Moving to a new city and living all alone becomes unavoidable at times. Today’s women are not hesitating to relocating to a new city and staying all alone. But safety as usually can be a big concern, especially for women moving and living alone in a new city. This is because as far as you are living in a familiar environment, you can still be able to protect yourself, as you know the place well. But in a new place, there is a lot that can happen to you just because you are a single woman living alone.
And if you are wondering about how to stay safe as a woman when moving to another city and living alone, then you are not alone. Women safety is a real concern, but thankfully there are specific women safety tips that we are discussing here in this post.
Women safety can be a serious concern, I am sharing a few of the best safety tips and that will help you to stay safe as a woman, even when you have relocated to a new city and you are living alone.
But, first, you got to understand the warning signs. In the initial days after your relocation to a new city, it’s better to avoid coming home late at night when possible.
It is not that you cannot, but I just want you to understand the environment better and accordingly work out your travel plans. Also, you must make new friends there but try to judge people before trusting them blindly. And, if someone you know from before live in that same city, try to live close enough to that person. This is because if case of any problem, you will then have an option to rush to that person for help.
I am a woman myself and understand the fears that most of us go through after relocating to a new city. However, I am hopeful that after exploring these women safety tips about living alone in a new city; you will become confident and understand how to calculate your next step.
So are you ready?
Here’re the best women safety tips to stay safe as a women living in a new city that you must be aware of:
Research about the city
First and foremost, it is very important that you do enough research on the new city where you are about to relocate. Well, unless you are in an emergency situation where you have no other choice but to move there, it is advisable that you do not move to a city that is unsafe for single women.
I understand that no such place is there where a woman can feel absolutely safe. I mean bad people are everywhere but you need to make this judgment based on the number of crime rates committed against women on an average basis in the recent past. If you see that the crime rate is quite high, then maybe you should reconsider your decision to relocate alone.
Also, learning about the city and its culture is important because you will then understand how you should act after relocating to stay safe as a woman. This is because there are some cities which may be very conservative for women, while other city may be quite liberal. Hence, learning more and more about the city you are moving to will help you get more familiar with it. And when you know the city right, you can take adequate measure to stay safe as a woman.
Live in a safer neighborhood
Secondly, you should also be well aware whether your new neighborhood is safe for a woman or not. Many a times it is tough to learn about any particular neighborhood by net surfing. But if that is located at a popular location in the new then it is possible to get an idea. Also, if you know anyone in the city who is living there for quite a long time, then you can ask them to help you find a home in a secure neighborhood.
It is even better if you visit the neighborhood before on your own and judge the environment for yourself. And, if there is no such option, then maybe you can find a temporary home or apartment to live in the initial days, and then judge everything and find a home in a neighborhood that’s safer for a woman.
Secure your home
Securing your home is very important, but if you are a women living alone, then ensuring the safety at your home becomes even more crucial. And therefore, to begin with, you should install a home security system. Security cameras are a good to have safety measure, because many times, burglars do not attack homes or apartments if they see a home surveillance camera system installed.
Moreover, you can actually see the live footage through your phone and get updated about the condition of your home even when you are away. You may also go for a robust lock for your door as it has got a feature to prevent it from getting pricked. And, yes, a peephole or camera at the door can be very effective as it’ll help you check who is outside before you open the door.
Check emergency apparatus
Apart from the fear of burglars and robbers, if you are living alone, you should be prepared for any emergency situation like a natural disaster. So, before moving in, make sure you check the exit doors and fire escapes in the building. It is important for you to be aware about how to escape the building in case of fire or any other natural disaster.
Bond with neighbors
If you are able to create a good bond with your neighbor then that can act as a huge advantage for you in emergency situations. Of course, if you do not like them, then you can simply avoid, but if they are nice people, then try to be good friends with them.
They are the ones living closest to you so if you are in any kind of trouble, then they can come to your rescue. So, try to take the initiative to bond with your neighborhood people.
Share your whereabouts
As per a survey, about 44%of women feels unsafe while travelling. So, if you are living alone in a city, and you often travel alone, then you may this habit of sharing your whereabouts while travelling with anyone you trust, be it your friend, your colleague or your neighbor.
Like for example, if you are travelling in a cab that is provided by a ride hailing service, you can actually share the ride status with that trusted someone. This way he/she may at least try to help you out in case you land up in any kind of trouble, while traveling alone.
Learn basic self defense
Considering the increasing number of crimes committed against women today, it is highly important for every woman to learn some basic self defense tricks. So, if you are moving alone in a new city, you may actually think about going for karate or martial arts classes to stay safe as a women living alone.
Use social media wisely
Nowadays most of us have become so active on social media platforms, that sometimes we end-up sharing updates that can be threatening. In fact, at times we get to know details about another individual without even meeting that person personally, because they keep sharing everything on social media platforms.
While on one hand, it is good that we get to connect with so many people all over the world. But on the other hand, this can even have a negative impact on the safety of the individual if she gets connected with a wrong individual who happens to know a lot about her through social media.
So, if you want to stay safe as women living alone, it is important that you use social media platforms wisely and carefully. Avoid sharing updates that can be life threatening. Try not to accept unknown friend requests. And also avoid sharing personal information like letting the world know that you are living alone or broadcasting the places that you have checked into etc.
Keep a pet dog
Keeping a dog at home can definitely help a woman stay safe, even when she is living alone in a new city. Not only will your dog become your best friend and companion in the city, but it can also keep you safe with its high intuitive capability to detect any trouble. Many times, a dog’s bark startle potential intruders and this way you can stay safe as a woman.
Report suspicious activity
When you are a single woman living alone in a city, you should be aware of your safety and at times, trust your gut. If you notice that someone is spying on you or if you are not comfortable with someone’s presence, then try to avoid that person. If you see that that person continues to bother you, then do not even hesitate to let the police know before it’s too late. Also, make sure your good friends, your landlord and close neighbors etc. are informed about it.
Over to you
I find moving alone to be quite exciting because living alone helps you become self-dependent and boosts your confidence in general, especially as a woman. It helps you grow as an individual and helps you become capable of handling tough situations on your own.
But, sadly a single woman faces a lot of challenges than a single man moving and living alone. So, it is important that women become more and more confident and stay safe while living alone, which may be challenging at times.
How to stay safe as a woman while living alone is a real challenge and I have already shared a few of the best woman safety tips that can help you to ensure your safety.
Being a woman myself, I am all for women empowerment. So, I want that besides chasing your dreams, you should learn to stay safe as a woman.
What else do you think a woman living alone can do to remain safe?
Share your favorite women safety tips that have worked for you by commenting below.
Guest post by: Eliana, from Servicesutra Media Pvt Ltd
