3 Challenges You’ll Face When Starting a New Life Alone in a Different State (And Why It’s Worth It)

On Life and Business
With Jake Erickson
April 16, 2023

In February of this year, I left Wisconsin after 29 years.

I wanted a challenge. I wanted to start all over. And I wanted to know I could do it.

Here are the 3 challenges I'm currently facing — and why I'm determined to trudge ahead nonetheless:

1. Boredom Ensues: Once the weekend comes, the fear of missing out always creeps in. You want to adventure out in the new town. You want to get a drink. Or you want to catch up on the latest show. This is an excellent opportunity to allocate your boredom to something more meaningful. Such as a goal you wouldn't have had time to work on had you never moved in the first place.

2. You're Alone 24-7: Your social life is non-existent. You eat alone. You go out to dinner alone. You run errands alone. But being alone tests your ability to find meaning, being alone. You develop self-reliance. You have more time to reflect. You have more time to figure out how to get your shit together.

3. It's Not What You Think It'll Be: I thought moving would bring me happiness and joy. But deep down, I didn't desire the new city. I desired the IDEA of it. There is never something out there that will make you happy and fulfilled forever. But we all suffer from our desires. It's in choosing the right desires to suffer from that will help you live a higher-quality life. So if moving is one less desire you need to get rid of, get it done, and you'll have more room to desire what you really want.

Overall moving out of state is helping me understand myself better.

What new challenges and desires are you thinking of taking on?