For those who have decided to move into a social apartment. Tips on how to start socializing, ed.

Hello to everyone who is planning to move into a social apartment. This is Hayashi from the Social Apartment Sales Department.

For some of you, moving in is still a long way off and you may not feel it yet, while for others, moving out is just around the corner and they may be getting anxious. It may be time for you to start thinking about your new life, and your feelings may be changing little by little.

I myself used to live in a social apartment. I still remember the first time I went to the lounge. I was very nervous, wondering if I would be able to get along with anyone or speak well.

In this article, I would like to share some advice on how to take the first step toward social interaction, based on my own experiences.

Imagine how you will spend your time after moving in.

The charm of a social apartment is that you can choose how to spend your time according to your mood.

Once you move in, there will be times when you want to actively participate in the community, and other times when you want to be involved in a moderate sense of distance while still cherishing your alone time. Of course, interaction is not obligatory.

However, because you are in an environment where you can see your neighbors' faces, it would be a good idea to get to know them, even if only by greeting them, so that you can live comfortably thereafter.
At this pre-occupancy timing, let's imagine how you will start communicating with each other after you move in for a bit.

■Make time to spend in the common space

In order to increase the number of people who know each other, we recommend that you actively visit the common spaces.

Let's start by getting used to spending time in the lounge, which is also the hub of daily life. You can even try sitting down for a while while you prepare a drink, read a book, or work on your computer.

You will receive notifications of new residents on the "Neighborland" application for residents only, so say hello to them and they will say, "Oh! You moved in!" and some may give you a reaction.

The first person you talk to may introduce you to other tenants, and you may even be invited out to dinner. Your first step may lead to an unexpected expansion.

Try to greet them yourself.

Everyone is nervous when they first move in. However, most of the residents in social apartments are friendly and will welcome you warmly.

Please make the first move by saying, "Nice to meet you, I'm ◯◯, and I just moved in on the fat floor. Especially during the first two weeks to a month after moving in, this is the golden time for natural exchanges of "Nice to meet you. If you make it a point to visit the lounge as often as possible, you will be able to build a smooth relationship with the people you meet.

Incidentally, "what floor you live on" is a bit of a common language in social apartments. We often hear cases where people say, "So you live on the same floor as me," and the conversation spreads and they decide to go out to eat together.

Try setting up a profile

The "Neighborland" application has a page where you can check the profiles of other tenants who live in the same property.

If you register your hobbies, hometown, etc., it will be easier for people to find things you have in common, and it will also be a good opportunity to talk about the things you have in common. The profiles also have a search function, so you can find other people with the same interests.

Of course, you can set how much of your profile you want to make public. You are free to write whatever you want, so please try to introduce yourself as much as you can.

■Participate in events held at the property.

We hear of many properties that hold seasonal parties, someone's birthday party, or a farewell party. Other than that, we also recommend participating in a dinner party held with a small group of people. Conversation around the dinner table naturally becomes more lively. It is also a great way to make new good friends.

How to start an exchange that fits your style

Even so, everyone has his or her own way of maintaining a sense of distance from others and his or her own life rhythm. You may not be good at talking to new people, or you may tend to cross paths with other residents due to work.
Here are some tips on how to interact with people according to their personalities and lifestyles.

If you are shy and nervous about going to shared spaces

Try using the kitchen first.

We often hear people say, "I'm a little scared to go to the common space," or "I'm nervous to suddenly join the group.

You may see a group of people gathered around the TV playing games or having a dinner party in the lounge. The lively atmosphere may make you feel shy, wondering how to enter the space.

In such a case, I recommend the kitchen.
The kitchen is a place where it is easy to have a natural conversation with people while working. Since both you and the other person are working with their hands, there is less pressure to look at you or talk about the topic, and the hurdles to conversation are lowered. A simple question while cooking, "Is this the correct way to use this? while cooking is enough to start a conversation.
Even a casual remark can start a conversation.

Rely on your tenants

If you are not sure if you can carry on a conversation, relying on others is a great first step toward interaction.

"I wonder how everyone installs this lighting? Which supermarket is the easiest to use? It is also a good idea to ask someone to help you with small questions about daily life, such as "How do people install this light? Asking someone to tell you about their own experiences will give you hints for your daily life, and will naturally lead to more conversation.

In fact, the author's own first conversation was with someone about lighting installation. I had also purchased extra lighting, and the person who helped me with the project told me that there was someone looking for lighting, which led to further new connections. Even if you don't force yourself to create a topic of conversation, just a little "asking" will start an exchange.

■People who come home late or are off on weekdays

There is always one person with the same life rhythm.

There may be people who have moved in but find it difficult to attend events because they are off on weekdays, or because they come home late and cannot make it home in time for everyone to get together.

However, there will always be one person who lives with a similar life rhythm to you. Even if you come home late, I recommend that you try to show up at the lounge as much as you can. If you are in the same situation, it is easy to feel a sense of familiarity even if it is the first time you have met.

For those who are off on weekdays, if you are cooking lunch in the kitchen on your day off, you may be able to talk with people who are working from home. You may also meet people who are not off on weekdays but are usually at this location at this time during the week.

The appeal of social apartments is that you can choose how to spend your time at home according to your own mood. Also, the timing of when you fit into the community is also different for each person. Some people start interacting with others immediately after moving in, while others slowly develop relationships after a year.

However, not everyone wants to be involved with someone every day, and there will be days when you want to spend time on your own.

When we say, "We recommend that you create opportunities to connect with others during the first month after moving in," we are merely giving you a hint to help you adjust to your new environment. What is important is that you can be yourself.
I would be happy if the ideas and hints I have introduced in this article could be a trigger that pushes you forward.

(Text: Hayashi)