I relocated 19 times, 7 out of these were international moves as a family of 5. So I do know a thing or two about the highs and lows, the overwhelm and the anxiety around moving my family abroad. Not only have these experiences transformed our lives and turned into a passion for slow travelling. They have also brought about a change in my career from talent manager to relocation coach as I now guide other bold expats, mostly families, on their journeys abroad – holistically.
So trust me on these 7 things to stay calm and actually find joy in the exciting process of relocating:
☀️ You don’t need to know everything. You’ll grow into it. Trust that the right information will always come to you at the right time.
☀️ Fearful people will try to place their fears onto you. If someone only points out the cons it is their life they are reflecting. So go listen to the optimists close to you instead. It’s your life, remember?
☀️ A lot of stress comes from packing and aiming to bring along too much stuff. Try the minimalist approach and really just take the essentials. You’ll be surprised how much lighter that feels.
☀️ You are going to be physically away from your family and friends but I experienced that you are sometimes closer to them the further you are away. Keep in touch and allow your loved ones to be part of this new chapter. Don’t try to prove anything but make sure to share with them both the ups and downs, the highlights and the difficult moments. And try to understand that people might be hurt for you leaving them.
☀️ Wherever you move to, there are people living there. They may not always receive you with open arms or roll out the red carpet just for you. YOU will need to take the first steps in any interaction with those around you. Start early. Even before arriving.
☀️ While it may be helpful to speak the language spoken the new country you don’t need to be fluent before arriving. However, make sure you know these two: ‘hello’ and ‘thank you’, accompanied by a smile. People will get from your accent that you are not a local but will appreciate the effort. You managed to break the ice and you are off to a positive start. The beginning of many new encounters.
☀️ It will be a rollercoaster. After the initial excitement and adrenaline 2-3 months into your relocation you’ll experience a sudden mental low when you’ll start missing your old life, when you realise things aren’t exactly as you expected and when you’ll start questioning whether this was the right decision. This is when many people make a U-turn. Plan some highlights for these crucial few weeks to stick through, for instance friends visiting, a weekend out exploring your new region, signing up to a new activity or a catch-up call with your relocation coach. Things WILL improve day by day and your life WILL turn into the very vision you had designed.
☀️ A relocation isn’t a one-way ticket like in the old days. If things truly don’t work out you can always end this chapter and start a new one, move on or come back. It is never a failure but simply one more experience helping you to become a better and more resourceful YOU.
The journey is the reward. Make it a fun one.
Cadariotravel.com
Wanna hear more about relocating? Look out for more insights and tips from me.
And if you are about to embark on your new chapter in life hit me up for a free discovery call to see how I can support you.