has employees who are ready and willing to help.
Organization
Is the store easy to navigate? Does the organization in the store make sense? Can you find what you’re looking for without being overwhelmed?
Get to Know Your New City
Are you close enough to bike or walk to work? Are there good walking trails near you? Does the city have a park? This doesn’t have to be done right away, but as you are getting to know your city, look for parks and walking trails where you can go and be active outdoors. If your city has marathons or other events you can get involved in, do it! Knowing your new city well can help you become more involved and give you a feeling of community, which is another great benefit to your health. No one thrives in seclusion.
Have you recently moved to a new city? What areas talked about here have you found to be the most difficult?
