Or, is the current hustle and bustle of western life getting too much, to which you seek a more remote and modest lifestyle?
Moving abroad is something many do at some point of their lives. Only a few commit to the move, and completely change the trajectory of their story.
Whether you’ve visited your dream country of residency or you’ve loved the idea of living in a specific location, moving abroad is no overnight decision, and there’s a lot to take into consideration.
So, if you’re one of millions looking for a location change, here’s 5 things to take some time to think over, either alone or with your most trusted advisors:
1. Why do you really want to leave?
Is it freedom you’re chasing? Escape? A second chance? A slower life? There’s no right answer, but you need your answer.
Too many people move abroad because they’re running from something: burnout, heartbreak, boredom. And sure, a fresh backdrop can help.
But your problems? They don’t need visas. They’ll follow you, quietly, in your suitcase.
That said, some people move towards something. They’ve fallen in love with a place. They crave growth. They want to live with more intention and less noise. And those are powerful motivators; ones that can anchor you when the honeymoon phase wears off.
Write it down. Say it out loud. Make it real. If you’re going to uproot your life, you need to know exactly what you’re planting in its place.
2. What’s holding you here and are you willing to leave it behind?
It’s easy to dream about what you’ll gain. But let’s talk about what you’ll lose.
- Your morning coffee shop.
- Your best friend down the road.
- Friday dinners with family. Inside jokes.
- Familiar streets.
- A language you don’t have to think about speaking.
Leaving your home country isn’t just a new adventure, it’s a slow goodbye. And sometimes the hardest part isn’t going; it’s realising what you didn’t know you’d miss until it’s no longer around.
This isn’t meant to scare you. It’s meant to ground you. Because the more honest you are about your roots, the better you’ll be at growing new ones.
3. Have you talked to people who’ve actually done it?
Not influencers. Not travel bloggers in curated outfits on cobblestone streets. Real people. People who moved and stayed. People who moved and came back. People who struggled.
Ask them what surprised them. What made them cry. What they wish they’d planned better. What made it all worth it.
There’s wisdom in lived experience that Google can’t give you. And if you don’t know anyone personally? Join expat forums. Find Facebook groups. DM someone who seems open to sharing. You’d be surprised how many people are happy to be honest about the highs and lows.
4. Can you actually afford it, and not just the flight?
A one-way ticket is romantic. But what happens after you land? Cost of living varies wildly depending on where you go.
In some places, you can live well on half your current income. In others, for example Australia, everything costs double, and you’re earning less.
Factor in your own as well as spouse visas, apartment deposits, health insurance, international taxes, emergency funds, legal fees, and whatever it costs to feel somewhat stable in a totally new system. Think beyond the first month. Think about six months, one year, even two.
Money stress in a foreign country can be brutal. Do your homework, and speak with the experts such as immigration lawyers in London. Build your buffer.
And if you’re not there yet financially? That’s okay. Make a plan. Save smart. Move later but move well.
5. What will you do for work and how will that work feel?
Unless you’re retiring or independently wealthy, work will still be a big part of your life abroad. So what’s the plan?
- Will you keep your current job remotely?
- Will you freelance?
- Start something new?
Or try to find work locally, and if so, will you need a different visa?
- Do you speak the language?
- Will your qualifications even transfer?
More importantly: how will you feel doing that work in a new context?
- Fulfilled?
- Isolated?
- Inspired?
- Bored?
Money matters, but meaning does too. Especially when you’re far from home and building your sense of purpose from scratch.
other related articles of interest:
Necessary Skills Every Traveler Should Have
Should Your Travel Abroad for School? And How to Plan for It
Final Thought: Imagine both futures. The one where you stay and the one where you go.
Picture yourself five years from now. If you stay: what does your life look like?
- What’s changed?
- What hasn’t?
- Are you content or restless?
If you go: what are you doing?
- Who’s with you?
- What’s hard?
- What’s beautiful?
Neither path is perfect. Both involve tradeoffs. But usually, one vision tugs at you harder than the other. Trust that tug. That’s the one worth listening to.
Image Credit: by envato.com
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