Moving in a pandemic

When you think of moving away, you probably wouldn't think to do it during a pandemic - that's exactly what Ria Wolstenholme did though. She shares her story

They say the biggest changes happen outside your comfort zone, and that comfort zone gets a hell of a lot smaller when you throw a global pandemic in the mix. It’s safe to say that 2020 has been a whirlwind for us all; whether it’s meant losing a job, missing out on holidays or seeing loved ones, or unexpectedly having life as we know it turned upside down.

I seemingly took the approach to beat corona to the punch and shake up my world on my own. In September, I packed my life into two suitcases, two cardboard boxes, and moved to London. I had saved enough money to get me by until the new year, I handed in my notice at work, and I was ready for a change of pace and a new chapter in life.

A lot of people called me crazy or asked, 'why now?' - but I never had a convincing answer other than, 'it just feels like what I need to do'. Once I’d made the decision and signed a lease for a flat, the tidal wave of questions hit - But what will you do for work? Where will you live? How will you afford to live there?

Since I graduated from University two years ago, I have had it pretty easy. A steady job, happy living situation, friends and family on my doorstep and no real worries. Everything was pretty smooth sailing. But, to me, that brought no challenge. It didn’t set my world alight; it didn’t make me want to work hard. It made me complacent, lazy and frankly uninspired.

I understand why people think I’m crazy to move away from my family with no solid job in the middle of a pandemic, but I’m not a believer in waiting for the right moment, because by waiting for it to feel comfortable, you’re already too late. Feeling excited, nervous, anxious and maybe a little apprehensive comes with any big life change we make. It comes when we’re having our first day of school and our parents leave us at the gates waving goodbye. It comes on that first date with someone you really like. Because it’s a sign we’re about to start something new, jumping into the unknown and trusting the process that if it’s meant to be, it’ll work out.

So that's what I’m doing right now - I’m living with friends and embracing being 23 without a mortgage or any responsibilities for anyone or anything other than myself. I’m taking a chance and trusting myself to make it work because there’s no other option. And while I miss the ocean air and my friends and family who are back home, and there’s a pressing concern that there may come a time again where I can’t just go home; it’s still worth it to be somewhere I feel at home. I feel at ease, there’s more opportunity to make a change and chase /the dream, as cliché that sounds.

Whilst moving away from home during a pandemic is less than ideal, I am also incredibly lucky to have the means to do so. Being able to work and save and having the skills to work for myself has given me the flexibility I need to give it a go and see where I end up. I’ve learnt through trial and error that your greatest achievements won’t come along when you’re feeling comfortable and calm. Feel the fear and do it anyway, because the only impossible journey is the one you don’t begin. 

Easy