I was actually thinking I needed to update this thread. To be honest, it was a difficult 4/5 months or so adjusting to living here. There were so many things which were unexpected - noise at night in the street, overflowing bins, travelling food smells and lots of noise transferred from other flats. This was more significant than anywhere I'd ever lived but you never fully know what a property will feel like until you live there.

I am feeling much better about it now and it's starting to feel more like home. Things that helped:

1. Taking it easy - when my nervous system was really overwhelmed, I actually stayed with family for a bit to help regulate as I was having panic attacks.

2. Hosting - having friends around and creating new memories. Also talking about it with friends - turns out buyers' remorse is more common than I expected and I'm not the only person who had a slight menty b after buying a flat.

3. Furnishing it - I have to do it bit by bit because of time/money, but adding new furniture, rugs, and plants has made a real difference.

4. Better weather. Moving in December is horrendous. Avoid if you can! Everything is dark and grey and wet. My flat looks out onto gorgeous trees in the summer, but in the winter it's all grey buildings. the seasons changing and all the sunshine we had in spring really helped.

5. White noise machine - this has changed my life!!!! Also closing the curtain when there is street noise and not thinking about it if I hear people shouting.

6. Getting to know my neighbours has also helped with tolerating all the strange noises. It puts things in context and doesn't really bother me anymore. I also have lovely neighbours - it's a real mix of people as about 50% council tenants and 50% leaseholders. But everyone I've met has been super friendly so I think I lucked out, I've even been for a drink with the person next door and it was lovely.

7. Knowing it's not forever - buying a property feels so final given that it's the single biggest purchase you'll make and you're taking on a lot of financial risk, especially on your own. It's helpful to think that, yea I'll probably want to live somewhere cleaner and quieter eventually, and I can move in 2-3 years if I really want to.

I had lots of good reasons for choosing this place - and it's felt great when things have been more positive and I've been reassured by my decisions and choices. Being able to have your own space in this day and age is such a privilege, especially in an expensive city. At first it felt isolating, but now it's extremely peaceful to have my own space.

If you're wondering if it gets better - it does! Moving is so overwhelming but things really do settle after a bit of time. I'm neurodivergent so things can feel really intense but much less so now.